The Effect of Environmental Enrichment on Behavior, Fear, Stress, Lameness, Bone, and Litter Quality in Broiler Chickens

This study investigated the effect of environmental enrichment on behavior, welfare and litter quality in broiler chickens. The birds were housed in enriched (EE) or conventional (C) litter production system. Four experimental groups were formed (EE - FAST, EE - SLOW, C - FAST, C - SLOW). Perching behavior was influenced by strain, age, and time of the day (P<0.05). Lying/standing on straw bales varied according to strain, age, and time of the day (P<0.05). Lying in sandboxes was influenced by the strain, age, and time of the day (P<0.05). The strain and time of the day had no effect on dustbathing behavior (P>0.05). However, the bird's age influenced dustbathing behavior (P<0.05). The rectal, and breast region temperature and the litter quality also varied among the strains (P<0.05). The TI induction also increased with age (P<0.05). The housing environment, strain, and age had no effect on TI duration, metatarsal and comb region temperature, and gait score (P>0.05). The strain affected the tibia and femur traits (length, width, and breaking strength) (P<0.05). However, the environment only influenced the bone-breaking strength (P<0.05).