Resource choice during ontogeny enhances both the short- and longer-term welfare of laying hen pullets.

ABSTRACT: We hypothesised that resource choice during early life contributes to both current and longer-term beneficial effects on animal welfare. We investigated this hypothesis in a longitudinal cross-over experiment with laying hen pullets (Gallus gallus domesticus) reared in pens with one or four litter and perch types, respectively (n = 8 pens/treatment, all providing ample and identical litter and perch space). After 4 weeks (chick period), half the pens were modified to provide the opposite treatment (juvenile period). After 11 more weeks, all groups were moved to novel, identical laying pens (adult period; Week 16-27). In support of our hypothesis, the opportunity to choose between multiple litter and perch variants was associated with higher levels of positively-valenced behaviours, includi

SUBMITTER: Holt RV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10858183 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature