Effects of Body-Mounted Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) Backpacks on Space Use and Behaviors of Laying Hens in a Perchery System

Luwei Nie, Qian Hu, Qin Tong, Chao Liang, Baoming Li, Mingxia Han, Yuling You, Xingyan Yue, Xiao Yang and Chaoyuan Wang ()
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Luwei Nie: College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
Qian Hu: College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
Qin Tong: College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
Chao Liang: College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
Baoming Li: College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
Mingxia Han: College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
Yuling You: College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
Xingyan Yue: College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
Xiao Yang: College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
Chaoyuan Wang: College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China

Agriculture, 2022, vol. 12, issue 11, 1-13

Abstract: Body-mounted sensors have significantly enhanced our understanding of individual animals through location tracking, behavior monitoring, and activity determination. However, attaching sensors may alter the behavior of the tested animals, which would, potentially, invalidate the collected data. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of wearable backpacks on space use (feeder, nest box, and perch) and behaviors (aggressive, comfort, and locomotion behaviors) of laying hens in a perchery system. Nineteen laying hens were reared for 21 days, and each was fitted with a lightweight inertial measurement unit (IMU) backpack on day 0. Instantaneous scan samples were adopted to record the number of laying hens, using each space at a 5-min interval over the 16 h lights-on period at −6 d to −1 d, 1 d to 4 d, and 10 d to 15 d. Six hens were randomly selected for observation of behaviors during six 20-min periods at −5 d to −3 d, and 13 d to 15 d. Feeder use reduced at 1 d to 4 d, 11 d, and 13 d to 15 d, and nest box use reduced at 1 d, 3 d, and 10 d to 12 d, while it increased on 15 d. Hens perched more often at 1 d to 4 d and 10 d to 14 d. Space use was affected by wearing a backpack in the first few days after installation. As hens gradually accustomed to the devices, the effects on feeder, nest box, and perch use disappeared at 10 d, 13 d and 15 d, respectively. The diurnal pattern of hens using the nest box largely returned to the state before being backpacked, and there were slight recoveries in the use of feeder and perch use during the 15-day trial period. There was no observed difference in the amount of pecking, preening bouts, aerial ascent/descent, or the time spent on preening and walking at −5 d to −3 d and 13 d to 15 d. No differences were found in body weight and plumage condition score between 0 d and 16 d. The results demonstrated that the IMU backpack only had marginal and non-lasting effects on space use and behaviors of laying hens, and it seems suitable for further behavioral research after short-term acclimation. However, when the diurnal pattern serves as the variable of interest, researchers need to re-evaluate the effect of the device on birds, rather than implying there is no effect.

Keywords: body-mounted sensor; inertial measurement unit (IMU); behavior; space use; laying hen; perchery system (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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