Chicks use vocalization as a mean of expressing various emotional states and situations. Any factor that causes stress, whether environmental or management practices, can negatively impact their health and welfare, affecting their growth and productivity. Analysing changes in the frequency and patterns of these vocalizations can provide valuable insights into assessing the health and welfare of chicks, particulary during early stages immediately after hatching and while chicks are at the hatchery facilities.

This Good Practice uses bioacoustics to obtain quantitative measurement of stress in a non-invasive matter, without the need for direct human intervention. The system continuously captures all vocalization made by the chicks, filtering out external noises not generated by them. The collected data is transmitted to a computer program that analyses and compares the vocalizations based on various variables, such as the day of birth, handling conditions, treatments administered, and other relevant factors. The levels of vocalization are then compared to the maximum stress level, which is typically observed immediately after birth, following the triage, sexing and vaccination processes. Furthermore, data from different batches can be compared.

This system not only facilitates the monitoring of chicks’ health and welfare, but also helps identifying potential areas for improvement in handling processes and environmental management, ultimately aiming to reduce stress and enhance their overall well-being.