Michael Toscano, a researcher at the University of Bern in Switzerland is checking out the habits of chickens – by outfitting them with chicken fitbits! A tracking device records the birds’ daily routines to determine the “best practices” of healthy layers.
Initially an experiment to study high incidence of broken keel bones, Toscano and his team have also used the device to track which birds go outside, determining that those who spend time out of the barn are healthier, a finding that comes as no surprise to backyard chicken keepers! The team has also found that each chicken has its own daily routine. They hope to use the results of the study to raise happier, healthier chickens.
To read more about the study, check out this article in Popular Science.
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