RELATIONSHIP AMONG GROWTH, BEHAVIOR AND STRESS-RESPONSE IN BROILERS AND RED JUNGLE FOWL WHEN REARED SEPARATELY OR INTERMINGLED

Relationship among growth, feeding behaviour, bird-to-bird pecking and stress responses was studied in commercial broilers (CB) and jungle f owl (JF) reared from hatching as separate (S) and intermingled (I) flo cks. Body weight on Day 7 was greater for JF in I than S flock but not at other ages. In contrast, intemingling reduced body weight of CB at 7 days of age and thereafter. Percentages of chicks eating were great er for JF in I than S flock at 4 days of age. On Days 23 and 32, feedi ng occurred with higher frequency in JF than CB. On Day 25 and thereaf ter, JF reared intermingled, manifested bird-to-bird pecking behaviour towards their CB counterparts. Regardless of I or S flock, bird-to-bi rd pecking activity, remained relatively low within the JF population. Broiler chicks did not exhibit any 'damaging' pecking activity. Stres s attributed to being pecked was reflected by elevated heterophil to l ymphocyte ratios in the intermingled CB. There was, however, no adrena l glands, bursa of Fabricius and spleen relative weights response to t he stressor.