Article Abstract:
The motivation of domestic hens during their pre-egg laying period can be studied by setting the hens an aversive task. This was carried out using 12 hens which had to use a particular corridor to gain entry to the nest box. Hens were likely to take longer to go into the corridor giving access to a nest box if a dominant or unfamiliar hen was present than if there was a subordinate hen or no hen at all. Hens appear more motivated to reach a nest box when the sitting phase starts than during the searching phase before laying eggs.
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Article Abstract:
Individual variation in nest-site choice among laying hens, Gallus gallus domesticus, seems to be the result of different perception of nestboxes rather than lower nesting motivation. Hens showing inconsistent laying behaviour seem to be less responsive to the cues provided by nestboxes than those showing consistent laying behaviour. However, inconsistent hens are as motivated as consistent hens to perform pre-laying behaviour. In general, inconsistent hens are no more active, selective or restless than consistent hens.
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Article Abstract:
A study has been conducted to examine social inhibition of movement in the laying hens, Gallus gallus domesticus. Birds have been observed to take a longer time coming out of the cage and reaching the cage containing food and water when a dominant bird was present. They also took longer time when the number of unfamiliar birds inside the cages increased. These suggest that the social environment influenced the social behavior and movement of the birds.
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