Effects of social status on the performance of non-interactive behaviours in small groups of laying hens

The effects of social status on the performance of "non-interactive" behaviours were examined in four groups of six laying hens. Correlations between social status and the performance of non-interactive behaviours were calculated. Significant negative correlations were found between body shaking and aggression in one group, and body shaking and interactiveness in another. There were no other significant correlations between behaviours and social status, suggesting that social status has little influence on the performance of these behaviours.