Are genetic differences in foraging behaviour of laying hen chicks paralleled by hybrid-specific differences in feather pecking?

Klein, Toby; Zeltner, Esther; Huber-Eicher, B.

doi:10.1016/s0168-1591(00)00147-7

Cited by 38 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…A decrease of scratching behaviour was found from the control session to the first frustration session and over the repeated frustration sessions an overall line difference was found. Contrary to the line difference we found, Klein et al (2000) showed that a strain that showed higher levels of feather pecking than other strains spent less time scratching. Feather pecking is thought to be a form of redirected ground pecking (Blokhuis, 1986) or redirected pecking during dust-bathing (Vestergaard and Lisborg, 1993).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Can short-term frustration facilitate feather pecking in laying hens?

Rodenburg

Koene

Bokkers

et al. 2005

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

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Feather pecking is a major problem in laying hens. Frustration, i.e. the omission of expected reward, may play a role in the development of feather pecking. In two experiments, we studied if feather pecking could be facilitated by short-term frustration in birds with a high feather pecking phenotype and victims of feather pecking (experiment 1), and in birds with a high or low feather pecking genotype (experiment 2). Furthermore, the motivation to peck a key for a food reward was assessed in birds with a high or low feather pecking genotype in experiment 3, as birds that have a stronger motivation may also react stronger to the omission of a reward. We trained birds to peck a key for a food reward in an automated Skinnerbox and tested them in control and frustration sessions. During frustration, the feeder was covered with Perspex. Frustration did not facilitate feather pecking in either experiment. In experiment 1, birds with a high feather pecking phenotype did show more gentle feather pecking and aggressive pecking than victims of feather pecking during some of the control sessions. Furthermore, victims of feather pecking vocalised more than birds with a high feather pecking phenotype. In experiment 2, birds with a high feather pecking genotype scratched more than birds with a low feather pecking genotype, indicating differences in motivation for foraging or dust-bathing behaviour, which shows a relation to feather pecking. Birds with a low feather pecking genotype also had a stronger motivation to peck at a key for a food reward than birds with a high feather pecking genotype. No evidence was found that feather pecking could be facilitated by short-term frustration in a Skinnerbox. However, differences in reaction to frustration and in motivation to peck a key for a food reward in birds with a high or low feather pecking phenotype or genotype indicate that frustration may still play a role in the development of feather pecking. #

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Can short-term frustration facilitate feather pecking in laying hens?

Rodenburg

Koene

Bokkers

et al. 2005

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

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“…Wechsler & Schmid (1998) found that aggressive interactions were significantly increased in multiple-male groups of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). The abnormal behaviour patterns observed at the higher stocking rates agree with findings in poultry where high stocking rates had a negative influence on the reproduction performance and well-being of laying hens (Hughes & Wood-Gush, 1977;Blokhuis & Wiepkema, 1998;Sherwin & Kelland, 1998;Martrenchar et al, 1999;Savory et al, 1999;Bilcik & Keeling, 2000;Klein et al, 2000). The high stocking rates of 150 birds, 141 birds and 210 birds/ha also contributed to an increased incidence of homosexual behaviour and feather pecking, both during the breeding and the non-breeding periods.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

The influence of stocking rate and male:female ratio on the production of breeding ostriches (<i>Struthio camelus</i> spp.) under commercial farming conditions

Lambrechts¹,

Swart²,

Cloete³

et al. 2004

SA J. An. Sci.

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The study provides information on the reproductive performance of ostriches maintained at different stocking rates and male:female (M:F) ratios under intensive commercial conditions in the Little Karoo, South Africa. Breeding ostriches are concentrated on relatively small areas and through trampling have a most significant impact on the vegetation in the Little Karoo. Reproductive performance, as influenced by stocking rate and M:F ratio, was investigated. Stocking rates for the large flocks ranged from 114 to 210 birds/ha, and stocking rates for smaller flocks ranged between 9 to 13 birds in 0.13 ha and 0.30 ha camps, respectively. The different M:F ratios investigated, were 1M:1F (pairs), 1M:2F (trios) and 1M:3F (quads), for breeding systems maintained in 0.06 ha camps. In almost all breeding systems total and average egg production, fertility and hatchability were compromised when stocking rate was increased. High stocking rates were detrimental to the reproductive performance and reproductive behaviour of the flocks. Increasing the number of females per male had no negative influence on the reproduction traits, with a significantly higher production observed for breeding quads. Our findings indicated that ostrich breeding flocks can be maintained at stocking rates higher than those presently used on commercial ostrich farms. Breeding pairs, trios and quads can also be maintained on smaller areas, with acceptable production levels. Increasing stocking densities will have a possible inhibitory effect on the establishment of territories and use of space, thereby impacting on the reproductive behaviour of ostrich females and males in large flocks, respectively. This has important implications in terms of the intensification of ostrich farming especially in areas that are characterised by vegetation that is exposed to the trampling effect of ostriches.

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“…Food was provided in a tray on the floor at this age so scratching was possible whilst feeding and ground pecking. It is possible that some aspect of the foraging substrate was perceived differently in the various strains because strain-specific differences in the proportions of time spent using different foraging substrates (such as litter, sand) without a difference in total time spent foraging have been reported previously (Klein et al, 2000).…”

Section: Home Pen Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 96%

Strain and age differences in behaviour, fear response and pecking tendency in laying hens

Albentosa

Kjaer²,

Nicol

2003

British Poultry Science

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1. Behaviours associated with a high or low tendency to feather peck could be used as predictors of feather pecking behaviour in selective breeding programmes. This study investigated how strain and age at testing influenced responses in behavioural tests. 2. Four layer-type strains (ISA Brown, Columbian Blacktail, Ixworth and a high feather pecking (HP) and a low feather pecking (LP) line of White Leghorn) were reared in 6 same-strain/line pens of 8 birds from one day old. Birds in half the pens were given an open field test, a novel object test and a test with loose feather bundles between 4 and 12 weeks of age and a tonic immobility (TI) test at 13 weeks of age. All pens were tested with fixed feather bundles at 26 weeks, and undisturbed behaviour in the home pens was videoed at 1 and 27 weeks of age. Daily records of plumage damage were used as an indicator of feather pecking activity in the home pens. 3. Strain did not influence novel object test, open field test or loose feather test behaviour, although age effects in all three tests indicated a reduction in fearfulness and/or an increase in exploratory behaviour with increasing age. 4. White Leghorns showed longer TI durations than the other strains but less pecking at fixed feather bundles than ISA Browns and Columbian Blacktails. 5. There were few associations between behaviour in the 5 different tests, indicating that birds did not have overall behavioural traits that were consistent across different contexts. This suggests hens cannot easily be categorised into different behavioural 'types', based on their test responses and casts doubt on the usefulness of tests as predictors of feather pecking.

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Are genetic differences in foraging behaviour of laying hen chicks paralleled by hybrid-specific differences in feather pecking?

Cited by 38 publications

References 15 publications

Can short-term frustration facilitate feather pecking in laying hens?

Can short-term frustration facilitate feather pecking in laying hens?

The influence of stocking rate and male:female ratio on the production of breeding ostriches (<i>Struthio camelus</i> spp.) under commercial farming conditions

Strain and age differences in behaviour, fear response and pecking tendency in laying hens

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