Results of behavioral investigations of broilers kept on various litter materials

: Behavioural investigations by the help of time-sampling-method with broilers kept on different litter materials (wood chip deep litter with or without mixing, straw resp.) in 5 rounds (per round investigated: 5 days x 8 hours x 12 values/hr x 10 broilers = 24000 behavioural data) showed no evident differences between keeping systems which could lead to preferring or rejecting a system. A lower frequency of scratching and ground pecking and a higher percentage of comfort behaviour was found in broilers kept on straw because of increasing amount of faeces and compression of litter material. From the view point of ethology and animal hygiene wood chip deep litter system without mixing and a 10 cm layer of new wood pieces after every round could be recommended if economical aspects allow.