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Abstract
We hypothesised that resource choice during early life contributes to both current and longer-term beneficial effects on animal welfare. We investigated this hypothesis in a longitudinal cross-over experiment with laying hen pullets (Gallus gallus domesticus) reared in pens with one or four litter and perch types, respectively (n = 8 pens/treatment, all providing ample and identical litter and perch space). After 4 weeks (chick period), half the pens were modified to provide the opposite treatment (juvenile period). After 11 more weeks, all groups were moved to novel, identical laying pens (adult period; Week 16–27). In support of our hypothesis, the opportunity to choose between multiple litter and perch variants was associated with higher levels of positively-valenced behaviours, including play as chicks and dustbathing as juveniles and adults, and lower levels of negatively-valenced behaviours, including feather pecking as chicks and juveniles and aggressive pecking as adults. Resource choice in the juvenile period also led to better juvenile and adult plumage condition, and greater growth as adults. We conclude that the opportunity to choose among different litter and perch types, instead of having only one type of each, had both short- and longer-term positive effects on the birds’ affective states and physical condition.
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Details
1 Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Ås, Norway (GRID:grid.19477.3c) (ISNI:0000 0004 0607 975X)
2 Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Environment and Health, Uppsala, Sweden (GRID:grid.6341.0) (ISNI:0000 0000 8578 2742)
3 NEIKER, Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Department of Animal Production, Arkaute, Spain (GRID:grid.509696.5) (ISNI:0000 0000 9853 6743); IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain (GRID:grid.424810.b) (ISNI:0000 0004 0467 2314)