Colour preferences of domestic chicks in relation to food and water presentation

Abstract

We investigated the colour preferences of chicks presented with artificially coloured food (chick starter crumbs) and water. In experiment 1, naive domestic chicks ( Gallus gallus domesticus) received red, green or black food in the form of a small pile of crumbs placed on the floor of the test cage, or red, green or black water contained in a 50 ml jar. Chicks ate red food most readily and black least readily; conversely they drank black water most readily and red least readily. Response to green was intermediate with both food and water. In experiment 2, chicks were offered red, green or black food or water, presented in a small petri dish. They responded most readily to black and least readily to red, with both food and water. Response to green was again intermediate. We conclude that colour preference, at least in the case of food, is affected by the precise mode of presentation. However, colour preferences were the same for food and water when these were presented in an identical manner.