Surrogate mothering in White Leghorn chicks

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

The present study investigated the effectiveness of two types of surrogates in reducing isolation-related death rates occurring between the 4th and 7th days after hatching in chicks. A red tennis ball suspended from the cage ceiling was as effective as group rearing in maintaining a low death rate (25% and 12%, respectively). A flashing light was ineffective in reducing death rate compared to rearing in isolation (72% and 75%, respectively). This supports Harlow’s work with infant monkeys on the importance of tactile stimulation and extends it to a lower species than had been previously considered. The flashing light was probably ineffective because the chicks were unable to achieve physical contact with the light. It was not determined that all chicks received enough food to survive. It is likely that the chick‘s need for stimulation in the form of a touchable imprinting object is prepotent over its hunger drive. Although all chicks were observed eating, some may have spent energy and time seeking contact with an imprinting object that was impossible to attain, thus failing to engage in sufficient eating behavior.