HEART RATE AGGRESSION AND DOMINANCE IN DOMESTIC CHICKEN

Recorded heart rate (HR) by FM telemetry from 6 white leghorn roosters observed in pairs during a pair-comparison schedule repeated 5 successive days to assess the dominance relationship. HR increased dramatically when birds were 1st exposed visually to 1 another. During visual exposure, but before competition was permitted, birds which were to fight to a standoff or lose when permitted to compete showed greater increases in HR than those which were to win or failed to compete. The relationship between dominance rank and HR was U shaped before and after competition, yet linear during competition. (16 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.