Effects of sex, strain and type of perch on perching behaviour in the domestic fowl

Abstract

This paper reports a study of perching behaviour in the domestic fowl, in which the use of various types of perches by both sexes of three strains of pen-housed, 15-week-old chickens (‘S’ line, White Leghorn type; ‘T’ line, derived from a Rhode Island Red × Light Sussex cross; ‘J’ line, Brown Leghorn) was compared. The perching variables tested were the height and shape of the perch and the type of material (wood or wire) from which it was constructed. A preliminary experiment indicated that there was no avoidance of those areas of the pens in which the perches were subsequently placed. Both sexes used the perches equally, but strain was an important factor affecting perching behaviour. Birds of the ‘J’ line almost completely failed to use high perches, but usage was greater in ‘T’-line and greatest in ‘S’-line birds. These strain differences were not due to weight disparity or to social pressure. Individual preferences were observed. Some birds perched (perchers) where-as others did not (non-perchers). Repeated exposure increased the time spent on the perch by perchers but did not convert non-perchers into perchers. The type of material (wood or wire) from which the perches were constructed had little effect on behaviour. Low perches were used more than high ones, although they were never attractive, and square perches were used considerably more than lengths of wood. There were no significant preferences for wire or litter in ‘S’-line and ‘T’-line birds but ‘J’-line birds avoided wire. The welfare implications of these results are interesting. Low levels of perching on the length of wood, which is the type of perch most commonly used in semi-intensive housing, suggest that more appropriate perches could be designed. Although wire floors are commonly considered undesirable, ‘S’- and ‘T’-line birds showed no avoidance of wire. The results suggest that perching has a high genetic variance and, therefore, to keep, in line with industrial trends, it should be possible to select for birds which do and which do not perch.