Influences of sequences of environmental factors on the response of chickens to fasting and to Staphylococcus aureus infection.

Weight gain of chickens following fasting was influenced by interactions between habituation to persons (socialization), stress (drinking water withheld) early in the life of the bird, and sex. Fasting affected socialized birds less than unsocialized birds. Body weight changes following Staphylococcus aureus infection were influenced by interactions between sex, stress early in life, socialization, and fasting. These 4 factors may also influence the occurrence of disease outbreaks in poultry farms.