Feather pecking in groups of growing bantams in relation to floor litter substrate and plumage colour.

摘要: 1. As part of a programme investigating the causation pecking damage in fowls, this experiment tested proposal that birds may receive more feather pecks when their plumage colour contrasts with floor litter colour, because particles on (as consequence dustbathing) then have greater stimulus value. 2. Groups consisting 7 light- and dark-coloured bantams were reared from 1 to 11 weeks age pens either wood shavings (light coloured, n=6) or peat (dark n,=6) litter. 3. Feather loss commenced 3rd week life increased thereafter, but observed scores not consistent hypothesis being tested. 4. Despite many at seen (over 10 weeks) groups' (661 plumage, 1795 particles) than groups (205, 787), there was no effect substrate damage. The only evidence supporting finding that, wo...