FEEDING BEHAVIOR OF POULTS EXPOSED TO PRE- AND POST-HATCHING VISUAL STIMULATION

Abstract

A total of 4000 Large White turkey poults were used in two experiments conducted to study the attraction of chromatic flashing lights. The first experiment concentrated on the change in sensibility to colored flashing lights of poults exposed to the same visual stimulation during the final stage of incubation. The second experiment was designed to determine whether the use of flashing lights could reduce the adverse effects of toe clipping and transportation. In both experiments the colored flashing lights were attached to the feeders. Visual stimulation in the hatcher did not significantly enhance the attraction of the poults to the lights on the feeders. Similarly, the use of colored flashing lights only partially compensated for the effects of transportation and toe clipping on the feed intake and early growth of the poults. On average, the transported poults (0, 24 and 48 h) consumed less feed during the 13 days of the experiment (0 h, 165.5 ± 3.1 g; 24 h, 153.4 ± 3.3 g and 48 h, 125.0 ± 2.4 g) and were lighter at 13 days of age (0 h, 201.1 ± 2.2 g; 24 h, 189.6 ± 2.2 g and 48 h, 167.4 ± 1.8 g) than nontransported ones. Transportation also increased mortality (0 h, 8.2%; 24 h, 10% and 48 h, 19.8%). Toe clipped poults initiated feeding after a longer latency (14.5 min vs. 34.3 min) and in the 1st wk of life they spent less time on net feed intake (3.9% vs. 1.3%). Correspondingly, their feed consumption up to 6 days of age was reduced (39.3 ± 2.1 g vs. 35.2 ± 1.6 g) and body weights at 13 days were lower (188.5 ± 2.8 g vs. 183.5 ± 2.5 g).