PRE-LAYING BEHAVIOR AND NEST SELECTION OBSERVATIONS FOR HENS

RAISED IN FLOOR PENS

Is the pre-laying behavior and nest selection the same each time the hen lays an egg?

Lori RiveraAnimal Science Major

Animal Behavior and Welfare Department

INTRODUCTION

Nesting area selection is strongly dictated by the immediate environment and tends to follow a consistent pattern after the first few eggs are laid.¹

Pre-laying behavior, including searching for a suitable nest site and the inspection of potential nests, is one of the most important behavioral patterns in a hen’s life.²

One nest box is recommended for every 4-5 hens³.

Many factors influence the final nest selection.

HYPOTHESIS

Is the pre-laying behavior and nest selection behavior the same each time the hen lays an egg?

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this experiment is to observe the relationship between various components of the pre-laying behavior of the hen, her position in the nest box, and the lag time to lay the egg.

TYPICAL PRE-LAYING BEHAVIOR

Ο About an hour prior to the egg being laid, the hen exhibits pre-laying behavior and remains fairly consistent.

Moves away from the flock, fluttering its wings in a way it may appear to want out of the pen, and gives a pre-laying call

Will perform feeding, preening, and sleeping activities

Will examine nests by inserting her head into them

As time progress’ more of the body enters the nest until she is completely entered and sits down

The hen may enter and leave several times before making a final selection

TYPICAL NESTING BEHAVIOR

Nesting behavior begins when a final nesting site is selected If a pen is not available, the hen will choose a corner of the

pen to lay her egg

Hen firmly sits down and begins nest building by scratching with her feet making a hollow spot to sit in

She will begin to throw nesting materials upon her back and around herself to make a rim

She will hold her head high and bottom low then begins to quiver

TYPICAL NESTING BEHAVIOR CONTINUED…

О She will stay in this position until the egg has been laid, which takes about a minute

Ο Once an egg is laid, the hen may sit a few minutes or will immediately leave the nesting area

О Most hens will immediately perform a post-laying gakel call to announce the egg

ETHOGRAMBEHAVIOR DESCRIPTION CODE

Dust Bathing Throwing dust or straw onto back in or out of nest box or nesting area 

DB 

Nest Examination Examines several nest sites. Starts when head enters nest box 

NE 

Restless Walking Restless walking around pen, trying to get in other cage or out of cage 

RW 

Nest Selection Entire body enters nest box or nesting area and sits down 

NS 

Nest Building Scooping movements with head gathering straw around herself 

NB 

Laying Behavior Head up, Rear down, Quivering 

LB 

Nest ExitEntire body leaves nest box or nesting area. Only occurs after egg has been laid

 EX 

Laid Egg Egg has been laid and is visible in nest box or nesting area 

LE

Post Laying Vocalization

Loud clucking to announce egg has been laid. Varying frequencies and duration

 PV 

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ο This study was carried out from July 15-July 28, 2012.

О Nine flocks of hens (10 hens per flock) were housed in small floor-pens.

О One type of nest box was used.

О Each individual nest contained wood-shavings and straw for nesting material.

О The 9 pens were divided into 3 groups. •First group- (pens 5, 20, 29), had a hay bale in the pen•Second group- (pens 4, 13, 28), had a plastic box in the pen•Third group- (9, 12, 21), was the control group

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ο The hens were marked with livestock marker on their backs for identification purposes.

Ο The Purple hen and the Red hen were observed in each pen selected.

Ο The hens were observed during live visits.

Ο Observation times varied per pen and continued until an egg was laid.

Picture of Nest Boxes at the MSU Poultry

Farm

Eggs laid in Nest Box

Eggs laid on floor

Pictures of Pens at the MSU Poultry Farm

8

 

16 24

 

32 Hay Bale Treatment    

Box Treatment    

7 15 23 31

Control Treatment    

Trt Pens

6 14 22 30

Hay 2, 5, 8, 11, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32

Box 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 22, 25, 28, 31

Control 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30

5HAY

13BOX

21CONTROL

29HAY

4BOX

12CONTROL

20HAY

28BOX

3 11 19 27

2 10 18 26

19

CONTROL17 25

   

PEN LAY-OUT

RESULTS Laying Behavior Averages (minutes)

Dust Bathing 19.0Nest Exit 17.5Laying Behavior 15.3Laid Egg 16.5Nest Building 9.1Nest Examination 20.4Nest Selection 20.3Post Vocalization 18.6Restless Walking 11.1

o The hens spent a majority of their time Examining and Selecting their nests

o Dust Bathing and Post Vocalization followed closely behind

o The least amount of time was spent on Nest Building

Nest Selection / Nest Examination Averages (minutes)

o The Pens with the Hay Bale Treatment had spent the least amount of time selecting and examining nests prior to laying

o The Pens with the Box Treatment spent the most amount of time selecting and examining nests

DISCUSSION

All hens exhibit nesting behavior.

Hens are more motivated to lay their eggs in a nest box.

The gakel call increases, which indicates frustration when nesting behavior is hindered by hens blocking access to the nest.

The motivation to get access to a nest box, to lay an egg, is determined by how hard a hen will push through a small gap in order to get in.

DISCUSSION CONTINUED… Motivation increases at the time of actual egg-laying.

Some hens are less motivated to gain access to nest boxes and therefore lay eggs on the floor.

This shows a more relaxed pressure to select a nest site. Some hens lay on the floor because they are not able to effectively compete for nests against the more aggressive hens.

Even when nest boxes were provided, some hens lay their eggs outside the nest.

If the hen is motivated to lay in a nest, but cannot find an appropriate site, then the hen will lay on the floor.

CONCLUSION Synchronization was an issue when hens

performed the same behavior at the same time each day causing several hens to crowd into one nest box at a time.

Though two nest boxes were provided, the hens preferred the nest furthest from the door.

Pre-laying behavior seemed to be consistent in all nine pens.

Most of the time was spent in nest selection and nest examination.

REFERENCES

Freire, Rafael, Appleby, Michael C., Hughes, Barry, (1996) Effects of Nest Quality and Other Cues for Exploration on Pre-laying Behaviour. Volume 48, pg 37-46

³Leeson, S. and Summer J.D., 2000. Broiler Breeder Production. eBook Download, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

²Lentfer, Tine L., Gebhardt-Henrich, Sabine G., (2011). Influence of Nest Site on the Behavior of Laying Hens. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Volume 135, pg 70-77.

L.J. Keeling Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. Chapter 19.

¹Rietveld-Piepers, B., Blokhuis, H.J. (1985). Egg-Laying Behavior and Nest-Site Selection of Domestic Hens Kept in Small Floor Pens, Applied Animal Behavior Science, Volume 14, pg 75-88.

Struelens, Ester, Van Nuffel, Annelies (2008). Influence of Nest Seclusion and Nesting Material on Pre-laying Behavior of Laying Hens. Applied Animal Behavior Science, Volume 112, pg 106-119.

Wood-Gush, D.G.M.; (1963). The Control of the Nesting Behaviour of the Domestic Hen 1. Animal Science, Volume 11, Issue 2-3, pg 293-299.