Effect of comb and wattle removal on the social organization of mixed flocks of chickens

Marks, H. L.; Siegel, P. B.; Kramer, Clyde Young

doi:10.1016/0003-3472(60)90026-9

Cited by 30 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Likewise, a small or artificially dubbed comb signals low status and attracts aggression (Marks et al, 1960;Siegel and Hurst, 1962;Cloutier and Newberry, 2000). In our study, the artificial marks could have had a similar effect, especially the black mark on the back of the head, because of its proximity to the socially significant comb.…”

Section: Marks Perceived As Signals Of Low or High Statusmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…For example, color and symmetry of leg bands has been shown to influence mate choice and mate guarding behavior of wild song birds (Burley, 1988;Johnsen et al, 1997Johnsen et al, , 2000 and radio-tagging of fledgling Louisiana Waterthrushes resulted in their removal from the nest and abandonment by adults (Mattsson et al, 2006). Physical alterations to the feathers and comb of domestic fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus) have also been found to modify behavior and responses from conspecifics, including aggressive interactions (Guhl, 1953;Guhl and Ortman, 1953;Marks et al, 1960;Siegel and Hurst, 1962).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

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Appearance Matters: Artificial Marking Alters Aggression and Stress

et al. 2008

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Artificial marking of animals for identification is frequently employed by researchers in the behavioral, biomedical, agricultural, and environmental sciences. The impact of artificial marking on experimental results is rarely explicitly considered despite evidence demonstrating that changes in phenotypic appearance can modify animal behavior and reproductive success. Here we present evidence that artificial marking of individuals within a social group has frequency-dependent effects on the behavior and physiology of domestic fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus). We demonstrate that when only 20 or 50% of individuals within a group were artificially marked, the marked birds received more aggression and had lesser body mass than the unmarked individuals within the same group. Furthermore, in groups in which only a small proportion of the individuals were marked, we report altered plasma epinephrine and dopamine levels in marked individuals. These effects of marking were imperceptible when all birds in a group were marked. This finding has important implications for animal research because, when only a subset of group members is artificially marked and used for data collection, the results obtained may not be representative of the population.

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Section: Marks Perceived As Signals Of Low or High Statusmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Appearance Matters: Artificial Marking Alters Aggression and Stress

et al. 2008

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“…Guhl and Ortman (19S3) observed that morphological alterations on anterior portions of the anatomy were the most effective in reducing recognition between individuals. And, in this connection, Marks et al (1960) found that adult chickens with combs and wattles removed not only established less stable dominance orders than those retaining head furnishings, but also assumed positions of subordinance in such orders.…”

mentioning

confidence: 88%

“…Aggressive behavior was measured by the total numbers of pecks and threats recorded for each IS-minute observation period, the data summarized by 2-week periods, and statistically analyzed by the method of simultaneous confidence intervals (Marks et al, 1960).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Comb Removal and Testosterone on Agnostic Behavior in Young Fowl

Dawson

Siegel

1962

Poultry Science

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“…Additionally, modifications to the bird's appearance, such as alterations to the feathers and comb, have been shown to affect its behavior and the manner in which conspecifics behave toward it (Guhl, 1953;Guhl and Ortman, 1953). Following physical alteration by dubbing (removal of wattle and comb), altered roosters were shown to be the recipients of increased aggression (Marks et al, 1960;Siegel and Hurst, 1962). In addition, leg banding, a common identification system used in song birds, has been shown to alter mate choice and mate guarding behavior (Burley, 1988;Johnsen et al, 1997Johnsen et al, , 2000.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Different Effects of Individual Identification Systems on Chicken Well-Being

2008

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Individual identification is a common method used in animal research. This study was designed to examine if commonly used identification systems (i.e., leg bands, wing bands, neck tags, and livestock markers) have different effects on hens' behavioral and physiological homeostasis. At 18 wk of age, hens were paired in all combinations of treatments and control (unmarked hens; n = 10) in a novel cage for 5 trials of 1 h each to test the effects of identification markers on social behaviors. Wing-banded hens tended to exhibit increased feather pecking compared with control hens (P < 0.10), suggesting a slight increase in social stress. No effect of identification treatment was evident on frequency of aggressive behaviors (P > 0.10). At 20 wk of age, absolute fluctuating asymmetry (FA), but not relative FA, of shank length and width was more significant in leg-banded hens (P < 0.05) and tended to be significant in wing-banded hens (P < 0.10), compared with control hens. Asymmetry of the shank is often a result of high stress levels, including social stress. Body weight measured at 20 wk of age showed that hens with leg bands were significantly lighter than control hens (P < 0.05), possibly as a result of decreased access to resources, increased metabolism, or decreased appetite due to elevated stress. Increased absolute FA and decreased BW could be evidence of a disruption of the hens' physiological homeostasis due to increased stress. Hens with leg bands also tended to have lower percentage of heterophils (P < 0.10), indicative of increased stress and reduced immunocompetence. Our findings provide clear evidence of the negative effects of wing and leg band identification systems on hens' well-being, altering both physiological and behavioral homeostasis. Without knowledge of the effects, the use of individual identification systems could lead to misinterpretation of experimental results.

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Effect of comb and wattle removal on the social organization of mixed flocks of chickens

Cited by 30 publications

References 6 publications

Appearance Matters: Artificial Marking Alters Aggression and Stress

Appearance Matters: Artificial Marking Alters Aggression and Stress

Influence of Comb Removal and Testosterone on Agnostic Behavior in Young Fowl

Different Effects of Individual Identification Systems on Chicken Well-Being

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