Natural Behavior

Validation of enhanced floor pen housing for chickens

This study assesses the transition from isolator housing to an enhanced floor pen system for chickens, with the goal of improving Animal Welfare and promoting natural behaviours. Historically, chickens in our facility were housed in isolators, which limited the opportunities...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Teggart, M., Mackay, F., Merck Enrichment Team 2025. Validation of enhanced floor pen housing for chickens. Animal Technology and Welfare 24(3), 251–253.

Chemosensory-driven foraging and nocturnal activity in the freshwater snail rivomarginella morrisoni (Gastropoda marginellidae): A laboratory-based study

Rivomarginella morrisoni is a freshwater snail endemic to Thailand, yet its behavioral ecology remains poorly understood. This study described the feeding behavior of R. morrisoni, focusing on its foraging activity, behavioral patterns, and food detection mechanisms under laboratory conditions using...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Invertebrate, Other Invertebrate

Citation: Subpayakom, N., Dumrongrojwattana, P., Poeaim, S. 2025. Chemosensory-driven foraging and nocturnal activity in the freshwater snail rivomarginella morrisoni (Gastropoda marginellidae): A laboratory-based study. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens 6(4).

Simple life, simple minds? How habitat simplification in aquatic ecosystems shape fish cognition

This narrative review synthesises current knowledge on the effects of habitat complexity, defined as the variation in physical structures within ecosystems, on fish cognition, brain morphology, and personality. Globally, habitat complexity is declining through a process known as habitat simplification,...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Natural Behavior, PersonalityAnimal Type: Fish, Other Fish, Salmon, Shark & Ray, Tilapia, Trout, Zebrafish

Citation: Klinke, A., Brown, C. 2026. Simple life, simple minds? How habitat simplification in aquatic ecosystems shape fish cognition. Animal Cognition 29(1), 23.

The effect of rearing environment on feather pecking in young and adult laying hens

Although the rearing period has an important influence on the development of feather pecking in laying hens, few studies have quantified the risk factors operating on commercial farms during this time and identified their long-term impact. Our aim was to...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Husbandry & Management, Natural Behavior, Rearing & WeaningAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Gilani, A.-M., Knowles, T. G., Nicol, C. J. 2013. The effect of rearing environment on feather pecking in young and adult laying hens. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 148(1), 54–63.

Relationships between beak condition, preening behavior and ectoparasite infestation levels in laying hens

The effects of beak condition on ectoparasite populations and preening in laying hens were investigated. Beak-trimmed and beak-intact caged Hy-Line W-36 hens were infested with either chicken body lice or northern fowl mites using a 2 × 2 factorial design...

Year Published: 2015Topics: Body Modification/Mutilation, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Vezzoli, G., Mullens, B. A., Mench, J. A. 2015. Relationships between beak condition, preening behavior and ectoparasite infestation levels in laying hens. Poultry Science 94(9), 1997–2007.

Beak trimming reduces feeding efficiency of hens

The ability of beak-trimmed and intact laying hens to ingest feed pellets was examined by highspeed video filming of feeding birds. The birds were exposed to either a deep layer of pellets or a single layer of pellets. In the...

Year Published: 2004Topics: Body Modification/Mutilation, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Prescott, N. B., Bonser, R. H. C. 2004. Beak Trimming Reduces Feeding Efficiency of Hens. Journal of Applied Poultry Research 13(3), 468–471.

A review of research in primate sanctuaries

While non-human primate studies have long been conducted in laboratories, and more recently at zoological parks, sanctuaries are increasingly considered a viable setting for research. Accredited sanctuaries in non-range countries house thousands of primates formerly used as subjects of medical...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Housing, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Chimpanzee, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Ross, S. R., Leinwand, J. G. 2020. A review of research in primate sanctuaries. Biology Letters 16(4), 1620200033.

The underexplored role of chemical communication in the domestic horse, Equus caballus

This work provides an overview of the role of chemical communication in horse behavior and addresses the potential usefulness of this knowledge for management practices and animal welfare. First, we present an outline of the social organization of horses under...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Guarneros, M., Sánchez-García, O., Martínez-Gómez, M. et al. 2020. The underexplored role of chemical communication in the domestic horse, Equus caballus. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 38, 89-95.

The smell of hunger: Norway rats provision social partners based on odour cues of need

When individuals exchange helpful acts reciprocally, increasing the benefit of the receiver can enhance its propensity to return a favour, as pay-offs are typically correlated in iterated interactions. Therefore, reciprocally cooperating animals should consider the relative benefit for the receiver...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Schneeberger, K., Röder, G., Taborsky, M. 2020. The smell of hunger: Norway rats provision social partners based on odour cues of need. PLOS Biology 18(3), e3000628.

Understanding allogrooming through a dynamic social network approach: An example in a group of dairy cows

For gregarious species such as domestic cattle, the social environment is a very important determinant of their welfare and fitness. Understanding the complexity of cows' relationships can assist the development of management practices that are more integrated with the cows'...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: de Freslon, I., Peralta, J. M., Strappini, A. C. et al. 2020. Understanding allogrooming through a dynamic social network approach: An example in a group of dairy cows. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 7, 535.