Quantitative Studies on the Variations in Feeding Activity of Chickens

Abstract

In a series of studies on the variations in the feeding activity of chickens, an experiment was conducted to determine the effect of the physical form of feed on the diurnal changes in this feeding activity.Eight Single Comb White Leghorn hens were reared in individual cages under a 14-hour light-day, and given five different forms of feeds including various type of mash, pellets and crumbles.Diurnal changes in feeding activity were determined with individual birds which received each of the experimental feeds by the use of an apparatus that provided a continuous record of the changes in feed intake and the time spent eating.Although daily feed intake was not appreciably affected by any of the forms of feed, there was clear evidence that the time spent eating was decreased by granulation of the feed. It was observed that the birds receiving mash were at the feed trough almost continuously during light hours while the birds receiving pellets were at the feed trough very intermittently and consumed a considerable amount of feed in an appreciably shorter period of pecking.When the birds received the ordinary type of commercial mash ration there was a marked trend for the feeding activity to be increased initially after offering fresh mash. This temporary increase in the activity entirely disappeared when the birds received pellets or reground mash ration in which the particle size of the feed was made uniform.Feeding activity, irrespective of the form of feed offered, was found to occur intensively during the hours of light, but tended to decrease in the early morning. Further, when birds received pellets a marked decrease in activity was observed during the middle period of the hours of light.It seems apparent from these results that the physical form of feed, particularly the particle size of feed, is an important factor capable of regulating the rate of eating and the intervals of ingestion of feed within a day under condition of ad libitum feeding.