Mating behavior in commercial broiler breeders: Female effects

Commercial broiler breeder managers have reported differences in fertility among strains of birds, with the assumption that less feathering on the backs of hens results from more frequent mating. To determine if mating frequency is associated with back feathering, a study was undertaken to compare the mating behavior of 2 different lines of broiler breeder hens housed with a single strain of roosters. Each pen used in this study contained between 80 and 85 hens and 9 males. Mating behavior activities recorded included aggression, neck flares, male approaches, male waltzes, hen crouches, attempted mounts, completed mounts, attempted matings, and completed matings. Mating observations took place in the evening because this was the most active time for mating. Perivitelline layer sperm penetration, fertility, and hatchability were determined on eggs collected at each observation period. The hen strain with greater feather loss had fewer mounts by males as well as fewer completed matings, indicating that feather loss is not necessarily a good indicator of mating activity and, in fact, that it may deter such behavior. Sperm penetration, fertility, and hatchability were not different between the hen lines. In conclusion, although mating behavior varies in some genetic strains of broiler breeders, it does not fully explain the differences in feather loss, indicating that feather loss on the backs of hens is not a good indicator of mating activity. Furthermore, even though mating activity varied in the 2 hen strains, it did not result in differences in fertility.