Noncaged laying hens remain unflappable while wearing body-mounted sensors: Levels of agonistic behaviors remain unchanged and resource use is not reduced after habituation

Abstract

Unique markings or body-mounted sensors facilitate data collection from individuals in large groups of similar-looking conspecifics but may have unintended consequences on behavior. A wireless sensor attached to the back of laying hens via a harness has been developed to monitor space use and activity. Prior to collecting experimental data, effects of the sensor on resource use and social interactions were assessed. Four rooms of 135 hens each were weighed and 10 hens/room were randomly fitted with sensors at 11 wk of age (0 d). Instantaneous scan samples recorded the number of hens (SEN: sensor-wearing hen, and NON: hen without sensor) using resources (feeder, water, nest box, perch) every 5 min over 24 h on -5 d, -4 d, -2 d, -1 d, 1 d, 2 d, 4 d, 8 d, and 16 d. Logistic regression determined that SEN feeder use was less on 1 d and 2 d and more on 16 d than NON feeder use. The SEN water use was reduced only on 1 d. The SEN nest box use increased on 1 d, 2 d, and 16 d. The SEN perched more on 1 d, 2 d, and 4 d, and less on 8 d. Initial resource use was affected by wearing a sensor, but by 16 d, all resources were used similarly or more by SEN than NON. No difference in BW was observed on 17 d, suggesting that long-term resource use was not affected. No differences were observed among the number of agonistic observations -5 d, 8 d, and 16 d. With the exception of SEN hens acting as aggressors toward NON hens, agonistic interaction types occurred close to expected proportions. These factors indicate that hens habituate to wearing sensors within 2 wk.

First Results of a Detection Sensor for the Monitoring of Laying Hens Reared in a Commercial Organic Egg Production Farm Based on the Use of Infrared Technology

“…Furthermore, the availability of an IR camera in a housing system could be useful also for other purposes. Up to day, thermographic image analysis of poultry has proven to improve the welfare of these animals [19,20,22]. For example, Yahav et al [33] evaluated data from an IR camera in order to measure the body surface temperature of chickens as a basis for calculating heat loss by radiation and convection.…”

“…Another technology that has been tested to automatically detect laying hens is based on sensors that allow the building of a geographic information system (GIS) [21,22,23]. These sensors have to be worn by hens.…”

Detection of jumping and landing force in laying hens using wireless wearable sensors

“…The sensor harnesses were fitted to the hens 3 wk prior (at 26 wk) to the training phase to allow for ha- bituation (Daigle et al, 2012), and remained on the hens throughout the entire training and data collection period. Hens were habituated to the handler by holding each hen individually within her home pen for a period of 30 to 60 s, beginning with 30 s the first day and increasing at 10-s increments until 60 s was reached.…”

Nest choice in laying hens: Effects of nest partitions and social status

“…The hens were individually marked with numbered PVC plates (8 × 6 cm) mounted on the back of the hens with two straps that went under the wings (as in Harlander Matauschek et al, 2010). Daigle et al (2012) studied the behaviour of hens outfitted with similarly mounted sensors and found that aggressive interactions were not affected and that the hens habituated to the tags within two weeks in terms of resource use.…”