The effect of visual pattern complexity of feeders on food consumption of laying hens

One hundred and twenty‐eight commercial laying hens were used to investigate the effects of pattern complexity on quantitative food intake. Independent variables were represented by eight pattern displays placed in trough feeders in the front of birds and exposed for 1 week intervals to groups of four hens in individual cages. As independent variables were also declared the location factors associated with the usual commercial type of hen house (tier levels, sides of the room and distance from working area). Dependent variables were weekly food consumption, egg production, egg weight, egg mass and food utilisation. Prior to the experiment the birds were adapted to the cages for one month. Birds were 24 weeks old at the commencement of the experiment which lasted for 26 weeks.

Food consumption was positively effected by chromatic pattern complexity and by colour preference. Effects of complexity of achromatic displays, as used in this study, indicated a similar trend, but were not of such a magnitude as to reject the null hypothesis. Location of cages contributed to the variability of some dependent variables. Some psychophysical factors associated with usual cage arrangement in pens are considered to explain such effects.