TY - JOUR
T1 - The impact of early structural enrichment on spatial cognition in layer chicks
AU - Norman, Kate
AU - Adriaense, Jessie
AU - Nicol, Christine
PY - 2019/7/1
Y1 - 2019/7/1
N2 - The aim of the study was to determine whether early access to elevated structures affects spatial navigational abilities. Ninety six day-old chicks were reared in 16 pens. Eight pens were provided with A-frame perches with an attached platform and a ramp. Eight pens had no elevated structures. At 14-15 days of age 48 chicks were tested in a battery of navigational tasks: a detour test, jump test and rotated floor test (RFT). The remaining 48 chicks received the same tests at 28-29 days of age. Chicks reared with elevated structures were faster at completing the detour test (P=0.045). Older chicks were more likely to turn left in the detour test (p=0.013) and were more successful in the jump test (69% vs 31% completion, p=0.001). There was no treatment effect on use of intra or extra maze cues in the RFT, but the proportion of chicks using intra-maze cues declined between the first (0.76) and second (0.43) repeat of the RFT (p=0.038), particularly for chicks reared with elevated structures. We conclude that bird age or developmental stage may have a predominant influence on spatial navigation and physical ability, but early experience of elevated structures had some mediating effects which require further investigation.
AB - The aim of the study was to determine whether early access to elevated structures affects spatial navigational abilities. Ninety six day-old chicks were reared in 16 pens. Eight pens were provided with A-frame perches with an attached platform and a ramp. Eight pens had no elevated structures. At 14-15 days of age 48 chicks were tested in a battery of navigational tasks: a detour test, jump test and rotated floor test (RFT). The remaining 48 chicks received the same tests at 28-29 days of age. Chicks reared with elevated structures were faster at completing the detour test (P=0.045). Older chicks were more likely to turn left in the detour test (p=0.013) and were more successful in the jump test (69% vs 31% completion, p=0.001). There was no treatment effect on use of intra or extra maze cues in the RFT, but the proportion of chicks using intra-maze cues declined between the first (0.76) and second (0.43) repeat of the RFT (p=0.038), particularly for chicks reared with elevated structures. We conclude that bird age or developmental stage may have a predominant influence on spatial navigation and physical ability, but early experience of elevated structures had some mediating effects which require further investigation.
KW - Layer chicks
KW - Structural enrichment
KW - Spatial cognition
KW - Rearing experience
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85065477102&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.beproc.2019.05.008
DO - 10.1016/j.beproc.2019.05.008
M3 - Article (Academic Journal)
C2 - 31077757
AN - SCOPUS:85065477102
SN - 0376-6357
VL - 164
SP - 167
EP - 174
JO - Behavioural Processes
JF - Behavioural Processes
ER -