BEHAVIORAL-RESPONSES OF THE DOMESTIC CHICK TO BLOOD

Two opposing stimulus values of blood, namely attraction and aversion, can be postulated. Seven-day-old domestic chicks were placed in a large box with a perspex dish containing a particular test stimulus (dyes, blood, or water). Conspecific blood induced avoidance and fear in both sexes of two strains of chick. There was no evidence of attraction towards blood; it was approached significantly less than red dye, blue dye, or water. Red dye, though visually similar, was less effective than blood in eliciting fear and aversion. Blood presented in a sealed dish was less aversive than blood in an open dish, suggesting that olfaction played an important role in the recognition and avoidance of blood. Both conspecific and heterospecific (mouse) blood was avoided but conspecific blood elicited greater aversion and higher fear levels. © 1979 Academic Press, Inc.