Personality traits and exploratory behaviour in slow-growing broilers

Broilers exhibit consistent exploratory behaviour over time, indicating it is a stable personality trait. Range use was stable during early and late access, but foraging, locomotion, and social motivation showed no strong links to outdoor range use. A study across four slow-growing breeds confirmed the stability of exploratory behaviour from 37–46 to 56–67 days. Foraging and locomotion were assessed at 14–19 days, prior to range access, and may have been influenced by growth. Social motivation was not stable over time. Early behaviour may not reliably predict later range use in young birds. The PPILow project is funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Programme (grant agreement N°816172).