Productivity and Tonic Immobility Duration of Thai Crossbred Chickens Raised at Different Stocking Densities

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of stocking density (8, 12 and 16 birds/m2) on productivity and tonic immobility duration (a measure of fearfulness) of Thai crossbred chickens (n=900 birds) kept at 100 birds per pen. The results showed that stocking density had no significant (P>0.05) effect on body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and mortality of chickens from the wk2 to 12. When stocking density was increased from 8 birds/m2 to 16 birds/m2, tonic immobility (TI) duration of the chickens increased significantly (P<0.05).However, the TI duration of chickens at a density of 12 birds/m2 was not significantly different from those of both the lower and the higher densities. In conclusion, Thai crossbred chickens could be stocked up to 12 birds/m² without adverse effect on productivity and welfare when compared to those kept at 8 birds/m².