Bird

Dance behaviour in cockatoos: Implications for cognitive processes and welfare

Parrots (Aves, Psittaciformes) in captivity have been reported to show dance behaviour in response to music, which may involve complex cognitive processes including imitation, vocal learning and entrainment. Dance behaviour in parrots may be indicative of a positive welfare state...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Bird, Parrot

Citation: Lubke, N., Held, S. D. E., Massaro, M. et al. 2025. Dance behaviour in cockatoos: Implications for cognitive processes and welfare. PLOS ONE 20(8), e0328487.

Effects of flight restraint and housing conditions on feather corticosterone in white storks under human care

Flight is part of the natural behaviours of most bird species, and as a consequence, flight restraint in zoos, even for those species that are primarily ground-dwelling, encounters increasing animal welfare concerns. While previous studies on greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus)...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Housing, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Bird, Other Bird

Citation: Liermann, F., Baumgartner, K., Simon, R. et al. 2025. Effects of flight restraint and housing conditions on feather corticosterone in white storks under human care. Animals 15(13), 1878.

Mental Health and Well-being in Animals

Since the publication of the first edition of this book, professional and public concern for the well-being of animals has continued to increase throughout the world. Advances in research and technologies have yielded an enormous amount of new knowledge about...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: All/General, Baboon, Bird, Capuchin, Cat, Chicken, Chimpanzee, Crocodile & Alligator, Dog, Equine, Fish, Gibbon, Goat, Lemur, Lizard, Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Other Animal, Other Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey, Parrot, Pig, Rabbit, Reptile, Salmon, Sheep, Snake, Squirrel Monkey, Trout, Turtle & Tortoise, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: McMillan, F. D. (Ed.) 2025. Mental Health and Well-being in Animals (3rd ed.). CAB International, Oxfordshire, UK. 464 p.

Behavioral Biology of Laboratory Animals

This 30-chapter volume informs students and professionals about the behavioral biology of animals commonly housed in laboratory and other captive settings. Each species evolved under specific environmental conditions, resulting in unique behavioral patterns, many of which are maintained in captivity...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Animal Training, Environmental Enrichment, Handling, Housing, Human-Animal Interaction, Husbandry & Management, Natural Behavior, Rearing & Weaning, Social Housing & Companionship, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: All/General, Amphibian, Baboon, Capuchin, Cat, Cattle, Chicken, Crocodile & Alligator, Dog, Equine, Ferret, Finch, Fish, Fowl, Frog & Toad, Gerbil, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Lizard, Macaque, Marmoset, Mouse, Nonhuman Primate, Other Rodent, Owl Monkey, Pig, Rabbit, Rat, Reptile, Rodent, Salamander, Sheep, Snake, Squirrel Monkey, Turtle & Tortoise, Vervet (African Green Monkey), Zebrafish

Citation: Coleman, K., Schapiro, S. J. (Eds.) 2022. Behavioral Biology of Laboratory Animals (1st Ed.). CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 560 p.

Meta-analysis on the effect of foraging on feather pecking and feather coverage

Feather pecking (FP) has been a longstanding concern in avian welfare because of its potential to inflict harm on bird plumage. Researchers have proposed the redirection hypothesis in studies investigating factors influencing FP, positing that pecking feathers serve as a...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Wen, J., Yang, S., Zhu, J. et al. 2025. Meta-analysis on the effect of foraging on feather pecking and feather coverage. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 285, 106584.

A gentling program decreases fear-related behaviour towards humans but not towards novel objects in broiler chickens

The human-animal-relationship is a crucial aspect of good animal welfare. Improvements in this regard might be particularly relevant for chickens, as their relationship with humans in commercial husbandry conditions is often limited to brief animal inspections (visual contact) on a...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Stocker, T., Nawroth, C., Puppe, B. et al. 2025. A gentling program decreases fear-related behaviour towards humans but not towards novel objects in broiler chickens. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 290, 106710.

Evaluation of welfare indicators for companion parrots: A Delphi consultation survey

Parrots can experience several welfare challenges when kept as companions. Despite their popularity no science-based guidelines are available to assess parrot welfare. The aim of this Delphi study was to establish consensus on welfare indicators that could be meaningful and...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Bird, Parrot

Citation: Piseddu, A., van Zeeland, Y. R. A., Rault, J.-L. 2025. Evaluation of welfare indicators for companion parrots: A Delphi consultation survey. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 283, 106526.

Assessing the motivation of laying hens to outdoor space access

The present study aimed at evaluating the motivation of laying hens to access outdoor space and their behavior under indoor and outdoor conditions. A total of 54 laying hens (White Leghorns) at 38 weeks of age were housed in two...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Mancinelli, A. C., Chiattelli, D., Menchetti, L. et al. 2025. Assessing the motivation of laying hens to outdoor space access. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 285, 106581.

Smart farming and Artificial Intelligence (AI): How can we ensure that animal welfare is a priority?

The increasing use of technology in livestock farming has the potential for making farming easier and more efficient and for improving animal welfare. There are also, however, potential dangers, one of which is that animal welfare becomes subordinated to the...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Bird, Cattle, Chicken, Goat, Pig, Sheep

Citation: Dawkins, M. S. 2025. Smart farming and Artificial Intelligence (AI): How can we ensure that animal welfare is a priority? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 283, 106519.

Social learning during human-animal interaction: Effects on broiler chickens’ behavior

Human-animal interactions play a great role in animal welfare. Despite that chickens can establish positive bonds with humans, it remains unknown if broiler chickens can do this via social learning. This study examined whether observing conspecifics undergoing gentle handling (demonstrator...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Calderón-Amor, J., Tadich, T., Lecorps, B. et al. 2025. Social learning during human-animal interaction: Effects on broiler chickens’ behavior. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 285, 106586.