Operant Control of the Thermal Environment by Chicks

Abstract

Chicks, 8 days of age, were housed at 18 C in a 63-cm diameter chamber and had access to a microswitch. Pressing the switch turned on, (Experiment 1) or turned off, (Experiment 2) an infrared heat bulb. Twelve trials were conducted using wire or shavings on the floor and with a cycle duration of .5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 8.0, or 16.0 min in Experiment 1. Five trials were conducted using wire floors and a cycle duration of 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 8.0, or 16.0 min in Experiment 2. Chicks provided themselves with increasing spans of heat as cycle time lengthened in Experiment 1 and decreasing spans of heat as cycle time lengthened in Experiment 2. Significantly less heat was provided on shavings. Chicks avoid a continuous heat supply, regardless of cycle duration.