Abstract
This review highlights two areas of particular interest in the study of social learning in fowl. First, the role of social learning in the development of feeding and foraging behavior in young chicks and older birds is described. The role of the hen as a demonstrator and possible teacher is considered, and the subsequent social influence of brood mates and other companions on food avoidance and food preference learning is discussed. Second, the way in which work on domestic fowl has contributed to an understanding of the importance of directed social learning is examined. The well-characterized hierarchical social organization of small chicken flocks has been used to design studies which demonstrate that the probability of social transmission is strongly influenced by social relationships between birds. The practical implications of understanding the role of social learning in the spread of injurious behaviors in this economically important species are briefly considered.
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The support of the Biotechnology and Biological Research Council for my work on social learning in domestic fowl is gratefully acknowledged. Bennett Galef and an anonymous reviewer provided helpful comments on earlier drafts of this paper.
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Nicol, C.J. Development, direction, and damage limitation: Social learning in domestic fowl. Animal Learning & Behavior 32, 72–81 (2004). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03196008
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03196008