Understanding feather eating behaviour in laying hens

In the present study, high feather pecking (HFP) and low feather pecking (LFP) birds were used to investigate if the lines differ in their willingness to work for food or feathers in the presence of freely available identical substrates. Twenty HFP birds and 20 LFP birds were used for the present study and tested in an arena with three different sources of food and feathers. Food pellets, loose feathers and fixed feathers were hidden in holes covered by flaps, freely available in the holes as well as easily obtainable in dishes.Neither HFP nor LFP birds manipulated or ate food pellets, loose feathers or fixed feathers hidden in holes of the choice panel behind the flaps. We did not find a difference between the lines in their willingness to search holes for food or feathers in the presence of freely available identical items in dishes. However, HFP consumed more freely available feathers than LFP birds in the present study.Genetic selection for and against feather pecking did not affect the birds’ general willingness to gather information. The results suggest that dietary factors could play a role in relation to the consumption of loose and fixed feathers freely available in an experimental setting.