Understanding the behaviour and improving the welfare of chickens

Part 1 of this volume reviews advances in research on key aspects of poultry behaviour and welfare monitoring. Part 2 discusses particular welfare issues affecting broilers and layers such as housing and environmental enrichment as well as problems such as injurious pecking and bone health.

"Professor Christine Nicol is one of the foremost scientists in poultry behaviour and welfare. The list of authors comprise not only senior scientists but also promising young poultry ethologists with expertise in particular fields of poultry behaviour and welfare. This publication will be a standard reference on poultry welfare for egg and broiler producers, veterinarians, students, welfare auditors and government authorities. I am convinced that the publication will find a great number of readers in Europe, America, Australia and Asia.” Emeritus Professor Werner Bessei, University of Hohenheim, Germany

“Christine Nicol is an international star in her own right and has assembled a highly impressive team. This book will be an excellent source of new knowledge and understanding for all those actively concerned with the principles, practicalities and ethics of food production from these sentient and fascinating animals.” Emeritus Professor John Webster, University of Bristol, UK

With rising consumer concerns about the welfare of farm animals, such as chickens, there is a growing urgency for the livestock production sector to ensure that welfare standards are met throughout the supply chain, from breeding to slaughter.

Understanding the behaviour and improving the welfare of chickens offers a comprehensive summary on the wealth of recent research completed on understanding chicken behaviour and discusses how best to use this rich body of knowledge to optimise welfare management of broilers and layers. This collection features expert insights into the use of wearable, video and acoustic technologies as a means of monitoring behaviour, as well as improving current welfare protocols.

With its distinguished editor and team of leading experts in their fields, Understanding the behaviour and improving the welfare of chickens will be a standard text for university researchers in poultry and veterinary science as well as ethology. The book will also be an authoritative reference for government and other agencies responsible for the poultry sector and farm animal welfare, as well as companies involved in rearing chickens and processing poultry meat and eggs.

Dr Christine Nicol is Professor of Animal Welfare at the Royal Veterinary College – University of London, UK. Professor Nicol is internationally renowned for her research on poultry and equine welfare, for which she has received many awards, including from the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW), the International Society for Applied Ethology (ISAE), the European Association for Animal Production (EAAP), the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB) and the British Veterinary Association (BVA). As well as many high-cited journal articles, Professor Nicol has written or contributed to a number of books and is a current member of the Stevin Prize Committee.