Relatively few studies have focused on truly understanding the needs of broiler (meat) chickens in relation to environmental enrichment. Approaches used often appear ‘borrowed’ from other sectors and a better understanding of the needs of these young birds would be beneficial. This is particularly important for those birds that are housed throughout the production cycle, which constitute the vast majority. Research within this PhD will focus on understanding how best to facilitate exploratory and dustbathing behaviours in broilers.
The project will also evaluate levels of individual variation in engagement with enrichment items, and relative preferences for existing and new types of enrichment. The research in this PhD project is intended to underpin environmental enrichment policy for the broiler sector, and is part of a programme of work that has been successful in this respect. It will involve working on commercial farms. Please note that this research is subject to access to these facilities and this may become restricted, for example for biosecurity reasons. Under these circumstances alternative animal welfare research will be undertaken.
Pecking objects are commonly required in environmental enrichment regimes for boiler chickens in order to facilitate exploratory/foraging behaviour, however the benefits to bird welfare are unclear. This research will seek to determine key aspects of enrichment devices that stimulate engagement by broilers. Birds will be presented with a large number of objects that differ in key characteristics such as colour, odour, shape, texture and method of placement. The level of engagement by birds will be recorded and key characteristics that stimulate increased engagement at different ages determined.
Our previous research demonstrated that broilers show significant engagement with dustbathing material which increases as they age, and this appeared to contribute to improved leg health. This type of enrichment is not commonly specified in quality assurance schemes, however, which may reflect practical difficulties in implementing it in commercial systems. In consultation with the broiler sector, different approaches to providing dustbathing materials to broilers will be scientifically assessed in this PhD. This may involve a focus on both level of provision, and location and method of placement within commercial houses, and determining associated effects on levels of usage and other welfare measures.
Evaluating the level of engagement by broiler chickens with environmental enrichment is becoming increasingly important in the context of on-farm welfare assessment. While it is important that enrichment is used by the birds, it is also important to understand who is using it. At present we have very limited information on the proportion of broilers that engage with different forms of environmental enrichment. Some birds may use all or some forms of enrichment, whereas others may not engage at all. While this may reflect difficulties with access, it is also possible the enrichments currently provided don’t meet the needs of these birds. Small group systems may be used to evaluate the proportion of birds that typically engage with different types of environmental enrichment when presented individually or in combination, and when access is not restricted. This research could also be used to evaluate preferences by broilers for different types of environmental enrichment, including types not commonly provided commercially.
Specific skills/experience required: Experience in conducting animal behaviour and welfare assessments would be beneficial but is not essential.
Start Date: 1 October 2023
Duration: 3 years
How to apply: Applications must be submitted online via: https://dap.qub.ac.uk/portal/user/u_login.php
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