Variation in behavioural indices of fearfulness and fatigue in transported broilers

Several behavioural measures were used to determine fearfulness and fatigue in broiler chickens subjected to fasting and/or transportation. There was considerable variability between four replicates, although measures within replicates were acceptably consistent. There was no uniform effect of fasting or transport on behaviour. The most cogent results were obtained by monitoring post-journey behaviour. In the few hours after transport, fasted and transported birds stood more than control birds which could be explained by increased food-searching behaviour and/or arousal. It is argued that the high variability between replicates indicates that considerable efforts must be made to control environmental variables in studies of behaviour after transporting chickens.