Comparison of Behavior of Laying Hens under Conditions of Ad Libitum and 80% Feeding

Abstract

To clarify the behavioral feature of restricted feeding hens, a comparison was made of the feeding behavior and certain other activities under conditions of restricted (80% ad libitum feeding) and non-restricted feeding. The manner in which feeding behavior changed under these conditions was unique for each hen. Pecking was observed frequently in the restricted feeding periods while preening showed the opposite tendency. The time spent for activities using the beak other than eating tended to increase when eating time was short. The total time engaged in activities using the beak under both conditions was the same for all hens. Consequently, pecking and preening as well as food tampering, to some extent, may be activities whose expressions mutually repress each other.