"Auto-imprinting": Effects of prolonged isolation on domestic cocks.

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Abstract
Effects of prolonged deprivation of social experience on social and sexual behavior were studied in 8 cocks reared in visual and physical isolation from hatching until 10 mo. old and in 8 others until 18 mo. old. They were given choice tests with models of stuffed conspecifics of various color and structure and also tests with live hens. The results, compared with those of a previous study on cocks reared in isolation until maturity (5 mo.) and controls reared socially, suggest that a cock deprived of social experience can nevertheless perceive stimuli from its own body and can use this information to establish a kind of auto-imprinting, which leads it to choose a partner resembling itself, normally a conspecific. The main difference observed was that cocks isolated for a long time are incapable of copulating with the objects offered (models or live hens); this seems due to a strengthening of the auto-imprinting that the subjects established on themselves. The deficits in copulatory behavior were partially reversible.