Automatic detection of deviations in activity levels in groups of broiler chickens – A pilot study

Automatic monitoring of activity levels in broiler chicken flocks may allow early detection of irregular activity patterns, indicating potential problems in the flock. Leg disorders are the main welfare concern for modern broiler chickens. Dynamic control of broiler activity during the growing period may improve the muscular-skeletal development thereby reducing leg disorders and improving welfare of the animals. The undisturbed activity of groups of broiler chickens was investigated in three steps. The first step applied a model, which was able to filter out outliers in the data stream of automatically recorded activity from overhead video cameras. The second step described the undisturbed levels of activity in groups of broiler chickens over the course of a day in week 1, 2 and 3. The third step applied a method to detect deviations in activity level, thereby giving an indication of a level change in activity within the flock of broilers. The results indicate the potential for automatic detection of deviations in activity level in flocks of broiler chickens. From these methods it is possible to develop automatic monitoring systems, which can notify the producer when the activity in the broiler flock deviates from an expected level at a given age. Such monitoring system may improve the welfare of commercial broiler chickens.