Abnormal/Problematic Behavior

Analysis of risk factors of feather pecking injurious behavior in experimentally raised Yangzhou goslings in China (2025)

Feather pecking can influence the welfare and health concerns of all farmed poultry and affect production and economic aspects. Although some information is available about feather pecking behavior in chickens and ducks, the risk factors of feather pecking in goslings...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: Bird, Fowl

Citation: Wang, M., Wang, G., Gu, W. et al. 2025. Analysis of risk factors of feather pecking injurious behavior in experimentally raised Yangzhou goslings in China. Animals 15(5), 616.

Risk factors for barbering in laboratory mice (2025)

Barbering is a common abnormal behavior in laboratory mice, where mice pluck their own fur and/or the fur or whiskers of their cage mates. Barbering mice are a concern for welfare and research quality, as well as serving as a...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Ratuski, A. S., Theil, J. H., Ahloy-Dallaire, J. et al. 2025. Risk factors for barbering in laboratory mice. Scientific Reports 15(1), 7456.

What are the most prevalent welfare issues for pet small mammals? (2025)

The welfare of pet small mammals is an understudied, but growing research topic in the UK and Europe. We surveyed European veterinary experts who each rated severity and prevalence of a large number of issues in the eight most common...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Handling, HousingAnimal Type: Guinea Pig, Hamster, Mouse, Other Rodent, Rabbit, Rodent

Citation: Fenton, L., Benato, L., Mancinelli, E. et al. 2025. What are the most prevalent welfare issues for pet small mammals? Animals 15(10), 1423.

Shifts in naturalistic behaviors induced by early social isolation stress are associated with adult binge-like eating in female rats

Binge eating (BE) is a highly pervasive maladaptive coping strategy in response to severe early life stress such as emotional and social neglect. BE is described as repeated episodes of uncontrolled eating and is tightly linked with comorbid mental health...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Simon, T. B., Sierra, J., Williams, A. et al. 2024. Shifts in naturalistic behaviors induced by early social isolation stress are associated with adult binge-like eating in female rats. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 18.

Less activity means improved welfare? How pair housing influences pinyon jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) behaviour

The activity level and specific behaviours exhibited by captive animals are crucial indicators of welfare. Stereotypies, or repetitive behaviours that have no apparent function or goal, are performed by animals experiencing poor conditions in their environment and indicate welfare concerns....

Year Published: 2024Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Bird, Other Bird

Citation: Wolff, L. M., Stevens, J. R. 2024. Less activity means improved welfare? How pair housing influences pinyon jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) behaviour. Animal Welfare 33, e49.

Living the good life? A systematic review of behavioural signs of affective state in the domestic horse (Equus caballus) and factors relating to quality of life

The welfare of horses involved in sport and leisure activities has come under increasing scrutiny, both from within the equine sector and from the public. A systematic review of scientific evidence was conducted to derive observable, evidence-based behavioural measures of...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Rearing & Weaning, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Hall, C., Kay, R. 2024. Living the good life? A systematic review of behavioural signs of affective state in the domestic horse (Equus caballus) and factors relating to quality of life. Part I: Fulfilment of species-specific needs. Animal Welfare 33, e40.

What are the priority welfare issues facing parrots in captivity? A modified Delphi approach to establish expert consensus

Parrots (Psittaciformes) are widely kept in captivity, yet their welfare is under-researched in comparison to other captive species. This study aimed to determine key welfare issues affecting parrots through a modified Delphi approach. Twenty-eight welfare issues were first compiled via...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Bird, Parrot

Citation: Chalmers, R., Cooper, J., Ventura, B. 2024. What are the priority welfare issues facing parrots in captivity? A modified Delphi approach to establish expert consensus. Animal Welfare 33, e54.

The extent and function of ‘food grinding’ in the laboratory mouse (Mus musculus)

Many laboratory rodents grind their food into crumbs that are discarded at the bottom of the cage (sometimes called orts). This can have substantial impacts on measures of food intake and assimilation efficiency. We quantified food grinding in two laboratory...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Cameron, K. M., Speakman, J. R. 2010. The extent and function of ‘food grinding' in the laboratory mouse (Mus musculus). Laboratory Animals 44(4), 298-304.

Voluntary wheel running as an effective intervention in the management of excessive food usage in CD-1 mice (Mus musculus)

Some mice demonstrate excessive food-grinding behaviors in which food pellets are broken down into crumbs (orts). This is considered abnormal behavior and is undesirable in a research environment, as it is thought to potentially be a stereotypic behavior suggestive of...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Skurnack, A. M. E., Lane, S. P., Garman, L. et al. 2024. Voluntary wheel running as an effective intervention in the management of excessive food usage in CD-1 mice (Mus musculus). JAALAS 63(5), 504–512.

Effects of nesting material and housing parameters on feed wastage behavior in female Swiss Webster mice

Feed wastage in laboratory mice, also known as chewing or grinding behavior, is problematic for program management and animal welfare. The destruction of pelleted feed without consumption produces a powder accumulation on the cage floor called orts. Ort accumulation disrupts...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Zawacki, Z. E., Sharpe, J. A., Porco, T. C. et al. 2024. Effects of nesting material and housing parameters on feed wastage behavior in female Swiss Webster mice. JAALAS 63(5), 495–503.