Effect of diet change on the behavior of chicks of an egg-laying strain

摘要: Injurious pecking has serious welfare consequences in flocks of hens kept for egg laying, especially when loose-housed. Frequent diet change is a significant risk injurious pecking; how the mechanics influence behavior unknown. This study investigated effect on chicks from laying strain. The included 3-week familiarity phase: 18 chick pairs received unflavored feed (Experiment 1); orange oil-flavored 2). All participated dietary preference test (P); (DC); or control group (C), 6 scenarios. P preferred feed. In Experiment 1, DC involved to orange-flavored; 2, orange- flavored unflavored. Compared with controls, 2 exhibited few behavioral differences; 1 increased event rates Days and 7. They pecked significantly longer at their environment; by Day 7, they showed more beak activity. There was little evidence neophobia. Change less led activity redirected behavior.