THE EFFECT OF ALTERING FEED AND WATER LOCATION AND OF ACTIVITY ON GROWTH, PERFORMANCE, BEHAVIOR, AND WALKING ABILITY OF HENS FROM 2 STRAINSOF COMMERCIAL TURKEYS

An experiment was designed to determine the influence of changing feed and water location and of increased activity on growth, performance, and behavior of turkey hens from commercial strains. The three treatme nt regimens consisted of locating feed and water at opposite ends of t he pen with additional exercise (birds were walked around the pen appr oximately 10 min 5 d/wk); locating feed and;water at opposite ends of the pen with no additional exercise imposed; and locating feed and wat er in dose proximity to one another with no additional exercise impose d. Treatment generally had no effects on performance traits, walking a bility scores, or behaviors. Body weight was influenced by a strain by treatment interaction at all ages measured. Strain B hens gained more weight in pens with increased exercise, whereas Strain A hens tended to gain more weight in pens without additional exercise.