Honors Theses and Capstones

Date Completed

Spring 2026

Abstract

Broiler chickens are bred for feed efficiency, rapid growth rate, and muscle development. Conventional broiler farms utilize fast-growing breeds that reach market weight rapidly and present welfare concerns. Primarily raised indoors with little enrichment, the genetics and husbandry practices of broilers encourage inactivity and perpetuate health problems such as skeletal deformities, lameness, and pododermatitis. Despite the commonness of these issues, there is little research on the reduction of such health complications through production management. This study investigated methods to promote perching behavior and the effects of riser perch and platform perch utilization in broilers. A mixed flock of slow-growing Gray Ranger broilers and fast-growing Cornish Cross broilers underwent different perch training regimens in adolescence to evaluate the effects of early perch exposure in adult behavior. These groups were then analyzed for perching behavior and specific health parameters to assess welfare and production benefits. Results suggest that perch training may lead to increased use of perches and improved pododermatitis scores. However, the heavier Cornish Crosses appeared to have fewer health benefits from training due to physical constraints of their heavy-body conformation.

Document Type

Capstone

First Advisor

Vanessa Grunkemeyer

College or School

COLSA

Department or Program

Animal Science

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

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