title: Genetic and phenotypic correlations between feather pecking and open-field response in laying hens at two different ages.
abstract: The object of this research was to study the relationship between feather pecking and open-field activity in laying hens at two different ages. A population of 550 birds of a laying hen cross was subjected to an open-field test at 5 and 29 weeks of age and to a social feather pecking test at 6 and 30 weeks of age. Factor analysis was used to identify underlying factors for each test: pecking behavior (social test) and open-field activity (open-field test). In young birds, a positive phenotypic correlation of 0.24 was found between high open-field activity and high levels of pecking behavior (ground pecking, preening, gentle feather pecking, and wall pecking). In adults, a similar genetic correlation of 0.62 was found. At adult age, the factor pecking behavior consisted mainly of gentle and severe feather pecking. Between ages, a strong, negative genetic correlation of -0.65 was found between open-field activity at young age and pecking behavior at adult age, indicating that open-field activity levels in young birds may predict pecking behavior in adult hens.
authors.affiliation: Ethology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands. bas.rodenburg@wur.nl
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Rodenburg
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Buitenhuis
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ask
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Uitdehaag
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koene
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: van der Poel
authors.forename: J A M
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: van Arendonk
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bovenhuis
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development*; D005241:Feathers; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000235:genetics*; D010058:Oviposition; D010641:Phenotype; D011930:Reaction Time