The onset of pain related behaviours following partial beak amputation in the chicken.
The number of pecks delivered by birds to an attractive visual stimulus was measured before and again 6, 26 and 32 h after partial beak amputation. There was a significant reduction in the number of pecks by birds 26 h after amputation but not at 6 h after. This reduction was considered to be a quantitative measure of pain related guarding behaviour. The results indicated the presence of a pain-free period immediately following amputation which may last in some birds for as long as 26 h.
AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research, Edinburgh Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian, Scotland, U.K.
M J
MJ
Gentle
L N
LN
Hunter
D
D
Waddington
D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D000818:Animals; D001502:Beak; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002645:Chickens / Q000502:physiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*