ArticleAnimals : an open access journal from MDPI2023
Environmental Complexity and Reduced Stocking Density Promote Positive Behavioral Outcomes in Broiler Chickens.
Article in Animals : an open access journal from MDPI, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed.
- Rearing systems alter growth performance, behavior, brain characteristics, and meat quality in slow-growing Korat broiler chickens.Poultry science · 2026Article
- Effect of dietary supplementation with quercetin or rutin on the growth performance, meat quality and cecal microbiota of broilers under high stocking density.Veterinary and animal science · 2026Article
- Chronic stress and fear in fast- and slow-growing broilers as they age and gain weight when raised in simple or complex environments.Poultry science · 2026Article
- Heat stress and stocking density disrupt telomere maintenance through shelterin complex dysregulation and oxidative damage in broiler chickens.BMC veterinary research · 2025Article
- Effect of Stocking Density on Behavioural and Physiological Traits of Laying Hens.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2025Article
- Effects of different environmental enrichment tools to improve behavior, welfare, and growth performance of broiler chickens.Tropical animal health and production · 2025Article
- Assessing and Improving Animal Welfare Using Applied Ethology.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2025Article
- Article
- Comprehensive analysis of the effects of high stocking density stress on broiler health.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2025Review
- Environmental complexity impacts anxiety in broiler chickens depending on genetic strain and body weight.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Nrf2 Signaling Pathway as a Key to Treatment for Diabetic Dyslipidemia and Atherosclerosis.International journal of molecular sciences · 2024Review
- Laying Hens: Why Smothering and Not Surviving?-A Literature Review.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2024Review
- The potential of pumice as a litter material and its influence on growth performance, carcass parameters, litter quality traits, behavior, and welfare in broiler chickens.Tropical animal health and production · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
The objective was to evaluate the impacts of a complex environment and stocking density on Ross 708 broiler chicken behaviors. Eight pens contained either high complexity (HC) or low complexity (LC) environments, and high (HD) or low (LD) density. Through focal-animal sampling, the frequency and duration of behaviors were recorded continuously for 5 min at two timepoints for one day in weeks 2, 4, and 7. Birds were active for 30% of the observed time, with birds showing more activity in HC compared with LC. Birds in HC pens spent more time preening and foraging than birds in LC pens, which was interpreted as a positive outcome. Dustbathing and play were not impacted by complexity, possibly due to the observation method. Birds were more frequently active at HD compared with LD, but did not spend more time being active, suggesting disturbances. Birds foraged, drank, and ate less frequently in HD compared with LD, presumably because birds had more difficulty accessing resources. Activity and active behaviors reduced as birds aged, while preening frequency increased, possibly due to frustration, but this was not confirmed. Perching was unaffected by age, showing a persistent motivation to perform the behavior. Our results indicate that a complex environment provides positive stimulation for foraging, locomotion, preening, and overall activity. Despite reduced activity, many benefits of the tested environmental complexity and low density persisted as birds aged.
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Registered trials
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