Some Effects of Experience with Breeds of Gallus gallus L. on Behavior of Hens toward Strange Individuals

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Abstract
Series of pair-contests were staged among hens of five breeds by introducing a test-hen to three unfamiliar stimulus-hens separately and in quick succession. The series were of two types: (1) the three stimulus-hens were of the same breed, and (2) the third stimulus-hen was of a different breed from the first two. In the first observation period test-hens and stimulus-hens were members of single-breed flocks; in the second observation period they were members of multi-breed flocks and test-hens were dominant in their home flocks to hens of the same breeds as the stimulus-hens met in contests. Test-hens which won dominance over a stimulus-hen in the first contest of a series showed shorter latent periods for the display of dominant behavior toward a second strange hen of the same breed. Test-hens familiar with and dominant over the breed of a stimulus-hen had shorter latent periods for dominant behavior toward the first stimulus-hen of a contest series than test-hens from single breed flocks. Latent periods for the third contest of a series were approximately as long as latent periods for the second contests when the third stimulus-hen was of the same breed as the first two. When the third stimulus-hen was of a breed different from the first two, the third contest latent periods were similar to those of first contests. Test-hens usually met stimulus-hens with a display of dominant behavior. Such behavior included challenges, attacks, and displays of "authoritative" behavior (dominant behavior unaccompanied by challenges or attacks). Familiarity with a breed tended to increase the frequency with which hens initiated contests with new hens of the breed with "authoritative" behavior. Stimulus-hens familiar with and dominant to the breed of a test-hen tended to resist the first attempts of the test-hen to achieve social dominance. Stimulus-hens familiar with, but subordinate to, the breed of a test-hen tended to give an immediate submissive response to the test-hen''s initial dominant behavior. It was concluded that behavior modified through social experience tended to be elicited only by hens of the same general physical appearance as the ones supplying the experience.