This paper describes a novel monitoring system to accurately detect the short-term feeding behaviours
(meal size, meal duration, meals per day and feeding rate) of broiler chickens at group level by a realtime
sound processing technology. In this research, the pecking sounds of 10 male, 39 days old, broiler
chickens were recorded by a microphone that was attached to the feeder. Simultaneously, the appearances
of broilers around feeder were recorded by a camera that was positioned at the top of the feeding
pen. At the same time, a weighing system was used to automatically record feed uptake of broilers as a
reference method. Moreover, an existing algorithm was used to detect the pecking sounds of 10 broiler
chickens while the birds were all eating together. The feeding behaviours of broiler chickens were
obtained by pecking sound analysis. The results of the algorithm were compared to reference feeding
behaviours through weighing system measurements and video observations. The relationship between
feeding behaviours obtained by algorithm and feeding behaviours recorded by a weighing scale and video
camera was investigated and a strong positive correlation was found between these methods.
Furthermore, the linear regression tests which were performed which were performed resulted in the following
coefficients of determination R2 = 0.965 for meal size, 0.938 for meal duration, 0.896 for the number
of meals per day and 0.888 for feeding rate. Additionally, the estimated accuracy of the method
showed that, 90% of meal size, 95% of meal duration, 94% of the number of meals per day and 89% of feeding
rate were correctly monitored using sound analysis. The results suggest that this automated continuous
measurement system has the potential to be used as a tool to monitor the short-term feeding
behaviours of broiler chickens at group level. The most important advantage of this system is that the
measurements can be made continuously throughout the life span of a flock, in a fully automated, completely
non-invasive and non-intrusive way. It is proposed to test this system in commercial conditions
due to its low costs and in order to evaluate its applicability under these conditions. Future researches
should be focused on sound technology to assess the health and welfare of broilers by automatically
and continuously monitoring the feeding behaviours.