EFFECTS OF MALE PRESENCE ON AGONISTIC BEHAVIOR AND PRODUCTIVITY OF WHITE LEGHORN HENS

We studied the ways in which the presence of a male affects hens' agonistic activity, egg production and body weight. Three experiments were designed involving 18, 16 and 48 flocks with 9-16 females and 0-4 males per flock. Effects of genetic stocks, time elapsed after flock assembly, developmental age, and laying-house environment (cage as opposed to floor) were also examined using factorial experimental designs. Females emitted fewer peck-avoidances and threat-avoidances when one or more males were present; the frequencies decreased with additional males. Pullets in crowded colony cages displayed fewer threats than those in floor-pen flocks, and adolescent pullets displayed more of both kinds of agonistic acts than sexually mature females. Body weight gains and egg weights appeared to be reduced when a male was present within the flock for 30 weeks. © 1979.