Assessing the behaviour and welfare of broiler breeders using alternative feeding strategies Principal Investigator Stephanie Torrey, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (at the University of Guelph) Year the work was done 2010-2013 Overall objective To investigate the implications of feed restriction strategies in broiler breeder chickens. Outcomes All of the alternative diets used in this study resulted in breeder body weights comparable to those obtained with commercial diets, and led to better feather condition, possibly due to less hunger-related feather pecking. The breeders were not overtly averse to supplemental fibre in their diet. Behavioural studies are ongoing to determine which feeding program the birds prefer. Application Feed restriction in broiler breeders is an increasing animal welfare concern. Breeder diets containing fibre supplements and/or appetite suppressants may be a solution to improve breeder welfare while maintaining their health and reproductive performance. This research applies to Breeders