Study the use of perches and its influence on the behaviour and production of broiler

242 day-old chicks were reared and housed from 21st October to 1st December 2002. The chicks managed as group A, B, C and D with 50, 56, 64 and 72 chicks provided with floor space of 1.0, 0.9, 0.8 and 0.7 sq.ft/bird, respectively. Group A was treated as control while group B, C and D were facilitated with 2, 4 and 6 perches, respectively. The results show that broiler without perch (A) spent significantly greater time in feeding (422.1 min) than with perches groups D (246.3 min); C (230.3 min) and B (217.1 min), similarly drinking for without perch group A (117.4 min) as compared to with perch groups D (81.1 min), C (78.2 min) and B (74.8 min) her broiler over 24 hours respectively. Similarly group (A) spent more time (160.1) in standing than groups with perch D (152.4), C (147.3) and B (137.3) min/24 hr/b, respectively. There was a rising trend for standing behaviour up to third week and later started decreasing. The lying and sleeping behavi our in control group (A) was greater (2300) as compared with perch groups D (1661), C (1449) and B (1238) min over 24 h/b. This increase in lying and sleeping behaviour up to fourth and fifth week in all the groups declined during final period in all groups. The broiler kept in perch in group D spent significantly maximum time (19.3 min) in perching than C (15.1 min) and B (13.1 min) over 24 hours/bird. The groups with more perches and having less space/bird, used significantly more perches than with less number of perches and greater space. Average daily feed intake in group B was greater (79.1) than A (77.5), C (74.9) and D (74.6) gm per broiler, respectively. The interaction of groups and weeks show that the broiler kept with and without perch groups consumed more feed intake continually up to their time of marketing (6th week). Similarly, water intake was also greater in group B (159.4 ml/b) than A (156.4 ml/b), C (150.4 ml/b) and D (148.0 ml/b), respectively. Average li v e body weight gain of broiler was significantly greater (1.791 kg/b) in group B (2 perches) while it was minimum (1.782 kg/b) in group A (control). Apparently, the differences between the groups look little, but due to high number of degrees of freedom, statistically these were highly significant between groups and weeks. The feed intake was comparatively greater (3.320 kg/b) in group. B (with 2 perches) and it was least (3.133 kg/b) in group D (with 6 perches). The broiler facilitated with perch took lesser feed than the control group (A), this might have the result of increasing trend in perching behaviour. The feed conversion efficiency best (1.757) in group D (with 6 perches) and It was relatively poor in other groups with lesser number of perches or control, as the number of perches reduced, the feed efficiency was also lessened. It is concludes that broiler facilitated with more number of perches were spent lesser time for their production assisting behaviours, with mo r e frequent using of perch each hour than without perch broilers but net return increased with increase of density of birds per area and provided the perches has been used for comfort.