Effects of broody hens on perch use, ground pecking, feather pecking and cannibalism in domestic fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus)

Previous work has shown that the tendency to feather peck in domestic fowl is influenced by experiences early in life; it was hypothesised that broody hens prevent development of feather pecking and cannibalism in their chicks by increasing their ground pecking activity and by motivating them to earlier perch use. Twelve groups of 10 layer hen chicks (Lohmann Tradition) were reared in pens (2.55 m2) with perches at heights of 20 and 40 cm; six...