Dustbathing Research Articles

Husbandry Conditions and Welfare State of Pet Chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera) and Caretakers' Perceptions of Stress and Emotional Closeness to Their Animals.

For pet chinchillas, limited data are available on husbandry and the human-animal relationship despite their impact on health, behavior, and welfare. We conducted an online survey with pet chinchilla caretakers (n = 336), targeting husbandry practices, health, behavioral indicators of welfare, and human-chinchilla relationships. We further investigated associations between caretakers' perceptions of stress in their chinchillas and emotional closeness to their animals. Basic needs such as keeping with conspecifics, constant access to water and hay, or offering dust baths were mostly fulfilled. Potential welfare issues included individual keeping (14.3%), undersized cages/enclosures (reported by 27.6% of the Austrian respondents), and suffering from a disease (14.7%). Behavioral indicators of good welfare, such as playing and cuddling with conspecifics, were observed several times per day by 40.9% and 87.9% of the respondents, respectively. Repetitive and unwanted behaviors were less common (fur biting, for instance, occurred 'never' in 82.9%). Caretakers rated their animals as generally more stressed if the animal was ill and more often showed fearful behavior toward them. Caretakers feeling closer to their animals spent more time engaging with them. Correct identification of this kind of association could be used as guidance for recommendations to improve chinchilla welfare at home and in the veterinary setting.

Tracking dustbathing behavior of cage-free laying hens with machine vision technologies

Dustbathing (DB) is a functionally important maintenance behavior in birds that clean plumage, realigns feather structures, removes feather lipids, which helps to remove parasites and prevents feathers from becoming too oily. Among different natural behaviors birds perform in cage-free (CF) housing, DB is one of the important behavior related to bird welfare. Earlier studies have identified DB behavior using manual method such as counting number of DB bouts, and duration of DB bouts from video recordings. The manual detection of DB behavior is time-consuming, sometimes prone to errors, and have limitations. Therefore, an automated precision monitoring method is needed to detect DB behavior in laying hens from an early age in CF housing environment. The objectives of this study were to (1) develop and test a deep learning model for detecting DB behavior and find out the optimal model; and (2) assess the performance of the optimal model in detecting DB behavior at different growing phases. In this study, deep learning models, i.e., YOLOv7-DB, YOLOv7x-DB, YOLOv8s-DB and YOLOv8x-DB, networks, were developed, trained, and compared in tracking DB behavior in 4 CF rooms each with 200 hens (W-36 Hy-Line). Results indicate that the YOLOv8x-DB model outperform all other models on detecting DB behavior with a precision of 93.4%, recall of 91.20%, and mean average precision (mAP@0.50) of 93.70%. All models performed with over 90% detection precision; however, model performance was affected by equipment like drinking lines, perches, and feeders. Based on the optimal model (YOLOv8x-DB), DB detection precision was highest during grower phase (precision of 96.80%, recall of 97.10%, mAP@0.50 of 98.60%, and mAP@0.50-0.95 of 79.10% followed by prelay, layers, developer, and peaking phases. This study provides a reference for poultry and egg producers that DB behavior can be detected automatically with precision of at least 89% or more using optimal model at any growing phase of laying hens.

Impact of different range areas on behavior, welfare, and performance of Naked Neck chickens.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different environmental enrichment tools on behavior, welfare, productive performance, and egg quality traits of Naked Neck chickens. A total of 1080 Naked Neck female chickens (30 weeks old) were used in the present study. A completely randomized experimental design, with 3 treatments having 4 replicates of 90 birds each, was applied. Treatments consisted of 3 different range areas A (121.9 m2), B (152.4 m2), and C (190.5 m2). Behavior (walking, feeding/foraging, sitting, aggressiveness wing flapping, perching, dust bathing, and range use), welfare (foot pad dermatitis, lameness, gait score, and feather pecking), productive performance (egg weight, egg production %, egg mass, and feed intake), egg quality traits (morphometry, egg weight, shell, albumen, and yolk characteristics) were evaluated. There was no influence (P > 0.05) of different range area on bird's behavior, and egg quality traits except walking and rang usage. The range area C promoted productive performance including egg weight, egg production %, egg mass and feed intake, but it did not influence welfare traits. It might be concluded that Naked Neck chicken when reared in free range with different range enrichments did not reveal any difference regarding behavioral parameters, egg morphometry, and egg quality traits. The range area within minimum length and effectively used environmental enrichments (perching and dust bathing area) should be used for backyard poultry to obtain ideal performance.

The potential of pumice as a litter material and its influence on growth performance, carcass parameters, litter quality traits, behavior, and welfare in broiler chickens.

This study evaluated the possibilities of pumice (light stones) as litter material in broiler production. Experimental treatments included wood shavings (WS), acidic pumice (AP), and basic pumice (BP) alone, and in combination; wood shaving + acidic pumice (WSAP) and wood shaving + basic pumice (WSBP) in a ratio of 1:1. Two trials were performed, one in summer, and the other in winter. Each trial involved 750 mixed-sex Ross (308) broilers. Also, there were 15 replicate pens with 50 broilers and a stocking density of 12.5 birds/m2 for each pen at the beginning of each trial. Performance, litter quality, carcass parameters, body and leg abnormalities, body temperature, fear and stress responses, proportional asymmetry, and some behavior expressions were investigated. The litter treatment influenced the final live body weight, litter moisture, ammonia concentration, footpad dermatitis, hock burn, breast blister, hot carcass yield, heart, liver, spleen, abdominal fat, wing and neck ratio, breast and back cleanliness, and the expression of dust bathing and foraging behaviors (P < 0.01; P < 0.05). Furthermore, there was a seasonal effect on live body weight, feed conversion ratio, livability, litter pH, 42-day litter moisture, hot carcass yield, back cleanliness, footpad dermatitis, hock burn, footpad temperature, heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and expression of pecking behavior (P < 0.01; P < 0.05). It is suggested that acidic pumice stone alone or in a mixture with wood shavings could be used as a reliable litter material, alternative to wood shavings.

Effects of environmental enrichment on ostrich behaviours

This study was aimed to investigate the behavioural differences of ostrich (Struthio camelus) breeders reared under environmental enrichment with natural vegetation in farm conditions. The effect of enriched environment with vegetation on eating, drinking, foraging, pecking, defecation, walking, running, alert, standing, sitting, sleeping, dust bathing, preening, head shake, thermoregulation, kantel, mating, laying, threat and fight behaviours of ostriches were found similar (P &amp;gt; 0.05). The ratio of boom, courtship and displace behaviours were found higher in enriched than in gravel floor (P=0.050; P=0.028 and P=0.001). The foraging, dust bathing, boom, laying and displace behaviours of ostriches were affected by gender (P=0.029, P=0.040, P=0.050, P=0.025 and P=0.001). The eating, foraging, standing, sitting, dust bathing and laying behaviours of ostriches were affected by time of day (P=0.010, P=0.023, P=0.049, P=0.026, P=0.018 and P=0.009). There was a significant interaction of enriched environment and gender effect on eating, standing, boom and displace behaviours of ostriches (P=0.047, P=0.031, P=0.050 and P=0.001). The pecking and standing behaviours of ostriches were affected by enriched environment and time of day interaction (P=0.027 and P=0.023). As a conclusion, enriched environment with natural vegetation in paddock only affected ostriches’ courtship behaviours, also affected male and female eating and standing behaviours differently.

Variation in litter occupancy and dust bathing patterns among layer strains following periods of litter restriction

Producers are moving toward cage-free systems to house laying hens. These include aviary styles with multilevel wire enclosures and litter areas on the floor. In aviaries with doors hens can be confined within the tiered enclosure, which can be done to promote oviposition in nests and prevent hens from laying eggs in litter. However, there are multiple genetic strains of laying hen used in the egg industry, and some show different temporal patterns for key behaviors that could affect when they want to be on litter. For example, though dust bathing by laying hens is typically considered to peak in early afternoon, there may be variation in timing of motivation to dust bathe among strains. Differences in hens' temporal patterns, coupled with aviary configurations or management practices, may restricts birds' ability to perform important behaviors, such as dust bathing (DB), when they would most prefer to do them. Our objective was to determine if there were strain differences in the temporal pattern of DB. We examined the timing of DB in 4 strains of laying hen (Hy-Line Brown [HB], Bovans Brown [BB], DeKalb White [DW], and Hy-Line W36 [W36]) housed in aviaries using 144 hens of each strain per aviary unit (4 units/strain). We recorded the number of hens DB and on litter using instantaneous scan sampling every 5 min using video collected at 26 and 28 wk of age beginning at 11:35 (when litter access began each day) to 20:00 (lights off). Brown strains acclimated to litter access more slowly than white strains. Hens of all strains DB most often soon after gaining access to litter, and more white hens (DW and W36) DB simultaneously and in the presence of more conspecifics. Further examination of diurnal rhythm of behaviors, such as dust bathing, under unconstrained conditions by a range of genetic strains of laying hens is needed to design management practices and aviary styles that best meet hens' needs.

EFFECTS OF SEASON, SEX AND TIME OF DAY ON OSTRICH BREEDER (Struthio camelus) BEHAVIOR

Ambient temperature has a crucial effect on livestock production performance, behaviors and welfare. In ostrich, previous research primarily focused on survival and reproductive performance during the climatic shifts. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of seasonal variation on behavioral differences of male and female ostrich (Struthio camelus) breeders, reared in farm environment. The individual behaviors related to digestion, locomotor activities, resting, comfort and thermoregulation, reproduction, and aggressive behaviors were recorded. The higher sitting and sleeping behavior were observed in summer season (P≤0.01 and P≤0.001, respectively). The thermoregulation behaviors were observed only in summer season (P≤0.0001). The higher foraging, alertness and spot pecking behaviors were observed in females (P≤0.01, P≤0.05, and P≤0.05, respectively). The boom behavior was only observed in males (P≤0.05). The higher walking behavior was observed in the afternoon and morning (P≤0.05). The higher sleeping, dust bathing, grooming and thermoregulation behaviors were observed at noon (P≤0.001, P≤0.001, P≤0.0001 and P≤0.0001, respectively). There was a significant interaction between season and sex for displace behavior, a sign of aggressive behavior (P=0.006). There was a significant interaction between season and time of day for drinking and defecation related to digestive behaviors (P≤0.05 and P≤0.05, respectively); sleeping described as a resting behavior (P=0.0001); dust bathing and grooming which is related to comfort behaviors (P≤0.0001 and P≤0.0001); thermoregulation (P≤0.0001); copulation described as a reproductive behavior (P=0.003); displace and escape behaviors mostly a sign of aggressive behavior (P≤0.05 and P≤0.05). Ostriches are diurnal animals with a nomadic lifestyle and have higher activity during the early and late times of the day. Identification of the seasonal, sexual and time of day differences on behavior types of ostriches, provides important information for ostrich management and their welfare. Keywords: Ostrich (Struthio camelus), climate-change, behavior, animal welfare.

How are they really doing? Animal welfare on organic laying hen farms in terms of health and behaviour

ABSTRACT 1. The present study describes the current welfare situation on commercial organic laying hen farms in Sweden in terms of indoor environment, bird health and behaviour. 2. Organic laying hen farms (n = 11) in Sweden were visited for one day each. The farm visits were performed at the end of lay and involved farmer interviews, indoor environment assessments, behavioural observations and tests and clinical examinations in one flock per farm. 3. In 95% of all human avoidance distance test trials performed, the hens distanced themselves from the observer before the test was completed. Median number of birds per flock approaching during a novel object test (n = 4 trials per flock) was 2 (0-9). These results may indicate a high level of fear of humans and general fearfulness among the hens. 4. Plumage damage was especially prevalent and most severe on the breast and belly, tail and wings, with median prevalence of moderate-severe damage of 96% (84–100), 96% (72–100) and 98% (94–100), respectively. Median prevalence of keel bone deviations was 67% (32–84) with 3% fractures (0–8). Median prevalence of breast skin lesions was 57% (10–74). There was a significant positive association between breast skin lesions and keel bone deviations (P = 0.02) and foot pad hyperkeratosis (P < 0.001). Median prevalence of severe hyperkeratosis was 33% (8–96), with prevalence being significantly lower where litter depth was thicker (P = 0.003). More dust bathing events were observed in flocks where litter depth was thicker (P = 0.007). 5. The present study contributes with updated knowledge of laying hen welfare on organic farms in Sweden. The results confirm the findings of previous on-farm studies, demonstrating that important issues, including keel bone damage and severe feather pecking, remain in need of attention to ensure the welfare of laying hens in future commercial egg production.

Associations of range use with individual behaviour, clinical welfare indicators, fear response and gastrointestinal characteristics of two laying hen hybrids

Access to an outdoor range provides laying hens with increased space and improved opportunities for performing natural behaviours. However, not all hens utilise the range to the same extent, and this may be associated with the welfare of the individual hen. The aim of this study was to assess if extent of range use was associated with several clinical welfare indicators, time budgets, measures of tonic immobility and gastrointestinal characteristics. One hundred twenty focal individuals (Bovans Brown, n = 60; Dekalb White, n = 60) randomly chosen from 12 pens of 100 hens (10 hens from each pen) were housed in accordance with the EU organic standards. Clinical welfare indicators including plumage condition, foot health, keel bone damage and body weight were assessed upon arrival at 18 weeks of age and again at 23, 28, 33 and 38 weeks of age. Over five three-day periods at corresponding weeks, hens received individual back marks for identification and behaviour was recorded by instantaneous scan sampling from 8:30–15:30 in the house and on the range. Behaviour recorded included comfort behaviours, drinking, dust bathing, eating, foraging, locomotion, nest use, pecking, perching, resting and standing. Frequency of passes through the pophole and duration of time outdoors were also determined through video observations. At 18 weeks of age a tonic immobility test was performed and number of inductions, latency to first head movement after induction and the duration of tonic immobility were recorded. At the end of the study (38 weeks of age), gastrointestinal tract morphology and contents were assessed. Individual range use varied, with hens differing in time spent on range, number of exits and consistency in these measures over time. Extent of range use was not associated with clinical welfare indicators nor fear levels as assessed by a tonic immobility test. Hens’ time budgets differed depending on where they spent most of their day, with hens utilising the range to a greater extent generally being more active (duration on range: foraging: P < 0.001, standing: P = 0.005; number of exits: locomotion: P < 0.001). Hens that utilised the range to a greater extent likely consumed more forage, as evident by the greater weight of pasture found in their crop and gizzard (P < 0.001), contributing to more developed gastrointestinal organs including the crop (duration on range: P = 0.004), gizzard (P < 0.001), and proventriculus (duration on range: P = 0.014). To conclude, the fear level and clinical welfare condition of the hens were not associated with extent of range use, unlike the time budgets and gastrointestinal characteristics.

An automatic classifier for monitoring applied behaviors of cage-free laying hens with deep learning

Poultry behavior is an important indicator of their welfare, health, and production performance. The welfare of layers and broilers such as walking ability, breast blisters, hock burn, and heart failures are measurable through behavior monitoring. In the previous research, most of laying hen studies focused on basic behaviors such as drinking, feeding, and walking of broilers. However, with the transition to the cage-free houses, more natural behaviors need to be monitored for welfare assessment. In this study, a six-behavioral classifier (i.e., feeding, drinking, walking, perch, dust bathing, and nesting) was developed based on multiple CNN models (e.g., efficientNetV2 and YOLOv5-cls). The classifier is one of the first model included perching, dust bathing, and nesting behaviors, which are special characters that reflect basic welfare of cage-free birds. Furthermore, a cage-free birds’ dataset containing 12,000 pictures was collected and annotated in a lifespan scale (e.g., from 1 week to 50 weeks of old), from which 9,600 images were used as training dataset and the rest were used for validation. The best performance model YOLOv5-cls-m achieved an average accuracy of 95.3%, which is 5.01% higher than that of efficientNetV2-l. Drinking behavior of chicks was monitored with the highest accuracy (97.8%) while nesting behavior had a detection precision of 92.5%. In terms of chickens’ age, the classifier has a better accuracy for smaller chicks (< 10 days) than larger chickens older than 10 days (96.4% vs 94.3%). The results show that the classifier is a useful tool to segregate cage-free bird behaviors in various life periods and environments.

The Effect of Drinking Water Temperature and Stocking Density on Broiler Performance, Meat Quality and Some Behavioral Traits at High Ambient Temperature

The present study examined the effect of drinking water temperature and stocking density on performance (cumulative body weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio), meat quality, and behaviour traits (eating, drinking, lying, standing, and dust bathing) in broilers. A total of 360 broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly divided into 6 experimental groups, in a 2x3 factorial arrangement of drinking water temperature (10°C or 31°C), with stocking density (12, 15 or 18 birds/m2), each consisting of 4 replicate pens. Meat quality traits (pH15, L*, CL, and WHC), lying and standing behaviours were affected by water temperature. The stocking density significantly affected the cumulative body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, color of breast meat [lightness (L*), redness (a*), yellowness (b*)] of broiler chickens. In conclusion, management practices such as stocking density and drinking water temperature in broilers could reduce the detrimental effects of high ambient temperature on growth performance, meat quality traits, and behaviour.

Investigation of the Plumage Condition of Non-Beak-Trimmed Rhode ISLAND-Type Pedigree Hens in Cages and Alternative Pens

The extent of the feathers covering a bird’s body and the condition of the plumage largely determine the bird’s well-being and aesthetic condition. This investigation aimed to compare changes in the plumage status of laying hens in dissimilar housing systems in the egg-laying period. The experiment was carried out with 1460 non-beak-trimmed laying hens, provided by Bábolna TETRA Ltd., representing a part of the Rhode-type elite lines (Rhode Island Red (RIR) and Rhode Island White (RIW)) used for breeding brown layer hybrids. Hens were kept in the closed experimental laying house of MATE University (Kaposvár Campus), where the RIR and RIW hens were placed into three types of housing systems: EU standard furnished cage (EU) (7560 cm2; 10 hens/cage; 756 cm2/hen); Alternative pen (A) (5.52 m2, floor and litter combination, 53 hens/pen; 1040 cm2/hen); and Conventional cage (C) (3780 cm2; 6 hens/cage; 630 cm2/hen). The feathering status of the hens was examined at five body parts: neck, breast, wings, back and tail at 33, 45 and 61 weeks of age, which was evaluated on a four-grade scale by the same experienced scorer, and the cumulated plumage point (5–20) was calculated for each hen. The RIW genotype had a better plumage condition than RIR at each of the examined times (at the 33rd week: 19.0, 18.3; at the 45th week: 18.4, 17.4; at the 61st week: 17.2, 15.5). The status of the plumage of the RIR hens had deteriorated to a greater extent. As age progressed, the plumage condition of both genotypes significantly deteriorated in all the three housing technologies. The relatively high level of deterioration can be partly explained by the fact that the animals were non-beak-trimmed. At all test times, the total feather score of the birds in the alternative cage housing was significantly better (at the 33rd week: EU: 18.4, A: 19.1, C: 18.5; at the 45th week: EU: 17.6, A: 18.6, C: 17.4; at the 61st week: EU: 15.9, A: 16.9; C: 16.1). The condition of the neck plumage was better in group RIW than in RIR, and the best in the alternative housing at each test time. At the end, the high decomposition results were striking, since at the beginning there were values close to the maximum (3.98; 3.99). It can be concluded that the reason for the dominantly favorable aviary results is that the hens in this type of housing have to come into contact with fewer mechanical factors, their companions do not jump on their backs when changing places, they do not have to stick their heads out of the grid to collect feed, etc. In addition to all this, they also had a littered scratching area and a nest lined with artificial grass, where they could scratch and take a dust bath.

Tracking floor eggs with machine vision in cage-free hen houses

Some of the major restaurants and grocery chains in the United States have pledged to buy cage-free (CF) eggs only by 2025 or 2030. While CF house allows hens to perform more natural behaviors (e.g., dust bathing, perching, and foraging on the litter floor), a particular challenge is floor eggs (i.e., mislaid eggs on litter floor). Floor eggs have high chances of contamination. The manual collection of eggs is laborious and time-consuming. Therefore, precision poultry farming technology is necessary to detect floor eggs. In this study, 3 new deep learning models, that is, YOLOv5s-egg, YOLOv5x-egg, and YOLOv7-egg networks, were developed, trained, and compared in tracking floor eggs in 4 research cage-free laying hen facilities. Models were verified to detect eggs by using images collected in 2 different commercial houses. Results indicate that the YOLOv5s-egg model detected floor eggs with a precision of 87.9%, recall of 86.8%, and mean average precision (mAP) of 90.9%; the YOLOv5x-egg model detected the floor eggs with a precision of 90%, recall of 87.9%, and mAP of 92.1%; and the YOLOv7-egg model detected the eggs with a precision of 89.5%, recall of 85.4%, and mAP of 88%. All models performed with over 85% detection precision; however, model performance is affected by the stocking density, varying light intensity, and images occluded by equipment like drinking lines, perches, and feeders. The YOLOv5x-egg model detected floor eggs with higher accuracy, precision, mAP, and recall than YOLOv5s-egg and YOLOv7-egg. This study provides a reference for cage-free producers that floor eggs can be monitored automatically. Future studies are guaranteed to test the system in commercial houses.

Animals

This section introduces important animals that are not regarded as causing fairy circles. It is rather assumed that they take advantage of resources and structures provided by fairy circles. Some of them directly use the Sand termites as a food resource (e.g. Aardvark), others occupy various positions within food webs at fairy circles (e.g. Seothyra spiders feeding on Tetramorium ants which forage on Psammotermes). Others seem to simply make use of the soil moisture offered underneath the fairy circles bare patch (e.g. the ant Carebara kunenesis). Namibian mountain zebra often use the open areas of the bare patch for dust bathing by rolling. Ostrich may also use fairy circles for dust bathing and sometimes establish nests inside.

Farm Environmental Enrichments Improve the Welfare of Layer Chicks and Pullets: A Comprehensive Review.

Simple SummaryLayer industries that are still using cage housing systems should encourage the provision of appropriate farm enrichments, especially at an early stage. Farm environmental enrichments such as litter, sand, alfalfa bales, chick papers, pecking stones, pecking strings, perches, slopes, elevated platforms, aviaries and outdoor access reduce feather and skin damage, as well as abdominal fat content. Additionally, they promote the development of the brain and musculoskeletal systems and improve biological function, productivity and product quality with lifelong benefits for hens by continuously exposing them to free access to forage, dust baths and free locomotion. In this review, we summarize several common and effective methods of farm environmental enrichments, including different manipulable materials, structural equipment, and outdoor access, moreover, the competence of the farm staff is a requirement to achieve useful utilization of these farm environmental enrichments that aim to reduce stress and improve the welfare and productivity of layers. Proper farm environmental enrichments benefit the wellbeing of caged birds.Currently, cage housing is regarded as a global mainstream production system for laying hens. However, limited living space and confinement of birds in cages cause welfare and health problems, such as feather pecking, osteoporosis, obesity, and premature aging. Many studies have been conducted to alleviate layer welfare problems by providing farm environmental enrichments such as litter, sand, alfalfa bales, chick papers, pecking stones, pecking strings, perches, slopes, elevated platforms, aviaries and outdoor access with a trend towards complex enrichments. The provision of appropriate enrichments continuously attracts layers towards pecking, foraging, dust bathing, and locomotion, thereby giving lifelong benefits to laying hens. Hence, raising chicks and pullets under such conditions may reduce feather and skin damage, as well as accumulation of abdominal fat, and improve several biological features such as health, productivity, quality products, and docility of laying hens. Therefore, providing enrichment during the first few days of the layer’s life without any interruption is crucial. In addition, due to different farm conditions, environmental enrichment should be managed by well-trained farm staff. For example, in preventing feather pecking among the birds, litter materials for foraging are superior to dust bath materials or new items. However, a limited supply of litter creates competition and challenges among birds. Therefore, providing farm environmental enrichment for layers requires proper handling, especially in commercial layer farms. Hence, improving the welfare of chicks and pullets through optimizing on-farm environmental enrichments is essential for production systems practicing cage housing.

Broiler behavior differs from males to females when under different light wavelengths.

It is well established that different light wavelengths affect broiler behavior. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of four light wavelengths on broiler behavior from 1 to 42days of age. Birds were housed at a stocking density of 13 birds/m2, in 32 boxes of 1.56 m2. The experimental design was a completely randomized factorial of 4 × 2 (four colors × two sexes), with four replicates. Behavioral variables were accessed through cameras and observed in person thrice a week for 30min per day in three different periods. Data were organized according to age groups and analyzed by a data mining approach with the different light wavelengths as the classes. Natural behavior defined by stretch, dust bath of male broilers reared in environments with green and blue light was more relevant to the classification of male broilers' behavior (96.9 and 96.9% accuracy and 0.8 and 1.0 of class precision of behavior classification, respectively). Blue and green lights affected the behavior of male broilers starting at 7days of age, increasing the presence at the bird feeder, and reducing the idle period.

Effects of mirror and coloured balls as environmental enrichment tools on performance, welfare and meat quality traits of commercial broiler.

This study evaluated the effect of environmental enrichment on the performance, behaviour and welfare aspects; blood biochemistry; carcass and meat quality traits of broiler chickens. A total of 450 straight run broiler chicks (Ross-308) were divided into 5 treatment groups having 6 replicates of 15 birds each under a completely randomised design. Treatments were environmental enrichment (EE) tools and consisted of C = control group; R = red ball for EE; G = green ball for EE; B = blue ball for EE and M = mirror for EE. These environmental enrichment tools were provided throughout the experimental period (0 to 35days). Mean feed intake per bird was higher in all treatment groups except the blue balls group; weight gain and feed conversion ratio were better in the green and blue ball groups. Broiler chickens reared under different environmental enrichment were more active and they exhibited maintenance behaviour (preening, dust bathing and wing stretching, or scratching) more frequently. Regarding welfare traits, lower incidence of toe damage, footpad dermatitis and hock burn was observed in birds having different environmental enrichment tools as compared to the control group. The birds reared with red balls as environmental enrichment showed the lowest values for glucose, cholesterol, total protein, albumin and globulin amongst all the treatment groups. Birds reared with green balls had the highest body weight at slaughter, dressed weight, carcass yield and liver weight. Breast meat of environmentally enriched treated groups was lighter and had lower ultimate pH. It was concluded that the addition of environmental enrichment tools (visual, structural and plastic) motivates the birds for physical activities and improves the performance of broiler chickens.

Impact of Dietary Egg Yolk IgY Powder on Behavior, Meat Quality, Physiology, and Intestinal Escherichia coli Colonization of Broiler Chicks.

The current study investigated the impact of different concentrations of purified egg yolk immunoglobulin Y (IgY) supplemental food on the growth performance, behaviors, cecal contents of Escherichia coli, and the meat quality of broiler chicks. Four dietary groups were given to 180 female Ross broiler chicks at random (n = 45 for each). The control group was fed a standard diet only, whereas the other three experimental groups were fed the same basic diet supplemented with 1,500, 3,000, and 4,000 μg/ml IgY for a duration of 42 days. Significant greater behavioral activities, including, feeding, drinking, and dust bathing (p < 0.05), in the birds fed 4,000 μg/ml of IgY compared to the control group were observed. Greater weight gains of the crop, proventriculus, gizzard, and intestine (p < 0.05) were observed for broiler chicks fed 4,000 μg/ml of IgY when compared to the control group. After 3 weeks of feeding, the groups fed 3,000 and 4,000 μg/ml IgY had significant lower E. coli counts in the muscle and cecal contents (p < 0.05) when compared to the control group. Moreover, dietary supplementation with 4,000 μg/ml IgY in the third week and 3,000 μg/ml IgY in the sixth week resulted in greater weight gain (p < 0.01) when compared to the control group. Also, at week 3, chicks fed 4,000 μg/ml of IgY had a lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) when compared to the control group (p < 0.05). At week 6, chicks fed 3,000 μg/ml of IgY had lower FCR than the control (p < 0.05). The circulating heterophile/lymphocyte ratio was simply altered in birds fed variable IgY concentrations (1,500, 3,000, and 4,000 μg/ml), with no significant differences compared to the control group due to the individual resistance of each bird to physiological stress. The addition of 4,000 μg/ml IgY to the diet enhanced the nutritive value of meat, including protein, fat, and ash content (p < 0.05). Our study concluded that dietary supplementation of 3,000 and/or 4,000 μg/ml IgY improved the growth rates, behavioral activities, intestinal health indices, and meat quality of broiler chicks.

Make an Effort to Remember. Or, Failing That, Invent, and: Rage, and: No Object Can Float without Some Part of It Being below the Surface, and: Haibun in Which a Small Thing Dies, and: So Close Is Still So Far out of Reach, and: I Can Look at You from inside as Well, and: After I Stopped Counting the Days

Make an Effort to Remember. Or, Failing That, Invent, and: Rage, and: No Object Can Float without Some Part of It Being below the Surface, and: Haibun in Which a Small Thing Dies, and: So Close Is Still So Far out of Reach, and: I Can Look at You from inside as Well, and: After I Stopped Counting the Days Jennifer Perrine (bio) Make an Effort to Remember. Or, Failing That, Invent i do not remember a life without guns there was no yesterday into which i can make my escape no homeland to go back to except this one was i always so afraid when did i learn to make up this face to pretend a call a whistle from across the street doesn't make my skin crawl do i really have to paint the picture of a man with a gun it doesn't matter if it is bad form to say i do not want to punish him it doesn't matter what i want is a daywhere any of us out for a jog at our jobs sitting at our desks at school watching for the bird that flew past still hear its song let it arrive without a thought of himthe man with the gun coming for us consider what it means to say he was fed up and at the end of his rope i am also not without hope not without compassion thisspring day where the sun is merciless does not spare us as we march again what is ever enough what will satisfy this hunger to be just left alone for once what can i offer my aunt my grandmother worried to go for a walk this is what hedoes even now we watch out for the bird it must exist we saw it we did we did [End Page 11] Rage I've been told my placid attitude must hide some menace.Mostly, it doesn't. Mostly, I'm content to kick back in the sun,flicking at any mosquitos bold enough to sip at my skin. I getmy fill of excitement gazing up into the waving limbs of the oldwalnut, watching the oak with its galls full of wasps jettisoncatkins. Mostly, I've adopted sloth as my vice of choice, so if my voice comes out too brittle or loud, it could be thegrowls I've stifled when townsfolk scrutinize me, checking forpoints to my teeth, for fur tucked up my sleeves. It could bewhen their torches set fire to neighbors' houses, I've extinguishedmy cries. I've gotten wind of their jokes, their critiques of myeyes: too golden, too lupine. I keep my wild from busting out. I know what could happen if my steadiness drifts into a snarlor shout. I've learned not to leave the house when I feel acertain set to my jaw, an untamed pulse in my chest. I can'texcise the beast. I don't transform. It's part of me, as much asthe skin in which I was born, as much as the soul pleased topass a day in study of a covey of quail at play in a zealous dust bath, all shimmy and flapping wings. I wish for such jubilant,haphazard abandon. If fury stings my throat, I try to pay itno mind. My kind was taught to wait out pitchforks and plotsthat paint us as villains. But I still know how to bound throughmoonlight, to transfix a mob with chilling howls, to slash aquaking thing to ribbons. I'll gut what I must to go on living. [End Page 12] No Object Can Float without Some Part of It Being below the Surface dear mother you send no cards from the afterlife to your two children born in may i cannot be the only one to notice this neglect of etiquette i did not call on your birthday or any other day for years forgivemy quarters slipped into fountains instead of pay phones dial tones i severed afraid you would not answer i've kept the message...

Impacts of Rearing Enrichments on Pullets' and Free-Range Hens' Positive Behaviors across the Flock Cycle.

Simple SummaryEnrichment during the indoor rearing of young laying hens (pullets) destined for free-range systems may improve pullet development and increase motivated natural behaviors (termed ‘positive behaviors’) such as foraging, dust bathing and chick play. Hy-Line Brown® chicks (n = 1700) were floor-reared indoors across 16 weeks with three enrichment treatments (n = 3 pens/treatment): (1) standard control, (2) weekly novel objects—‘novelty’, (3) perching/navigation structures—‘structural’. Pullets (16 weeks old: n = 1386) were then transferred to nine identical pens within rearing treatments, with outdoor range access from 25 to 65 weeks. Video cameras recorded the pullet pens, adult indoor pens, and outside range. During rearing, observations of play behavior in chicks at 2, 4 and 6 weeks showed no overall effect of rearing treatment. At 11 and 14 weeks only the novelty hens were observed to increase their foraging across age with no differences between treatments in dust bathing. Observations of adult hens at 26, 31, 41, 50, 60 and 64 weeks showed that the structural hens exhibited more dust bathing and foraging overall than the control hens, but that both novelty and/or structural hens showed small increases relative to control hens depending on the behavior and location. Across age, adult hens differed in the degree of dust bathing performed inside or outside and foraging outside but not inside. For litter-reared pullets, additional enrichments may result in some long-term increases in positive behaviors. Enrichment during the indoor rearing of pullets destined for free-range systems may optimize pullet development including increasing motivated natural behaviors (termed ‘positive behaviors’) including foraging, dust bathing and chick play. Hy-Line Brown® chicks (n = 1700) were floor-reared indoors across 16 weeks with three enrichment treatments (n = 3 pens/treatment): (1) standard control, (2) weekly novel objects—‘novelty’, (3) perching/navigation structures—‘structural’. At 16 weeks, pullets (n = 1386) were transferred to nine identical pens within rearing treatments with outdoor range access from 25 to 65 weeks. Video cameras recorded the pullet pens, adult indoor pens, and outside range. During rearing, observations of play behavior (running, frolicking, wing-flapping, sparring) in chicks at 2, 4 and 6 weeks (total of 432 thirty-second scans: 16 observations × 3 days × 9 pens) showed no overall effect of rearing treatment (p = 0.16). At 11 and 14 weeks only the ‘novelty’ hens were observed to increase their foraging across age (p = 0.009; dust bathing: p = 0.40) (total of 612 thirty-second scans per behavior: 17 observations × 2 days × 2 age points × 9 pens). Observations of adult hens at 26, 31, 41, 50, 60 and 64 weeks showed that the structural hens exhibited overall more dust bathing and foraging than the control hens (both p < 0.04) but both novelty and/or structural hens showed small increases depending on the behavior and location (total of 4104 scans per behavior: 17 observations × 2 days × 6 age points × 9 pens × 2 locations = 3672 + an additional 432 observations following daylight saving). Across age, adult hens differed in the degree of dust bathing performed inside or outside (both p ≤ 0.001) and foraging outside (p < 0.001) but not inside (p = 0.15). For litter-reared pullets, additional enrichments may result in some long-term increases in positive behaviors.