Feeder colour influences feed consumption in free range laying hens (Gallus gallus domesticus)
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| Formato: | Recurso digital |
| Lenguaje: | inglés |
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Zenodo
2026
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| _version_ | 1866902300831776768 |
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| author | Hart, Dean Stuart |
| author_facet | Hart, Dean Stuart |
| contents | <p>This preprint reports a 14‑day field study examining whether feeder colour influences feed consumption in free‑range laying hens (<em>Gallus gallus domesticus</em>). Twenty‑five hens were presented with four feeder colours (purple, blue, green, yellow) selected for their alignment with avian cone photoreceptor sensitivities. Feed intake was measured twice daily under natural daylight, and environmental variables (UV index, temperature, cloud cover, humidity, rainfall) were recorded to assess potential confounding effects.</p> <p>A one‑way ANOVA showed a significant effect of feeder colour on consumption, with green and purple feeders producing the highest intake and blue and yellow the lowest. No environmental variable showed a significant correlation with intake, indicating that colour‑mediated preferences were stable across moderate climatic variation. These findings suggest that feeder colour can meaningfully influence feeding behaviour in free‑range hens and that aligning feeder design with avian sensory ecology may support more consistent intake, reduce competition, and offer a practical, low‑cost welfare improvement for small‑scale and commercial systems.</p> |
| format | Recurso digital |
| id | zenodo_https___doi_org_10_5281_zenodo_19649300 |
| institution | Zenodo |
| language | eng |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publisher | Zenodo |
| record_format | zenodo |
| spellingShingle | Feeder colour influences feed consumption in free range laying hens (Gallus gallus domesticus) Hart, Dean Stuart Animal Welfare Behavior, Animal Chickens Chickens/physiology laying hens feeder colour avian vision feeding behaviour sensory ecology free range systems animal welfare research <p>This preprint reports a 14‑day field study examining whether feeder colour influences feed consumption in free‑range laying hens (<em>Gallus gallus domesticus</em>). Twenty‑five hens were presented with four feeder colours (purple, blue, green, yellow) selected for their alignment with avian cone photoreceptor sensitivities. Feed intake was measured twice daily under natural daylight, and environmental variables (UV index, temperature, cloud cover, humidity, rainfall) were recorded to assess potential confounding effects.</p> <p>A one‑way ANOVA showed a significant effect of feeder colour on consumption, with green and purple feeders producing the highest intake and blue and yellow the lowest. No environmental variable showed a significant correlation with intake, indicating that colour‑mediated preferences were stable across moderate climatic variation. These findings suggest that feeder colour can meaningfully influence feeding behaviour in free‑range hens and that aligning feeder design with avian sensory ecology may support more consistent intake, reduce competition, and offer a practical, low‑cost welfare improvement for small‑scale and commercial systems.</p> |
| title | Feeder colour influences feed consumption in free range laying hens (Gallus gallus domesticus) |
| topic | Animal Welfare Behavior, Animal Chickens Chickens/physiology laying hens feeder colour avian vision feeding behaviour sensory ecology free range systems animal welfare research |
| url | https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19649300 |