The Influence Of Age And Diurnal Periods On Duration Of Seed Selected Activities Of The Broiler Chickens In The Humid Tropics

Abstract

The influence of age and three diurnal periods 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. (period 1), 12 noon – 4 p.m. (period 2), and 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. (period 3) on duration of feeding, drinking, resting and movement of broiler chickens were studied. Mean feeding, drinking, resting and movement durations varied between 429.39 ± 8.25 Sec. and 430.71 ±3.73 Sec., 194.82 ± 1.91 Sec. 202.29 ±2.26 Sec., 251.64 ± 4.25 Sec and 3.61.23 ± 5.90 Sec., 126.32 ± 1.13 Sec. and 181.70 ± 1.24 Sec. for the different diurnal periods respectively. Consequently, diurnal periods significantly (P < 0.01) affected movement and resting durations. There was no significant (P > 0.05) effect of diurnal periods of feeding and drinking durations. Results showed that age had significant (P < 0.01) effect on feeding, drinking and resting durations with mean values of 1287.66 ± 43.35 Sec., 595.33 ± 22.88 Sec. and 939.91 ± 43.01 Sec. respectively. Besides, age had no significant (P> 0.05) effect on movement duration with a mean value of 475.45 ± 24.88 Sec. These revealed that as birds advanced in age, feeding, drinking, and resting durations increased.

Journal of Applied Chemistry and Agricultural Research Vol. 1 (1) 1994: pp. 42-48