Presentation Details
| Innovative Problem-Solving in Cornish Cross Hens Sasha Prasad-Shreckengast, Madeleine Campbell. Farm Sanctuary, Watkins Glen, NY, USA |
Abstract
Innovative problem-solving occurs when an animal solves a novel problem, which can be beneficial in unpredictable environments, such as the high-density conditions of the poultry industry. Despite the global abundance and extreme artificial selection of Cornish Cross chickens (known as broiler chickens; Gallus gallus domesticus), their cognition remains understudied. We examined individual predictors of innovative problem-solving in 31 sanctuary-housed Cornish Cross hens using an extractive foraging device. Overall, success increased across trials (β=0.156±0.057, p=0.01) and with individual age (β=-5.36±2.05, p=0.014), indicating adaptive learning occurs over both short- and long-term scales. At the individual level, average persistence and exploratory diversity were strongly correlated and stable across trials (r=0.826, 95%CI [0.667, 0.913], p< .001), suggesting a behavioral syndrome in which these traits co-vary as a problem-solving style. Our study shows that Cornish Cross chickens exhibit innovation and distinct problem-solving profiles, implying that cognitive capacity and individuality persist despite the intense selection pressures of industrial poultry production.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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