Link between keel bone damage and fearfulness in laying hensRokavec, Neža (Avtor) Zupan Šemrov, Manja (Mentor) Dimitrov, Ivan (Komentor) poultrylaying henskeel bonedamagefearfulnessanimal well-beingethologyMany external factors are known to affect bone development in humans and animals, leading to impaired physical and psychological health, but to our knowledge, there is no evidence when considering the internal psychosocial factors of an individual. By using low productive laying hens (n = 93), we assessed hens’ coping behavioural responses to an open field test (at 17, 18, 29 and 33 wa), an aerial predator test (at 39 wa) and a social reinstatement test (at 42 wa). Bone condition was recognised by palpation technique five times with all hens experiencing damage (deviations, fractures or both) after 45 weeks of age. We identified four individual coping styles that emerged from the cluster analysis approach and showed a different level of fear but a similar level of stress and keel bone condition. We also demonstrated that being in a particular psychological state of fear does not predispose an individual to developing high chronic stress and low body development or more bone damage. Our results also demonstrated that bone damage does not lead to psychological consequences and are the first to provide a deeper understanding of the relationship between coping style, stress response and bone health.20202020-02-02 07:45:18Magistrsko delo/naloga113781VisID: 175614COBISS_ID: 4354440sl