The effect of genotype and population density on the behaviour and performance of chicken

Abstract

The social behaviour of chicken has been studied. The social rank of an animal was estimated according to the order in their feeding. The stocks of Leghorns which had been selected on different reactivity on the change of environment (expressed in different delay period of oviposition) demonstrated the differences in their social behaviour. In mixed groups with high density the chicken from the stock with high level of delay of oviposition dominate. In groups with high density the hens of the stock of low social rank show considerable decrease in egg production. The hens from dominating stock donot have such a reaction in groups with high density.