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The absence of a relationship between egg production and dominance in caged laying hens |
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| Authors: | B O Hughes |
| Institution: | Agricultural Research Council's , Poultry Research Centre , King's Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JS, Scotland |
| Abstract: | 1. The individual egg production of two strains of laying hen in colony battery cages was recorded from 20 to 72 weeks of age by feeding a different fat‐soluble dyestuff to each bird and then breaking open the eggs to determine the yolk colour and hence the identity of the hen that laid the egg. 2. Observations of agonistic behaviour and other pecking were made and the combs were examined for pecking damage on two occasions; each group of hens was hierarchically arranged in terms of these three measures, which were then taken as an indication of each hen's dominance. 3. The three measures of dominance correlated fairly well with each other, but none showed any relationship with egg production. |
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