Bird

Psittacine birds as laboratory animals: Refinements and assessment of welfare

We address housing, refinements of husbandry, and some concerns regarding the use of parrots as laboratory animals. Because the duration of a project is most likely brief relative to the lifespan of the bird, among the most important goals is...

Year Published: 2007Animal Type: Bird, Parrot

Citation: Kalmar, I. S., Moons, C. P. H., Meers, L. L. et al. 2007. Psittacine birds as laboratory animals: Refinements and assessment of welfare. Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science] 46(4), 8-15.

The relative preferences for wood shavings or feathers in high and low feather pecking birds

High feather pecking birds (HFP) have been reported to be attracted by feathers of their pen mates while low feather pecking birds (LFP) direct most of their pecking activities towards litter...Our results showed that hens were motivated to eat feathers...

Year Published: 2007Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Harlander-Matauschek, A., Benda, I., Lavetti, C. et al. 2007. The relative preferences for wood shavings or feathers in high and low feather pecking birds . Applied Animal Behaviour Science 107(1-2), 78-87.

Effects of broody hens on perch use, ground pecking, feather pecking and cannibalism in domestic fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus)

Previous work has shown that the tendency to feather peck in domestic fowl is influenced by experiences early in life; it was hypothesised that broody hens prevent development of feather pecking and cannibalism in their chicks by increasing their ground...

Year Published: 2007Animal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Riber, A. B., Wichman, A., Braastad, B. O. et al. 2007. Effects of broody hens on perch use, ground pecking, feather pecking and cannibalism in domestic fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus). Applied Animal Behaviour Science 106(1-3), 39-51.

Suitable housing for Japanes quail (Coturnix japonica)

The female quail live compatibly together compared to co-housed males, where fighting injuries were common.

Year Published: 2007Animal Type: Bird, Fowl

Citation: Patterson, M., Lofgren, J., Gaudio, K. 2007. Suitable housing for Japanes quail (Coturnix japonica). American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 46 (Abstract).

Foraging ?enrichment? as treatment for pterotillomania

This study was performed to determine whether foraging enrichment reduces self-directed psychogenic feather picking (pterotillomania) in parrots. A positive correlation between increased foraging time and improvement of feather score was hypothesised. Eighteen pterotillomanic African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus) were randomly...

Year Published: 2008Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Bird, Parrot

Citation: Lumeij, J. T., Hommers, C. J. 2008. Foraging ?enrichment? as treatment for pterotillomania. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 111(1-2), 85-94 .

Social buffering of the stress response: Diversity, mechanisms, and functions

Protracted or repeated activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical (HPA) system is associated with a variety of physical and psychological pathologies. Studies dating back to the 1970s have documented many cases in which the presence of a social companion can moderate HPA...

Year Published: 2009Animal Type: Bird, Dog, Finch, Guinea Pig, Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Other Animal, Other Nonhuman Primate, Other Rodent, Rat, Rodent, Sheep, Squirrel Monkey

Citation: Hennessy MB, Kaiser S, Sachser N. 2009. Social buffering of the stress response: Diversity, mechanisms, and functions. Frontiers in Neuroendocrin. 30;470-82.

Understanding feather eating behaviour in laying hens

In the present study, high feather pecking (HFP) and low feather pecking (LFP) birds were used to investigate if the lines differ in their willingness to work for food or feathers in the presence of freely available identical substrates. Twenty...

Year Published: 2009Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Harlander-Matauschek, A., Hӓusler, K. 2009. Understanding feather eating behaviour in laying hens. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 117(1-2), 35-41.

CCAC guidelines on: the care and use of farm animals in research, teaching and testing

These guidelines aim to provide information for investigators, animal care committees, facility managers and animal care staff that will assist in improving both the care given to farm animals and the manner in which experimental procedures are carried out. The...

Year Published: 2009Topics: Regulations & Ethical ReviewAnimal Type: Cattle, Chicken, Equine, Fowl, Goat, Pig, Sheep

Citation: Canadian Council on Animal Care. 2009. CCAC guidelines on: the care and use of farm animals in research, teaching and testing. Ottawa, Canada.

Enrichment for Carneaux pigeons used in behavioral learning research

Litter-box mats provisioned with cracked corn serves as feeding enrichment substrate.

Year Published: 2009Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Bird, Other Bird

Citation: Turner, T. 2009. Enrichment for Carneaux pigeons used in behavioral learning research. Lab Animal 39(2), 40-41.

Farm Animal Welfare in Great Britain: Past, Present and Future

The Council has examined the effectiveness of British policy on farm animal welfare since 1965 and sets out a strategy that will lead to steady improvements in welfare over the next 20 years. Proposals are made for Government and commercial...

Year Published: 2009Animal Type: All/General, Bird, Cattle, Chicken, Equine, Fowl, Pig, Sheep

Citation: Farm Animal Welfare Council 2009. Farm Animal Welfare in Great Britain: Past, Present and Future. Farm Animal Welfare Council, London, UK.