Time structure of behavioral patterns related to feed pecking in chicks

Nonrandom time patterns of pecking acts by 16 chicks were detected using the software Theme during three videotaped pecking sessions (M, C, and A). At 15 days of age pecking session, M (mash) was recorded when chicks ate a mash diet. Pecking session C (change) at 16 or 17 days of age was recorded immediately after the change of the diet to pellets presented either as regular cylinders (P) to eight chicks, or as semiovoid (Po) to eight other chicks. Pecking session A (adapted) was recorded 5 or 6 days after adaptation to P and Po. Successful (consumatory) pecks were 72%, 52%, and 61% of all pecks for sessions M, C, and A, respectively. The head of the chicks remained in a steady position between two consecutive pecks for a longer period during C (65% of the time) than M and A (54%). During C, the pecking rate was less for P (0.54 pecks/s) than for Po (0.79 pecks/s). Two consistent time patterns involving four acts frequently observed were: head rotation (or exploratory peck)-->head in steady position-->consumatory peck-->head in steady position with jaw movements. Time intervals within a pattern were stable throughout sessions. However, the proportion of synchronized (included in a pattern) vs. nonsynchronized (not included in a pattern) acts decreased immediately after the change of feed form (session C). These results suggest that pecking at feed is composed of two distinct sets of acts: consistently organized patterns little affected by the form of the pecked particles and nonsynchronized acts that may be involved in sensory information.