Biomaterial Database

Location in the cage and diurnal distribution of feather pecking by caged layers. 1987

A P Preston

Department of Psychology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia.

1. Most feather pecking occurred between birds in the same cage rather than between birds in neighbouring cages during both morning (81%) and afternoon (92%) observations. 2. In the afternoon feather pecking and cage pecking were respectively 3.6 and 4.4 times more prevalent than in the morning. The proportion of severe feather pecking (19%) was unaffected by time of day. 3. These findings are discussed with regard to the possibility that feather pecking in the afternoon may reflect attempts by hens to adapt to an unstimulating environment and the limited potential for control of feather pecking by modification of the design of conventional cages, unless between--cage transmission of the behaviour is important in the development of feather pecking.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D002645	Chickens	Common name for the species Gallus gallus, the domestic fowl, in the family Phasianidae, order GALLIFORMES. It is descended from the red jungle fowl of SOUTHEAST ASIA.	Gallus gallus,Gallus domesticus,Gallus gallus domesticus,Chicken
D002940	Circadian Rhythm	The regular recurrence, in cycles of about 24 hours, of biological processes or activities, such as sensitivity to drugs or environmental and physiological stimuli.	Diurnal Rhythm,Nyctohemeral Rhythm,Twenty-Four Hour Rhythm,Nycthemeral Rhythm,Circadian Rhythms,Diurnal Rhythms,Nycthemeral Rhythms,Nyctohemeral Rhythms,Rhythm, Circadian,Rhythm, Diurnal,Rhythm, Nycthemeral,Rhythm, Nyctohemeral,Rhythm, Twenty-Four Hour,Rhythms, Circadian,Rhythms, Diurnal,Rhythms, Nycthemeral,Rhythms, Nyctohemeral,Rhythms, Twenty-Four Hour,Twenty Four Hour Rhythm,Twenty-Four Hour Rhythms
D005241	Feathers	Flat keratinous structures found on the skin surface of birds. Feathers are made partly of a hollow shaft fringed with barbs. They constitute the plumage.	Feather
D005260	Female		Females
D000374	Aggression	Behavior which may be manifested by destructive and attacking action which is verbal or physical, by covert attitudes of hostility or by obstructionism.	Aggressions
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001522	Behavior, Animal	The observable response an animal makes to any situation.	Autotomy Animal,Animal Behavior,Animal Behaviors