Choice of perch characteristics by laying hens in cages with different group size and perching behaviours
Choice of perch characteristics by laying hens in cages with different group size and perching behaviours
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DOI：
10.1016/j.applanim.2013.10.007
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发表时间：
2014-01-01
影响因子：
2.3
通讯作者：
Wei, Chun-bo
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Chen, Dong-hua;Bao, Jun;Wei, Chun-bo
笼舍中设置栖木可改善蛋鸡的行为和身体状况。本研究旨在探讨笼养母鸡在不同群体规模下对栖木特征（形状、宽度、材质和高度）的选择，并通过母鸡的栖木行为来了解其选择行为。本研究包括四个试验：鲈鱼形状（矩形和圆形横截面），宽度（3.0 cm和5.0 cm），材料（钢，木材和塑料）和高度（10 cm，20 cm，30 cm和40 cm）的测试。每个试验选用390只海兰褐蛋鸡，随机分为3个处理组，分别为单养组（G1）、4只组（G4）和8只组（G8）。每组30个重复。将G1、G4、G8组母鸡分别放入试验笼中，试验笼内同时设置设计的栖息处，驯化4天后进行试验。在第5天和第7天的8：00-10：00、14：00-16：00、19：00-21：00和23：30-0：30用摄像机记录母鸡的行为。分析母鸡的行为，并记录母鸡在午夜期间在测试栖木上的位置。结果表明，在所有的实验组中，大鼠都更多地选择矩形的栖息地（p < 0.01）而不是圆形的栖息地（p < 0.05），并且在矩形栖息地上的安抚行为也更多地发生在圆形栖息地上。G1组和G4组对3.0cm宽的栖木的偏好高于5.0cm宽的栖木（p < 0.05）。在5.0cm宽的栖木上，母鸡的啄食次数显著增加（p < 0.01）。此外，在所有组中，选择木制鲈鱼的数量均多于钢制或塑料鲈鱼（p < 0.05）。G1组和G4组母鸡最多选择20 cm高的栖木（p < 0.05），而G8组母鸡最多选择10 cm高的栖木（p < 0.01）。栖息高度对栖息行为有显著影响（p < 0.05）。此外，跳跃、啄和安慰的频率受群体大小的影响显著（p
Provision of perches in cages could improve behaviour and physical conditions of laying hens. This study was conducted to investigate the choice of perch characteristics (shape, width, material and height) by caged hens under different group size, and to understand the choice by the perching behaviours of hens. This study was consisted of four trials: perch shape (rectangular and round in cross section), width (3.0 cm and 5.0 cm), material (steel, wood and plastic) and height (10 cm, 20 cm, 30 cm and 40 cm) tests. In each trial, 390 Hyline Brown laying hens were used and randomly allocated to three treatments: individual group (G1), group of four hens (G4), and group of eight hens (G8), respectively. There were 30 replicates in each group. The hens in G1, G4 and G8 groups were put in the test cages in which designed perches were simultaneously provided and tested after four habituating days. Hens' behaviours were recorded using cameras at the following periods: 8:00-10:00; 14:00-16:00; 19:00-21:00 and 23:30-0:30 on the fifth and seventh day. The behaviours of the hens were analyzed, and the hens' positions on test perches during mid-night were recorded. The results showed that, the rectangular perches were chosen more than round perches in all groups (p < 0.01), and comforting behaviour was performed more (p < 0.05) on the rectangular perches than on the round ones. The 3.0 cm wide perches were highly preferred to 5.0 cm perches in G1 and G4 groups (p < 0.05). The hens on the 5.0 cm wide perches performed more pecking (p < 0.01). Besides, the wood perches were chosen more than steel or plastic perches in all groups (p < 0.05). The hens chose 20 cm high perches most in G1 group and G4 groups (p < 0.05), but 10 cm high most in G8 groups (p < 0.01). The perching behaviour was significantly affected by perch height (p < 0.05). Besides, the frequency of jumping, pecking and comforting were significantly affected by group size (p