Social learning during human-animal interaction: Effects on broiler chickens' behavior

This study aimed to test whether broiler chickens can learn to trust humans through social learning by observing a conspecific receiving gentle handling. Our research hypothesis was that observer chicks exposed to a demonstrator chick receiving positive human interactions would exhibit reduced fear and increased approach behaviors toward humans. Data were collected from 72 one-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chickens, randomly assigned to three treatments: Gentle Handling, Human Presence, and Control. Each treatment had two pens of 12 chicks each.
The experiment spanned from day 1 to day 32 of age. Observer chicks in the Gentle Handling group viewed a demonstrator chick being gently handled by an experimenter twice daily for 15 sessions. The Human Presence group was exposed to the experimenter without interaction, while the Control group received only routine human contact. Behavioral responses toward the experimenter were assessed through a home-pen test on days 31 and 32.
Behavioral measures included time spent near the experimenter, latency to approach, and behaviors such as preening, resting, and alertness. Linear mixed models revealed that chicks from the Gentle Handling group approached the experimenter more quickly, spent more time nearby, and displayed less alert behavior than those in the Human Presence and Control groups. Logistic regression indicated a higher probability of entering the proximal zone for Gentle Handling chicks. These results support the hypothesis that broiler chicks can learn socially from conspecifics and that observing positive human-animal interactions reduces fear. The study suggests a practical welfare approach for poultry management through social learning.