Research note: individual variability in early-life play and social behaviors of broiler chicks

Authors: JACKSON, A - Auburn University; LANDERS, D - Auburn University; Purswell, Joseph; BAKER-COOK, B - Auburn University

Submitted to: Poultry Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/9/2025
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Play and social behaviors are important in the early life of poultry, as they support behaviors support neurodevelopment, facilitate environmental engagement, help form social bonds and assist in developing skills important for stages later in life. It is known that individual variation exists within animal behavior, but its occurrence in play and social behavior in young poultry is unknown. Using continuous focal sampling, the total duration and frequency of play behaviors (sparring, frolicking, and worm-running) and social behavior (allopreening) performance was measured. Likeliness of play initiation by individual chicks was also assessed. Individual variations in both play duration and play initiation were found. Birds who spend a long duration of time playing one type of play also spend more time performing other types of play. They are also more likely to initiate play. Whereas other chicks were less likely to perform the play. Further research is required to understand how development, social dynamics, age, and personality influence early-life and long-term individual differences.

Technical Abstract: Play and social behaviors are important in behavioral development, that support neurodevelopment, social bonding, and skills development. The individual differences in performance of these behaviors in poultry are currently unknown. This study assessed individual variability of play and social behaviors in broiler chicks across the first week of life. Seventy-five chicks (25 birds/pen) were randomly placed in three pens. Continuous focal sampling of nine birds (3 chicks/pen) was performed from d 1 to 7. The behaviors assessed were sparring, frolicking, worm-running, and allopreening. Play initiation was calculated as the number of times a chick initiated play divided by its total play frequency. The duration Bird A performed sparring was greater than Birds B, E, F, and H. Bird C performed a greater amount of frolicking than Bird E. Birds D and I spent more time performing worm-running than Bird G. For play duration tertiles, top-ranked birds for sparring were A, C, and I while bottom-ranked birds were B, E, and H. For frolicking, Birds C, D, and I were top-ranked and Birds B, E, and H were bottom. For the duration of worm-running, top ranks included Birds B, D, and I and the bottom ranks were Birds A, E, and H. For allopreening, Birds A, F, and H were ranked top and Birds B, E, and G were ranked bottom for duration. Bird C had significantly higher odds to initiate play (Odds = 4.06; P = 0.034), and Bird I only tended to initiate play behaviors more often (Odds = 3.25; P = 0.07). The duration of sparring strongly positively correlated with frolicking (r = 0.78; P < 0.01) and worm-running (r = 0.83; P < 0.01) and frolicking strongly positively correlated with worm-running (r = 0.80; P < 0.01). Overall, individual differences in play behaviors performance were found in the first week of life. Chicks that engaged one type of play also performed more play behaviors overall and were likelier to initiate play.