Development and computer-assisted validation of a radio frequency identification system for tracking individual chicken visits to functional areas.

ABSTRACT: Understanding how laying hens interact with functional resources-such as drinkers, feeders, perches, nest boxes, and wintergardens-is essential for meeting their physiological needs and enabling species-specific behaviors. This knowledge is crucial for poultry welfare assessments and precision livestock management. However, traditional ethological data collection methods, including direct observation and manual video analysis, are labor-intensive, prone to observer bias, and impractical for individual-level tracking. To overcome these challenges, we developed and validated an RFID-based system for automated, non-invasive tracking of individual hens' visits to key resources, using an established ArUco-based video annotation system as the reference standard. For validation, twenty-one laying

SUBMITTER: Alindekon S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12355069 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature