Effects of Feed Deprivation and Force Feeding on the Feeding Behavior of Laying Hens

Abstract

Experiments were carried out to clarify how feeding behavior wouldb e affected after subjecting hens to the following modes of feeding: NN, ad libitum feeding for 96 hr; NF, force feeding of 40g of feed diluted with60ml of water after the ad libitum feeding for 96 hr; DN, feed deprivation for24hr; and DF, force feeding after 24 hr of feed deprivation. After subjected to these modes of feeding, the hens were provided with pellets at 10:00 A. M. in each case. At exactly 30min following this, the amounts of feed intake were measured and found to be 4.2, 0, 39.8 and 22.1g, respectively. The proportion of food tampering to all pecks at feed during this period decreased in the order of NF, NN, DF and DN.It was concluded that in each case the feeding activity itself was due to feed available to these feeding modes, but the proportion of food tampering to all pecks at feed could change according to the degree of hunger and motivation to eat.