Leonie Jacobs

Walking on eggshells - assessing anxiety in chickens Extension collaborative for the poultry industry-Attention bias test-Applications-Research findingsAnxiety is the most common mental health disorder in people  (Bandelow & Michaelis, 2015). Chickens may also experience anxiety, but it is difficult to measure and research has been mainly focused on assessing fear. However, we can get in ...

This issue will cover:-What are behavioral needs?-What is dustbathing?-Dustbathing in commercial housing systemsSubstrate preferencesEnriched cages-Can dustbathing control ectoparasites?Behavioral needs encompass behaviors that chickens are strongly motivated to perform, and if they are unable to perform these highly motivated behaviors it could result in frustration (Duncan, 1998). Behavioral nee ...

    The ancestor of the modern-day chicken, the red jungle fowl, was exposed to different spectra of light in their natural habitat (Prescott et al., 2003). The surrounding environment, vegetation, season, and time of day all affect the color of light exposure to the wild bird (Endler, 1993), which may have lingering behavioral effects on present-day poultry.Light impacts many behav ...

What is the pre-slaughter phase?The preslaughter phase is the last phase of the broiler chicken’s life before slaughter.This phase includes multiple steps: withdrawal of feed and water, catching, loading into transportation crates, and transportation by road, In some cases, chickens may be placed in lairage (waiting area) after arrival at the processing plant. The chickens are then removed f ...

Animal welfare audits are performed to evaluate whether a hatchery, farm, or processing plant is meeting the specific animal welfare standards of a certification program.These programs may be internal to a certain company, or they could be a requirement for animal welfare certification. These certification programs have their own set of standards and audits, which are typically created in collabor ...

What is litter?Litter and its management are an essential part of bird management and ensuring bird welfare. This goes for broilers, turkeys, or laying hens kept on litter floors. Litter is a combination of the bedding used within a house combined with the excreta from the birds. Good quality litter provides birds with a comfortable place to rest and perform natural behaviors. Litter has multiple ...

IntroductionLocomotory activity is strongly associated with broiler chicken welfare; many behavioral patterns that depend on locomotion, such as exploration, seeking food, water, shelter, and escaping predators, are negatively affected by the poor walking ability in fast-growing broiler chickens [1]. Rapid muscle growth and exacerbated development of the Pectoralis major muscle in fast-growing bro ...