Effects of Varying Shock Intensities on Pain-Elicited Aggression in the Domestic Fowl

Abstract

To determine the effects of varying shock intensities upon the behavior of domestic fowl, wing shock was administered to 7 pairs of Plymouth Rock hens. Administered intensities ranged from 0.0 ma. to 8.5 ma. Results indicated that shock generally reduced the incidence of fighting behavior. This finding contradicts the pain-elicited aggression hypothesis. The painful stimulation may have become associated with defeat in the pecking-order struggle, or resulted in behavior which competed with fighting.