Abstracts » Zoology and wildlife conservation

The role of perception in the causation of dustbathing behaviour in domestic fowl

Article Abstract:

The initiation of dustbathing in female domestic fowl, Gallus gallus domesticus, is due to the sight of dusty substrate. Fowl also possibly hatch with predisposition thus enabling them to identify a substrate ideal for dustbathing. The pullets are given one of the three peat placement treatments labelled Below, Front and In. There is a remarkable interaction between rearing and treatment on the amount of the components of dustbathing behavior performed, but there are no differences between rearing groups on Below, and the peat-reared pullets performed more than wire-reared on In.

Analysis, Poultry, Poultry (Animals), Poultry (Meat), Grooming behavior in animals, Animal grooming behavior

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Feather pecking and chronic fear in groups of red junglefowl: their relations to dustbathing, rearing environment and social status

Article Abstract:

A study of the relation between dustbathing, feather pecking and feather damage observed in red junglefowl reveals that dustbathing increases the tendency to feather pecking. Tonic immobility tests show that the most fearful birds do the most feather pecking as feather pecking is an abnormal development of the perceptual mechanism in the detection of dust for dustbathing. Higher ranking birds indulged in more feather pecking when compared to low ranking birds which showed more allopreening. This reveals the connection between social status and relationships of birds.

Jungle fowl

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Energy cost of an avian vocal display: crowing in red junglefowl

Article Abstract:

Analysis of the energetics of crowing in red junglefowl, Gallus Gallus, shows that despite being an obvious signal, crowing involves only low energy cost. The low energetics can be attributed to the limited time spent on vocalizing during calling bouts, the endothermic nature of these birds and their low acoustic power. Females pay less attention to crowing when selecting males, and the energetics of other display activities is higher than that of crowing.

Observations, Chickens, Animal sounds

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