Walking Behaviour and Spatial Use of Broiler Chickens

Aydin, Arda

doi:10.18052/www.scipress.com/ILNS.54.66

ILNS > ILNS Volume 54 > Walking Behaviour and Spatial Use of Broiler...

< Back to Volume

Walking Behaviour and Spatial Use of Broiler Chickens

Full Text PDF

Abstract:

Modern broiler chickens are genetically selected for reaching higher weights in shorter life spans. In addition to this, they are raised in crowded housing conditions with less opportunity for movement. Understanding movement patterns, migration and use of space is essential in determining welfare of the birds in commercial farms. In this study, migration behaviour of broiler chickens in semi-commercial farms of 1800 chickens was studied. Observations were repeated in six growth periods each on 12 chickens once a day during their growth period of 42 days. It was seen that the activity of broilers was not decreasing during the growth period. Travelled distances of the chickens in total were not reduced in the last 3 weeks of their growth period (p > 0.05 in 89% of the observed birds, Mann-Whitney U test). Chickens preferred to be in the zones next to the wall farthest to the entrance of the house. The observed birds did not restrict themselves only around the feeders and the drinkers but used the whole surface area available during the whole growth period. The results of the study seem to be encouraging in achieving welfare of broiler chickens even in commercialised houses with high stocking density. Reported mobility of chickens is important for their survival and has therefore considerable impact on efficient production on farms.

Info:

Periodical:

International Letters of Natural Sciences (Volume 54)

Pages:

66-74

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18052/www.scipress.com/ILNS.54.66

Citation:

A. Aydin, "Walking Behaviour and Spatial Use of Broiler Chickens", International Letters of Natural Sciences, Vol. 54, pp. 66-74, 2016

Online since:

May 2016

Authors:

Arda Aydin

Keywords:

Activity, Broiler Chicken, Housing, Spatial Use

Export:

RIS, BibTeX, Text

Distribution:

Open Access

This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

References:

[1] M.C. Appleby, S.N. Maguire, H.E. Mcrae, Movement by domestic-fowl in commercial flocks, Poultry Science, 64 (1985) 48-50.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.0640048

[2] U. Arnould, J.M. Faure, Use of pen space and activity of broiler chickens reared at two different densities, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 84 (2003) 281-296.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2003.07.003

[3] W. Bessei, The behavior of broilers under intensive management conditions, Arch. Geflugelkd, 56 (1992) 1 - 7.

[4] D. Bizeray, I. Estevez, C. Letterrier, J.M. Faure, Effects of increasing environmental complexity on the physical activity of broiler chickens, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 79 (2002) 27-41.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0168-1591(02)00083-7

[5] H.J. Blokhuis, J.W. Van Der Haar, J.M.M. Fuchs, Do weighing figures represent the flock average? Poultry International, 4 (1988) 17 - 19.

[6] A. Chedad, J.M. Aerts, E. Vranken, M. Lippens, J. Zoons, D. Berckmans, Do heavy broiler chickens visit automatic weighing systems less than lighter birds? British Poultry Science, 44 (2003) 663-668.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00071660310001643633

[7] I. Doyle, S. Leeson, Automatic weighing of poultry reared on a litter floor, Can. J Animal Science, 69 (1989) 1075 - 1081.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4141/cjas89-122

[8] S.C. Kestin, S. Gordon, G. Su, P. Sorensen, Relationships in broiler chickens between lameness, live weight, growth rate and age, Vet. Rec., 148 (2001) 195 - 197.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.148.7.195

[9] H. Kristensen, J.M. Aerts, T. Leroy, C.M. Wathes, D. Berckmans, Modelling the dynamic activity of broiler chickens in response to step-wise changes in light intensity, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 101 (2006) 125-143.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2006.01.007

[10] E.H. Leone, I. Estevez, Use of space in the domestic fowl, separating the effects of enclosure size, group size and density, Animal Behaviour, 76 (2008) 1673-1682.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2008.08.004

[11] G. McBride, F. Foenander, Territorial behaviour in flocks of domestic fowls, Nature, 192 (1962) 102-106.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/194102a0

[12] R.C. Newberry, Exploratory behaviour of young domestic fowl, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 63 (1999) 311-321.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0168-1591(99)00016-7

[13] R. Pettit-Riley, I. Estevez, Effects of density on perching behaviour of broiler chickens, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 71 (2001) 127 - 140.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0168-1591(00)00174-x

[14] A.P. Preston, L.B. Murphy, Movement of broiler-chickens reared in commercial conditions, British Poultry Science, 30 (1989) 519-532.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00071668908417176

[15] K. Reiter, W. Bessei, Effect of locomotor activity on bone development and leg disorders in broilers, Arch. Geflugelkd. 62 (1998) 247- 253.

[16] P. Sørensen, G. Su, S.C. Kestin, Effects of age and stocking density on leg weakness in broiler chickens, Poultry Science, 79 (2000) 864 - 870.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ps/79.6.864

[17] A.M. Eddie, P. Bokkers, H. Zimmerman, T. B. Rodenburg, P. Koene, Walking behaviour of heavy and light broilers in an operant runway test with varying durations of feed deprivation and feed access, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 108 (2006) 1–2.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2006.10.011

[18] M.S. Baracho, I.A. Nääs, L.G.F. Bueno, G.R. Nascimento, D.J. Moura, Broiler walking ability and toe asymmetry under harsh rearing conditions. Revista Brasileira de Ciência Avícola, 14 (2012) 217-222.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/s1516-635x2012000300009

[19] S. Sultana, M.D. Hassan, C. Rakibul, R. Ho Sung, S. Kyeong, The effect of monochromatic and mixed LED light colour on the behaviour and fear responses of broiler chicken. Avian Biology Research, 6 (2013) 207-214.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3184/175815513x13739879772128

[20] W. Bessei, Welfare of broilers: a review. World's Poultry Science Journal, 62 (2006) 455-456.

[21] R.A. Renema, M.E. Rustad, F.E. Robinson, Implications of changes to commercial broiler and broiler breeder body weight targets over the last 30 years. World's Poultry Science Journal, 63 (2007) 457-472.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/s0043933907001572

[22] T.G. Knowles, S.C. Kestin, S.M. Haslam, S.N. Brown, L.E. Green, A. Butterworth, S.J. Pope, D. Pfeiffer, C.J. Nicol, Leg disorders in broiler chickens: prevalence, risk factors and prevention. PLoS One, 3 (2008) 38-45.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0001545

Show More Hide

Cited By:

[1] N. BenSassi, X. Averós, I. Estevez, "Broiler Chickens On-Farm Welfare Assessment: Estimating the Robustness of the Transect Sampling Method", Frontiers in Veterinary Science, Vol. 6, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00236