title: Reaction to frustration in high and low feather pecking laying hens.
abstract: Reaction to frustration of high (HFP) and low feather pecking (LFP) laying hens was investigated. From a HFP- and a LFP-line five birds with a HFP- and five birds with a LFP-phenotype were selected. Birds from the HFP-line were expected to show more key pecking and covered feeder pecking during frustration than birds from the LFP-line. When a bunch of feathers was presented, birds with a HFP-phenotype were expected to redirect their pecks at the bunch. Birds were trained to peck a key for a food reward in an automated Skinnerbox and subjected to two sessions: a control session, where food was available, and a frustration session, where the feeder was covered with Perspex. These two sessions were repeated in the presence of a bunch of feathers. Unexpectedly, birds from the LFP-line had a stronger reaction to frustration than birds from the HFP-line, expressed in pecking behaviour. When a bunch of feathers was offered, birds with a HFP-phenotype did not show more bunch pecking during frustration than birds with a LFP-phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Ethology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rodenburg
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koene