Effect of initial-pecking consequences on subsequent pecking in young chicks

White Leghorn cockeral chicks 1/2 and 21/2 days old received saline or LiCl injection immediately following their 1st feeding experience. When retested 5 hrs later 21/2-day-old Ss that had received saline increased their pecking rate, but 1/2-day-old Ss showed no change. Only 21/2-day-old chicks, therefore, appear to associate ingestion of food with long-term positive consequences. Ss of both ages, on the other hand, greatly reduced pecking when retested 5 hrs after LiCl injection. Thus, 1/2- and 21/2-day-old chicks are capable of forming an association between pecking and its long-term consequence when the consequence is aversive. When LiCl injection was not contingent on pecking, following the initial feeding session by 6 hrs, Ss did not reduce retest pecking rates. (7 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).