Effect Of Early Enviormental Experience On Environment Selection And Preference Of Laying Hens

The research on enviorment selection and preference mainly focuses on wild animal in our country and abroad。There is a constant dispute on what is the main determinant of enviorment selection.But the research on enviorment selection and preference for livestock are very few,especially on fowl .This research reveals not only the effect of different factors, their combined action on enviorment selection and preference ,but also the interaction of different factors in enviorment selection and preference by studing the effect of early experience, social factor,later experience,food bait on enviorment selection and preference.Animal behavior is formed by two components which are congenital genetic factors and acquired factors.enviormental experience is very important for formation and expression of animal behavior. This research reveals the effect of different early enviormental experience and different later enviormental experience on the formation and expression of laying hens'behavior by studing the effect of different early enviormental experience and different later enviormental experience on laying hens'behavior.The research reveals which enviorment laying hens prefer and the level of the preference by not only comparing the time of staying in different enviorments of laying hens after their enviorment selection under the effect of different factors but also the enviorment selection and preference ,preference's level of laying hens which have experienced both enviorments. The research appraises which enviorment is good for the expression of laying hens'positive behaviour and which experiment restrains the expression of laying hens'positive behaviour by not only the comparison of behaviors'differences between the laying hens which have experienced captive enviorment and the laying hens which have experienced outdoor enviorment but also the comparison of behaviors'differences between the laying hens which have experienced two enviorments and the laying hens which have experienced only one enviorment .This experiment provides a scientific basis for appraising which enviorment is positive stimulus, consistent with their physical, psychological needs and behavioral needs, which enviorment is a negative stimulus, not consistent with their physical, psychological needs and behavioral needs by studing laying hens'enviorment selection and preference of laying hens, the effect of enviormental experience on behavior.Experiment designing: experiment1 and experiment 2 respectively select two groups of laying hens,the laying hens of each experiment are feeding in two different enviorments . the two different enviorments are free range outdoor outdoor enviorment and captive enviorment.Grouping in experiment 1: group A: laying hens feed in the outdoor enviorment,B: laying hens feed in cages,C: laying hens feed in the outdoor enviorment ,a companion was fastened in simulant out door enviorment, unacquainted lying hen was fastened in cage.group D: laying hens feed in cages,a companion was fastened in cage ]unacquainted lying hen was fastened in simulant outdoor enviorment, E: laying hens feed in the outdoor enviorment,a companion was fastened in cage ,unacquainted lying hen was fastened in simulant outdoor enviorment, F: laying hens feed in cages a companion was fastened in simulant outdoor enviorment, ]unacquainted lying hen was fastened in cageGrouping in experiment 2:group K: laying hens feed in the outdoor enviorment . group L: laying hens feed in cages.group M: laying hens feed in cages,,feed in cages for two week. group N:laying hens feed in cages, feed in the outdoor enviorment for two week .group O : laying hens feed in the outdoor enviorment , ,feed in cages for two week, a companion was fastened in simulant outdoor enviorment, ]unacquainted lying hen was fastened in cage. group P: laying hens feed in cages, ,feed in the outdoor enviorment for two week ,a companion was fastened in cage unacquainted lying hen was fastened in simulant outdoor enviorment.group Q: laying hens feed in the outdoor enviorment, ,feed in cages for two week ,a companion was fastened in cage unacquainted lying hen was fastened in simulant outdoor enviorment.group R : laying hens feed in cages ,feed in the outdoor enviorment for two week ,a companion was fastened in simulant outdoor enviorment, unacquainted lying hen was fastened in cage. group S: laying hens feed in the outdoor enviorment, ,feed in cages for two week,two cages were put next to both sides of the selection equipment ,one cage with food ,the other with no food.group U: laying hens feed in cages ,feed in the outdoor enviorment for two week , two cages were put next to both sides of the selection equipment ,one cage with food ,the other with no food.group T: laying hens feed in the outdoor enviorment, ,feed in cages for two week,the cage with food in the experiment.group V: laying hens feed in cages ,feed in the outdoor enviorment for two week , ,the cage with food in the experiment Experiment condition: semi-closed opaque box,selection equipment(all closed opaque box+ selection channel), the enviorment of simulant outdoor enviorment, cage. Record the whole process of the experiment from all points of view by using computer-controlled camera systerm.12 laying hens were radomly selected for each group,They were feed in semi-closed opaque box,for three days, 10 laying hens were randomly selected from 12 laying hensIf the experiment for some group need companion and unacquainted lying hen ,One lying hen was selected from the rest two laying hens as the companion ,and randomly select one unacquainted lying hen from the laying hens feed in the enviorment opposite to the enviorment which the experiment laying hens feed in Every lying hen was pushed gentally from semi-closed opaque box to all closed opaque box,. Five minutes later open the gate,the laying hens can go into the selection channel and select the enviorment. Record for one hour and a half by camera, every experimental record parameter by watching the video and statistical analysis.Experimental result and conclusion:1. Without the effect of other factors , early experience of the laying hens decide the enviorment the laying hens select in enviorment selection, most of the laying hens in the group select the enviorment which they experience in the early time.2. Social effect affect enviorment selection of the hens which were feed in the outdoor enviorment in the early time,but it can't change the decisive effect of early experience to enviorment selection of laying hens which were feed in the outdoor enviorment in the early time; when the companion was fastened in simulant outdoor enviorment,Social effect make simulant outdoor enviorment have much more attractiveness to the laying hens feed in cage in early time. It make the laying hens feed incage in early time change to select outdoor enviorment for most of them. It make clear that they don't like the enviorment they were feed in early time.3. Afer the laying hens which were feed in the outdoor enviorment experience being feed in cage , the proportion of selecting outdoor enviorment raise significantly for them. It make clear that if the enviorment the laying hens experience in later period is passive stimulus, the experience in later period can not change the gravitate of enviorment selection which was formed in early time. afer the laying hens which were feed in cage experience outdoor enviorment ,they changed to select outdoor enviorment for most of them, the discrepancy was significant, it showed that if the enviorment the laying hens experience in later period is positive stimulus, the experience in later period can revise the gravitate of enviorment selection which was formed in early time.4. After the laying hens experience both the two enviorment , most of them select the outdoor enviorment. It shows that laying hens prefer outdoor enviorment.5. Even if the food or companion was put in the cage, the gravitate of selecting outdoor enviorment can not be changed. It shows how strong the preference of outdoor enviorment to laying hens.6. No matter which enviorment the laying hens choose, in the whole observing process , the time they stay in outdoor enviorment is longer than the time they stay in the cage. The discrepancy is significant. It shows that all the laying hens prefer the outdoor enviorment, the outdoor enviorment is good for the body and mind of the laying hens.7. The behaviour of laying hens feed in outdoor enviorment is better than the behaviour of laying hens feed in cage. The behaviours of laying hens feed in outdoor enviorment which express natrual nature such as Dustbathing,spreading wings ,Preening, Foraging and seeking are more than that of laying hens feed in cage obviously. The passive behaviour of laying hens feed in outdoor enviorment such as Stereotaping are less than that of laying hens feed in cage obviously. It shows that the outdoor enviorment is good for displaying the natural nature,and meet the demand of body and mind for laying hens.the welfare of the outdoor enviorment is much better than the enviorment of cage.8. The laying hens feed in cage in early time experience the outdoor enviorment,the behaviour which display the nature raise obivously, the behaviour of Stereotaping decline obviously, it shows that the outdoor enviorment is positive enviorment stimulus,the outdoor enviorment can correct the behaviour of laying hens to good direction and release potency of displaying behaviour of nature.9. The laying hens feed in outdoor enviorment in early time experience the enviorment of cage,the behaviour which display the nature decline obivously, the behaviour of Stereotaping raise obviously, it shows that the outdoor enviorment is passive enviorment stimulus,the enviorment of cage restrict the displaying of normal behaviour for laying hens and restrain the potency of displaying behaviour of nature.