Dustbathing in relation to early pecking experience in game pheasants (Phasianus colchicus)

Abstract

Studies on domestic chicks have indicated that preferences for dustbathing substrates are related to early pecking experience before full dustbathing behaviour has appeared. In this study we investigated if this was also the case in game pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), a close relative of fowl. Pheasant chicks were kept as pairs in wire floored cages and given either 2 min or 5 min pecking experience by simultaneous presentation of peat and sand on days 2-11. On days 13 and 14 they were tested for dustbathing performance during 30 min simultaneous presentation of sand, peat and feed. Chicks on the 5 min treatment had a higher pecking rate (P < 0.01) and therefore gained more experience with the pecking substrates than chicks on the 2 min treatment. Furthermore, chicks on the 5 min pecking treatment dustbathed more in the substrates than those on the 2 min treatment (P < 0.05). Generally, chicks preferred to peck at peat rather than at sand (P < 0.02) and they also preferred to dustbathe in peat (P < 0.03). In the 2 min group dustbathing in the substrates and early overall pecking rate on days 2-11 at the substrates were positively correlated, with a strongly increased correlation coefficient by day 8. In the 5 min group the correlations between pecking at either sand or peat and dustbathing in sand peaked on day 4. During the dustbathing tests three chicks that had no or very little experience of pecking the substrates preferred to dustbathe in food. We suggest that like domestic chicks game pheasant chicks imprint on dustbathing substrates by pecking at them during the first days of life.