It is believed that there is a period of high sensitivity in a chick’s life when they develop a preference for specific substrates. If there is not an appropriate substrate available during this sensitive time, the chicks may seek out alternative substrates that may not be appropriate. This study examined whether the preferences developed by chicks during the sensitive period continue into adulthood and affect the behaviour of laying hens. The duration of substrate exposure, changes in substrate, age at exposure and time lapse since exposure were examined. At various ages and lengths of time, the wire flooring was replaced with solid flooring covered with wood shavings, which resulted in 12 different treatment combinations. The adult hens that had never had exposure to wood shavings performed significantly more feather pecking than those from any other treatment combination. The minimal exposure length of 10 days was, therefore effective at reducing feather pecking. The flooring substrate was still important well into adulthood, as hens that were housed on wood shavings, ground pecked significantly more and feather pecked significantly less than hens that were housed on wire regardless of exposure during the rearing period. Subsequently the hens were provided with either wood shavings or straw, and once again previous experience did not affect their foraging behaviour, as the hens foraged on both. Dustbathing however, was performed the majority of the time on wood shavings and at age at which the hens had been introduced to wood shaving also affected this behaviour. The preference to dustbath on wood shavings as the hens had increasing exposure to straw may indicate a stable preference to dustbathe on wood shavings. In conclusion, the behaviour of the adult laying hens was quite flexible, however, the behavioural expression is dependent on the type of substrate available.