Relationships between fear of humans, productivity and cage position of laying hens

Abstract

1. The productivity and behavioural responses of laying hens to humans were examined in relation to the effects of tier, row and position of the cage along the row over three consecutive 4‐week periods. 2. Birds from the top tier had lower hen‐day production, lower egg mass output and poorer efficiency of food utilisation than birds from the bottom tier in the third period. 3. Birds from the top tier showed greater avoidance of an approaching experimenter when in their cage or when on a table. 4. The production variables were significantly correlated with a number of behavioural responses to humans and a novel object, and with the corticosteroid response to handling/blood sampling. 5. The data suggest that birds from the top tier were more fearful of humans and that this higher level of fear may have been responsible for their lower productivity.