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Domestic egg-laying hens, Gallus gallus domesticus, do not modulate flapping flight performance in response to wing condition.

ABSTRACT: Wild birds modulate wing and whole-body kinematics to adjust their flight patterns and trajectories when wing loading increases flight power requirements. Domestic chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) in backyards and farms exhibit feather loss, naturally high wing loading, and limited flight capabilities. Yet, housing chickens in aviaries requires birds to navigate three-dimensional spaces to access resources. To understand the impact of feather loss on laying hens' flight capabilities, we symmetrically clipped the primary and secondary feathers before measuring wing and whole-body kinematics during descent from a 1.5 m platform. We expected birds to compensate for increased wing loading by increasing wingbeat frequency, amplitude and angular velocity. Otherwise, we expected to observe an increase in descent velocity and angle and an increase in vertical acceleration. Feather clipping had a significant effect on descent velocity, descent angle and horizontal acceleration. Half-clipped hens had lower descent velocity and angle than full-clipped hens, and unclipped hens had the highest horizontal acceleration. All hens landed with a velocity two to three times greater than in bird species that are adept fliers. Our results suggest that intact laying hens operate at the maximal power output supported by their anatomy and are at the limit of their ability to control flight trajectory.

SUBMITTER: Leon BM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8316787 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Genetic selection for earlier sexual maturation and extended production cycles in laying hens has significantly improved reproductive efficiency. While limited emphasis has been placed on the underlying physiological changes, we hypothesize that modifications in the control of the hypothalamic-pituitary gonadal (HPG) axis have occurred. Thus, three strains of White leghorn derivatives were followed from hatch to 100 weeks of age (woa), including Lohmann LSL-lite (n = 120) as current commercial hens, heritage Shaver White leghorns (n = 100) as 2000s commercial equivalents, and Smoky Joe hens (n = 68) as 1960s commercial equivalents. Body weight (BW) and egg production were monitored, and blood samples were collected throughout to monitor estradiol (E2) concentrations. Tissue samples were collected at 12, 17, 20, 25, 45, 60, 75, and 100 woa to capture changes in mRNA levels of key genes involved in the HPG axis and monitor ovarian follicular pools. All hens, regardless of strain, age or photoperiod laid their first egg within a 64-gram BW window and, as E2 levels increased prior to photostimulation (PS) in Lohmann and Shaver hens, a metabolic trigger likely induced sexual maturation. However, increased levels of Opsin 5 (OPN5) were observed during the maturation period. Although an elevation in gonadotrophin-releasing hormone I (GnRH-I) mRNA levels was associated with early maturation, no changes in gonadotrophin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH) mRNA levels were observed. Nonetheless, a significant shift in pituitary sensitivity to GnRH was associated with maturation. Throughout the trial, Lohmann, Shaver, and Smoky Joe hens laid 515, 417, and 257 eggs, respectively (p < 0.0001). Results show that the extended laying persistency in Lohmann hens was supported by sustained pituitary sensitivity to GnRH-I, recurrent elevations in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) mRNA levels, and five cyclical elevations in E2 levels. This was also associated with a consistently higher pool of small white ovarian follicles. In summary, our results demonstrate first that, regardless of photoperiodic cues, meeting a specific narrow body weight threshold is sufficient to initiate sexual maturation in Leghorn chicken derivatives. Furthermore, recurrent increases in E2 and FSH may be the key to sustain extended laying period, allowing modern layers to double their reproductive capacity compared to their 1960s-counterparts.

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Domestic egg-laying hens, Gallus gallus domesticus, do not modulate flapping flight performance in response to wing condition.

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