Understanding poultry social behaviour and its impact on animal welfare

Publication date: 28/09/2020
Extent: 32 pages

Contributions by: Inma Estevez, Neiker-Tecnalia Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development and IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Spain

Chapter synopsis: Sociality was a prerequisite for domestication that allowed animals to remain in groups under human custody. The social group provides opportunities to find food, protection from predation or weather conditions. However, highly dense or large groups normally found in production environment, may increase competition and be a potential source of social stress. The social relationships of the domestic fowl are based on the establishment of social hierarchies, but social dynamics of large groups are more lax. Social plasticity allows animals to better adapt to the diversity of environmental and social conditions that may be encountered though life. This chapter discusses how different management and environmental factors may affect the social dynamics of the domestic fowl, and analyse the potential impact for their welfare. Special attention is dedicated to imprinting processes that may determine how domestic fowl respond to social models, and to the relationships developed in breeding flocks.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2020.0078.05