The Effect of Stocking Density on the Behaviour of Broiler Chickens

Abstract

A 35-day trial was conducted to examine the influence of floor density on the behaviour of broiler chickens. Day-old male broilers ( n =756) were randomly assigned to one of four stocking densities (6 replicates of n =13, 25, 38 and 50) in 24 identical 2.6 m 2 pens. These stocking densities were coded very low (VL), low (L), medium (M) and high (H) and contained a floor space allowance per bird of 2,000 cm 2 , 1,000 cm2, 667 cm 2 and 500 cm 2 , respectively. Scan sampling of all groups was carried out at 15-min intervals during two 1-h periods (10.00 h-11.00 h and 14.00 h-15.00 h) for five days each week. The numbers of birds engaged in different behavioural activities were recorded. It was found that the most common behaviour in all densities was lying. There was no clear effect of density during wks 1-4 of the trial, but in wk 5 birds in the L, M and H groups showed lower levels ( P =0.07) of lying behaviour when compared to birds in the VL group suggesting that an increase in animal density results in decreased opportunities for undisturbed rest. This observation is supported by standing and walking behaviour, which was lower ( P <0.05) in the VL group in wk 5. Foraging behaviour measured in the study by the numbers of birds pecking the ground declined as the trial progressed, but scratching increased in 2 wk then decreased. Birds in the VL group showed higher ( P <0.05) level of pecking the ground behaviour compared to birds in the L, M and H groups, but scratching behaviour higher ( P <0.05) and lower ( P <0.05) in VL of 1 wk and 2 wk respectively. However, a peak in aggressive behaviour was observed in wk 2 and birds in the VL group showed less ( P <0.05) agonistic behaviour than birds in the H and M groups. Other behaviours (dustbathing, preening, eating or drinking) were not influenced ( P >0.05) by stocking density.