Nigerian indigenous hens show more discomfort-related behavior with visual separation than physical separation from their chicks: An exploratory study
The Nigerian indigenous hens exhibit their full natural behavior repertoires, including maternal care. The strong maternal bond between the hen and her chicks is established prior to hatching. Maternal care of chickens is essential for both exotic and indigenous chickens. This study compared the beh...
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| Format: | Article |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.978848/full |
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| author | Oluwaseun S. Iyasere Oluwaseun S. Iyasere Olawale P. Olajumoke Samuel O. Durosaro Samuel O. Durosaro O. E. Oke Oluwabukunmi O. Famosaya Kolade M. Oliyide Victor J. Oyeniran |
| author_facet | Oluwaseun S. Iyasere Oluwaseun S. Iyasere Olawale P. Olajumoke Samuel O. Durosaro Samuel O. Durosaro O. E. Oke Oluwabukunmi O. Famosaya Kolade M. Oliyide Victor J. Oyeniran |
| author_sort | Oluwaseun S. Iyasere |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Nigerian indigenous hens exhibit their full natural behavior repertoires, including maternal care. The strong maternal bond between the hen and her chicks is established prior to hatching. Maternal care of chickens is essential for both exotic and indigenous chickens. This study compared the behaviors of six hen-chick pairs in a physical (PHY) and visual (VIS) separation test for 10 min. All the six hen-chick pairs were subjected to PHY separation on the 8th day of post-hatch and a VIS separation on the 12th day of post-hatch. The PHY separation involved the use of a wire mesh to separate the hen from her chicks, while the VIS separation involved the use of a trampoline to separate the hen from her chicks. The hen's behavior was recorded during the 10-min separation period. Behaviors recorded included sitting, body shaking, pecking, movements toward the chicks, jumping, pacing, defecation, movements away from the chicks, and preening. We further grouped these nine behaviors into two categories: discomfort-related (pacing, movement toward chicks, body shaking, defecation, and jumping) and comfort-related (sitting, pecking, preening, and movement away from the chicks) behaviors. Before and after each separation, the hens were gently restrained, and a drop of blood was sampled from the wing vein to determine the blood glucose level. Their heart rate and eye temperature were also measured. A two-related samples test (Wilcoxon) was used to compare the behavior of the hens when subjected to the PHY and VIS separation. Eight out of the nine behaviors monitored did not differ between the separation types. However, the frequency of pacing by the hens was greater (z = −2.201, P = 0.028) in the VIS separation than in the PHY separation. Also, discomfort-related behavior was greater (t(5) = −2.717, P = 0.042) during the VIS separation than the PHY separation. Comfort-related behavior did not differ between the separation types. The change in eye temperature, heart rate, and blood glucose was similar in the two separation types. In conclusion, Nigerian indigenous hens displayed more discomfort-related behavior to the VIS separation from their chicks, but this was not associated with physiological responses indicative of stress. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T08:32:38Z |
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| id | doaj.art-b333be0bc78b4e038f61ad0dd3248edb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T08:32:38Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
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| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-b333be0bc78b4e038f61ad0dd3248edb2022-12-22T04:34:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692022-11-01910.3389/fvets.2022.978848978848Nigerian indigenous hens show more discomfort-related behavior with visual separation than physical separation from their chicks: An exploratory studyOluwaseun S. Iyasere0Oluwaseun S. Iyasere1Olawale P. Olajumoke2Samuel O. Durosaro3Samuel O. Durosaro4O. E. Oke5Oluwabukunmi O. Famosaya6Kolade M. Oliyide7Victor J. Oyeniran8Department of Animal Physiology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, NigeriaAlbrecht Daniel Thaer-Institut für Agrar- und Gartenbauwissenschaften Tierhaltungssysteme und Ethologie, Humboldt University, Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Animal Physiology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, NigeriaDepartment of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, NigeriaDepartment of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United StatesDepartment of Animal Physiology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, NigeriaDepartment of Animal Physiology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, NigeriaDepartment of Animal Physiology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, NigeriaDepartment of Animal Physiology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, NigeriaThe Nigerian indigenous hens exhibit their full natural behavior repertoires, including maternal care. The strong maternal bond between the hen and her chicks is established prior to hatching. Maternal care of chickens is essential for both exotic and indigenous chickens. This study compared the behaviors of six hen-chick pairs in a physical (PHY) and visual (VIS) separation test for 10 min. All the six hen-chick pairs were subjected to PHY separation on the 8th day of post-hatch and a VIS separation on the 12th day of post-hatch. The PHY separation involved the use of a wire mesh to separate the hen from her chicks, while the VIS separation involved the use of a trampoline to separate the hen from her chicks. The hen's behavior was recorded during the 10-min separation period. Behaviors recorded included sitting, body shaking, pecking, movements toward the chicks, jumping, pacing, defecation, movements away from the chicks, and preening. We further grouped these nine behaviors into two categories: discomfort-related (pacing, movement toward chicks, body shaking, defecation, and jumping) and comfort-related (sitting, pecking, preening, and movement away from the chicks) behaviors. Before and after each separation, the hens were gently restrained, and a drop of blood was sampled from the wing vein to determine the blood glucose level. Their heart rate and eye temperature were also measured. A two-related samples test (Wilcoxon) was used to compare the behavior of the hens when subjected to the PHY and VIS separation. Eight out of the nine behaviors monitored did not differ between the separation types. However, the frequency of pacing by the hens was greater (z = −2.201, P = 0.028) in the VIS separation than in the PHY separation. Also, discomfort-related behavior was greater (t(5) = −2.717, P = 0.042) during the VIS separation than the PHY separation. Comfort-related behavior did not differ between the separation types. The change in eye temperature, heart rate, and blood glucose was similar in the two separation types. In conclusion, Nigerian indigenous hens displayed more discomfort-related behavior to the VIS separation from their chicks, but this was not associated with physiological responses indicative of stress.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.978848/fullbehaviormaternal careNigerian indigenous chickensseparation typeswelfarepacing |
| spellingShingle | Oluwaseun S. Iyasere Oluwaseun S. Iyasere Olawale P. Olajumoke Samuel O. Durosaro Samuel O. Durosaro O. E. Oke Oluwabukunmi O. Famosaya Kolade M. Oliyide Victor J. Oyeniran Nigerian indigenous hens show more discomfort-related behavior with visual separation than physical separation from their chicks: An exploratory study Frontiers in Veterinary Science behavior maternal care Nigerian indigenous chickens separation types welfare pacing |
| title | Nigerian indigenous hens show more discomfort-related behavior with visual separation than physical separation from their chicks: An exploratory study |
| title_full | Nigerian indigenous hens show more discomfort-related behavior with visual separation than physical separation from their chicks: An exploratory study |
| title_fullStr | Nigerian indigenous hens show more discomfort-related behavior with visual separation than physical separation from their chicks: An exploratory study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nigerian indigenous hens show more discomfort-related behavior with visual separation than physical separation from their chicks: An exploratory study |
| title_short | Nigerian indigenous hens show more discomfort-related behavior with visual separation than physical separation from their chicks: An exploratory study |
| title_sort | nigerian indigenous hens show more discomfort related behavior with visual separation than physical separation from their chicks an exploratory study |
| topic | behavior maternal care Nigerian indigenous chickens separation types welfare pacing |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.978848/full |
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