Bird

Colour polymorphic Gouldian finches avoid complex backgrounds but prefer simple camouflage colours over white backgrounds

Many animals blend in well with their environment known as camouflage which is a successful predator avoidance strategy. However, captive environments often do not allow for camouflage and may result in stress and reduced welfare. We investigated whether colour polymorphic...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Bird, Finch

Citation: Perkovic, K., Mettke-Hofmann, C. 2018. Colour polymorphic Gouldian finches avoid complex backgrounds but prefer simple camouflage colours over white backgrounds. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 206, 102-108.

Effects of environmental complexity on fearfulness and learning ability in fast growing broiler chickens

Increasing environmental complexity, i.e. by providing environmental enrichment, has been suggested as a way to improve broiler chicken welfare. One issue affecting broiler welfare is the level of fearfulness of the flock. Exaggerated fear responses may cause smothering and mortality....

Year Published: 2018Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Tahamtani, F. M., Pedersen, I. J., Toinon, C. et al. 2018. Effects of environmental complexity on fearfulness and learning ability in fast growing broiler chickens. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 207, 49-56.

Using radio-frequency identification technology to measure synchronised ranging of free-range laying hens

Free-range laying hen systems provide individuals a choice between indoor and outdoor areas where range use may be socially influenced. This study used radio-frequency identification technology to track the ranging of individually-tagged hens housed in six experimental free-range pens from...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Campbell, D. L. M., Horton, B. J., Hinch, G. N. 2018. Using radio-frequency identification technology to measure synchronised ranging of free-range laying hens. Animals 8(11), 210.

An investigation of associations between management and feather damage in Canadian laying hens housed in furnished cages

Feather pecking is a continuous welfare challenge in the housing of egg-laying hens. Canada is currently making the transition from conventional cages to alternative housing systems. However, feather damage (FD) among laying hens due to feather pecking remains a welfare...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Decina, C., Berke, O., van Staaveren, N. et al. 2019. An investigation of associations between management and feather damage in Canadian laying hens housed in furnished cages. Animals 9(4), 135.

Individuals in larger groups are more successful on spatial discrimination tasks

To understand how natural selection may act on cognitive processes, it is necessary to reliably determine interindividual variation in cognitive abilities. However, an individual's performance in a cognitive test may be influenced by the social environment. The social environment explains...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Bird, Fowl

Citation: Langley, E. J. G., van Horik, J. O., Whiteside, M. A. et al. 2018. Individuals in larger groups are more successful on spatial discrimination tasks. Animal Behaviour 142, 87-93.

An evaluation of two different broiler catching methods

Catching is the first step in the pre-slaughter chain for broiler chickens. The process may be detrimental for animal welfare due to the associated handling. The aim of this pilot study was to compare two different methods to manually catch...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Euthanasia, HandlingAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Kittelsen, K. E., Granquist, E. G., Aunsmo, A. L. et al. 2018. An evaluation of two different broiler catching methods. Animals 8(8), 141.

Evaluation of a dustbathing substrate and straw bales as environmental enrichments in commercial broiler housing

The use of straw bales as an environmental enrichment is common for broiler chickens in enriched housing systems, however relatively little information exists about their effectiveness in improving welfare. There has also been no widespread introduction of a dustbathing material...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Baxter, M., Bailie, C. L., O'Connell, N. E. 2018. Evaluation of a dustbathing substrate and straw bales as environmental enrichments in commercial broiler housing. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 200, 78-85.

Exploring perch provision options for commercial broiler chickens

Two related experiments involving broiler chickens are presented. Experiment 1 evaluated the use of six perch types: (1) an A-frame design (incorporating a platform and ramps), (2) a ‘flat top' ramp, (3) a curved ramp, (4) a suspended bar, (5)...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Bailie, C. L., Baxter, M., O'Connell, N. E. 2018. Exploring perch provision options for commercial broiler chickens. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 200, 114-122.

Behavioural and physiological responses of laying hens to automated monitoring equipment

Automated monitoring of behaviour can offer a wealth of information in circumstances where observing behaviour is difficult or time consuming. However, this often requires attaching monitoring devices to the animal which can alter behaviour, potentially invalidating any data collected. Birds...

Year Published: 2018Topics: External Bodily EquipmentAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Buijs, S., Booth, F., Richards, G. et al. 2018. Behavioural and physiological responses of laying hens to automated monitoring equipment. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 199, 17-23.

Feeder space affects access to the feeder, aggression, and feed conversion in laying hens in an aviary system

In laying hens, minimal requirements for feeder space (cm per bird) are based primarily on data from small groups of hens (n

Year Published: 2018Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Sirovnik, J., Würbel, H., Toscano, M. J. 2018. Feeder space affects access to the feeder, aggression, and feed conversion in laying hens in an aviary system. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 198, 75-82.