What do broiler chicks normally do in their first week of life?

Interpretive summary by Deepak Subedi, The University of Sydney

The first week after hatch is a critical stage for broiler chicks. During this period, chicks begin to develop normal daily behaviors such as moving, resting, eating, drinking, exploring, playing and interacting with other chicks.

A team of Auburn University researchers observed 75 Ross 308 broiler chicks from day 1 to day 7 after hatch. They recorded their behavior continuously for 24 hours each day to understand how chick behavior changes with age and time of day.

More activity with age

Newly hatched chicks spent most of their time resting and sleeping. As they grew older, they became more active. Behaviors such as standing, walking, running, jumping, eating, drinking, foraging, sparring and playing increased during the first week. At the same time, sleeping gradually decreased. These observations demonstrate that broiler chicks develop rapidly during early life, and their behavioral range expands within just a few days.

Increased feeding, drinking

As chicks grew, they spent more time eating and drinking, reflecting their increasing body size and higher nutrient demand. Eating and drinking were most common during the morning and evening, suggesting that chicks follow daily patterns in feed and water use.

Rest a major behavior

Although chicks became more active with age, resting was still one of the most common behaviors. Chicks slept most during the dark period but also rested during the day, highlighting the importance of providing a comfortable environment where chicks can rest properly without unnecessary disturbance.

Daily behavior rhythms

The study found that chick behavior changed by time of day. Chicks were more active in the morning, with higher levels of walking, running, standing and frolicking. Sitting and allopreening were more common around midday, while foraging and environmental pecking were higher before the dark period. These findings suggest that chick management should consider natural daily rhythms, especially lighting, feeder access, drinker access and environmental comfort.

Behavioral diversity

Behavioral diversity increased from day 1 to day 7, indicating that chicks performed a wider range of behaviors as they grew older. A broader behavioral repertoire can be a useful sign of normal development, while reduced or unusual behavior may indicate problems with health, welfare or the rearing environment.

Why does this study matter?

This study provides a useful insight into what normal early-life behavior looks like in broiler chicks. Knowing these normal patterns can help farmers, veterinarians and researchers identify when chicks are not behaving as expected. This is important for improving chick welfare, early-life management, housing conditions and overall production outcomes.

Take-home message

Broiler chicks develop quickly during their first week of life. They sleep less, move more, eat and drink more, play more and show a wider range of behaviors as they age. Understanding these normal behavior patterns can help improve chick welfare and early management.

The full paper is published in Poultry Science (Vol. 104, Issue 9) and is available online here.

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