Cervical kinematics during drinking in developing chickens

Development of head neck motion patterns is studied in drinking chickens to examine (1) general motion principles, (2) ontogenetic changes in these patterns, and (3) whether pattern changes are due to scaling effects during growth. Behavioral patterns are analyzed by high speed filming, radiography, and calculation of rotation patterns for each joint during all movement patterns. Flexibility and variability are great, but representative kinematic patterns are selected for immersion, upstroke, and tip-up phases. Five principles were found that control cervical motion. Two principles maximize rotation efficiency: the geometric and lever arm principles. Two trajectory compensating principles occur; one controls compensation for overflexion, and the other corrects curved into straight trajectories of head motion. One principle occurs that minimizes rotation force if large forces tend to develop in one joint. This principle results in a characteristic cervical motion pattern ("bike chain" pattern). There are three developmental periods: (1) hatchlings (2) chickens 1 to 4 weeks old (1-4W), and (3) older than 4 weeks. Each period is characterized by different kinematic patterns. In 1-4W chicks, the rotation force is minimized. In older stages, the cervical joints rotate according to geometric and lever arm principles. The totally different motion pattern in hatchlings results from a different behavioral reaction to water and the influence of large centrifugal forces. Transitions in cervical motion patterns are connected to effects of scaling, primarily changes in head and body weights. Changes in motion patterns are not related to changes in anatomical characters such as flexion extremes and relative length of each vertebra since these are similar in all stages.