The effect of environmental factors on activity, selected behaviour patterns and “fear” of fowls in cages and pens

Synopsis

The causes of feather pecking are closely linked with the nature of the environment in which the bird is kept. The object of this study was to assess the influences of group size, stocking rate and illumination intensity on general activity, preening, head shaking and “ fear ” responses and to relate these activities to feather pecking. In caged birds activity was increased by brighter light, by more space per bird and by more birds in a group; more preening was seen in birds housed at a lower density and no treatment had an effect on head shaking. “ Fear ” responses were greater in dim light and particularly when group size was large. Birds in pens appeared to lack completely “ fear ” responses to the stimulus used. In pens only stocking rate was varied; it had the same effect on activity as in cages. At higher stocking rates birds in pens showed more head shaking. The relationships between feather pecking, “ fear ” responses and general activity are discussed.