Behavioral responses of newly hatched chicks to Melatonin, Metocarbamol and Glucose infusion under transport stress

This study investigated the effects of subcutaneous injection of saline (0/5 ml/bird), melatonin(500 µg/bird), metocarbamol (10 mg/bird), and glucose (200, 300 and 400 mg/ bird) on behavioral responses of newly hatched chicks under road transport stress at such distances as 300, 600, 900 and 1200 kms, Using nonparametric Chi-square test with the use of 700 broilers being performed. Nine potential behavioral characteristics were categorized in three classes: Passive behaviors (sleeping on side, sleeping on breast, sitting and standing) active behaviors (jumping, pecking at their own body , pecking at objects ,Pecking at other birds) and vocalization behavior. The results showed that the injection of melatonin and metocarbamol significantly increased the passive behavior of chickens within 300 km (P <0.05). Except for the 600 km distance, standing behavior in birds injected with glucose and melatonin significantly increased (P <0.05). The doses of melatonin, metocarbamol, and glucose used in this study, did not affect the active behaviors of chicks along the distances studied. The birds' Vocalization behavior also showed a significant decrease only by glucose in the first 300 km (P <0.05), whereas no injections above 300 km had any effect on this behavioral parameter. In general, in this study, the sedative effects of melatonin and metocarbamol were induced by increasing passive behaviors (sleeping and sitting) and the glucose sedating effects by decreasing Vocalization behaviour in the first part of the distance traveled. However, a detailed description of the effects of these compounds needs further research.