Dustbathing in relation to early pecking experience in game pheasants (Phasianus colchicus)

Studies on domestic chicks have indicated that preferences for dustbathing substrates are related to early pecking experience before full dustbathing behaviour has appeared. In this study we investigated if this was also the case in game pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), a close relative of fowl. Phea sant chicks were kept as pairs in wire floored cages and given either 2 min or 5 min pecking experience by simultaneous presentation of pear and sand on days 2-11. On days 13 and 14 they were tested for dustbathing performanc e during 30 min simultaneous presentation of sand, peat and feed. Chicks on the 5 min treatment had a higher pecking rate (P < 0.01) and therefore gai ned more experience with the pecking substrates than chicks on the 2 min tr eatment. Furthermore, chicks on the 5 min pecking treatment dustbathed more in the substrates than those on the 2 min treatment (P < 0.05). Generally, chicks preferred to peck at peat rather than at sand (P < 0.02) and they a lso preferred to dustbathe in peat (P < 0.03). In the 2 min group dustbathing in the substrates and early overall pecking rate on days 2-11 at the substrates were positively correlated, with a stro ngly increased correlation coefficient by day 8. In the 5 min group the cor relations between pecking at either sand or peat and dustbathing in sand pe aked on day 4. During the dustbathing tests three chicks that had no or ver y little experience of pecking the substrates preferred to dustbathe in foo d. We suggest that like domestic chicks game pheasant chicks imprint on dus tbathing substrates by pecking at them during the first days of life.