Researchers claimed male chicks take the lead over females during play.

A recent study suggested behavioural differences between male and female chicks, uncovering insights into their play patterns.

Published in Frontiers in Ethology, the research explores why male baby chickens engage in play far more than their female counterparts, drawing connections to the behaviour of their distant ancestor, the red jungle fowl.

Lead author Rebecca Oscarsson, a PhD student at Linkoping University in Sweden, said: 'Here we show for the first time that there are clear sex differences in the age-related development of play in chickens.'

The study focused on various playful behaviours exhibited by chicks, ranging from locomotor play, like frolicking and wing flapping, to object play, such as chasing objects and social play, like sparring and jumping.

It said male chicks demonstrated a higher frequency of social and object play than females, while no significant difference was observed in locomotor play.

The research used white leghorn eggs from a farm and involved observing the chicks in controlled environments and playpens.

These observations provided valuable insights into the developmental stages and preferences of play among male and female chicks.

Dr Per Jensen, a professor at Linkoping University and supervisor of the study, suggested that play may prepare animals for challenges they may encounter later in life, with male chicks potentially benefiting more from practising skills related to physical ability and social tactics.