Genetic analysis of strain differences in pre‐laying behaviour in battery cages

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Abstract
The behavior of hens of 2 strains during the 10 min before laying in battery cages was studied. Hens of 1 strain [White Leghorn] typically exhibited backward-and-forward pacing before laying. hens of the other strain [Rhode Island Red .times. Light Sussex] did not pace and tended to sit. Individual hens of both strains were consistent in their expression of pacing and sitting before laying. There was genetic variation in the expression of pacing and sitting before laying, and both traits responded to selection. Crosses between the 2 lines indicated additive genetic variation in the expression of sitting behavior and nonadditive variation in the expression of pacing behavior.