Tameness and Its Relation to Aggressiveness and Productivity of the Domestic Chicken

THE behavior of chickens is recognized as an important factor in poultry management because behavior influences production and fertility. Summaries of information on their behavior have been made by Guhl (1953) and Wood-Gush (1955). Attention has been focused on aggressive-submissive behavior, the resultant peck-order, and the function of the social order in the various activities within the flock. There are other behavior traits which often affect the performance of individuals or flocks. Some of these are tameness or wildness as shown by flightiness which may involve relative sensitivity or nervousness; activity level; curiosity; and fearfulness. Each individual shows varying degrees of these traits along with its characteristic level of aggressiveness and submissiveness. Although these terms are in common usage, they are difficult to define precisely. Attempts to measure any one of these traits qualitatively and quantitatively are confounded by their interrelationships, e.g., a relatively inactive or phlegmatic individual may show …