Table 3.
Definitions of dustbathing behavior
| Behavioral categories | Definitions |
|---|---|
| State behaviors | |
| Head forward | The head of the hen is visible. The neck is angled down- or upwards. The hen is sitting or standing and does not show any body movement |
| Head under wing | The head of the hen is tucked backwards under the wing or attached laterally to the body. The beak and the crown touch the plumage. The hen is sitting or standing and does not show any body movement |
| Event behaviors | |
| Bill raking | Flank friction with beak on the litter |
| Pecking | Hen’s beak contacts with the litter repeatedly |
| Vertical wing shaking | Lying in the litter area, the wings beat up and down rhythmically |
| Side scratching | With the vertical shaking, the head and legs stretch to one side continuously, and dig the litter |
| Vigorous body shaking | Stand up in the bedding and shake the body or wings |
| Body movement | The hen shows body movement like head shaking, standing up, sitting down, comfort behavior or balance movements |