Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
7th INTERNATIONAL СUKUROVA AGRICULTURE and VETERINARY CONGRESS, Adana, Türkiye, 9 - 10 Mart 2024, ss.937-958
Poultry farming has evolved from small-scale operations around home gardens to large-scale commercial enterprises. This transformation has brought about significant changes in the rearing and management practices of laying hens. The study of natural behaviour in chickens under specific conditions is referred to as an ethogram. In the context of animal welfare, an ethogram represents the range of behaviours that are considered essential for a chicken to exhibit acceptable welfare within commercial rearing environments. Understanding the behavioural requirements of laying hens is crucial for enhancing welfare and designing appropriate production systems. This review aims to investigate the causality and functionality of natural behavioural patterns in laying hens, as well as to evaluate the factors influencing these behaviours, with an emphasis on their significance in commercial breeding systems. While some behaviours exhibited by hens in commercial farming face no obstacle, others necessitate the presence of physical objects and adequate space. Therefore, this review addresses the natural behavioural needs of laying hens, including foraging, nesting, perching, and dust bathing. Additionally, social behaviours among hens are also discussed. The review explores hens' motivation for behaviours and their physiological responses when deprived of these behaviours. Understanding these behavioural needs can provide valuable insights into ensuring animal welfare and enhancing production performance. This understanding can help in establishing optimal environmental conditions and mitigating undesirable behaviours in industrial poultry farming.