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Effects of Artificial Cover on
Chicken
Behavior & Use of Space
M.S. Project – TeriLynn Cornetto
Research Supervisor – Dr. Inma Estevez
Department
of Animal and Avian Sciences
University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742
Background When rearing chickens it is important to look at the quality of the environment,
especially when birds are kept at high stocking densities.
Complexity is minimal in commercial poultry housing and is typically provided by walls,
drinkers and feeders.
Complexity in natural environments is provided by cover, which can be in the form of
rocks, vegetation, soil, stream beds, natural barriers or shade.
Cover is an important feature of natural environments providing suitable area for
resting, protection from the elements, such as rain and wind, safe areas for consuming
food and protection from predators or aggressive conspecifics.
Research has been conducted on the effects of cover in mammals, birds and fish and has
revealed many potential benefits, which include reduced aggression, reduced vigilance
time, and increased foraging and feeding times.
Introducing cover into captive settings may induce more desirable space use in domestic
fowl.
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