Social Housing & Companionship

Effects of housing on social preference and behaviour in male golden hamsters (Mesocericetus auratus)

One strange male was introduced into a group of 4 littermates in a barren 5-chamber cage without preliminaries, and left with the stimulus animals for about 46 h. ... The hamsters showed an overall preference for being with conspecifics and...

Year Published: 1990Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Hamster, Rodent

Citation: Arnold, C. E., Estep, D. Q. 1990. Effects of housing on social preference and behaviour in male golden hamsters (Mesocericetus auratus). Applied Animal Behaviour Science 27, 253-261.

Social housing ameliorates behavioral pathology in Cebus apella

No specific enrichment devices were included in the [single-] cages. The seven subjects' mean percentage of occurrence of stereotypic behaviors was 13%.Change from single- to group-housing effectively reduced stereotypic behaviors; however, it also was associated with more passive behaviors being...

Year Published: 1991Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Capuchin, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Bayne, K., Dexter, S. L., Suomi, S. J. 1991. Social housing ameliorates behavioral pathology in Cebus apella. Laboratory Primate Newsletter 30(2), 9-12.

The behaviour of group penned and individually caged laboratory rabbits

Only caged rabbits showed stereotypic behaviours and only penned [females plus castrated males] rabbits showed aggression. Penned [group-housed] rabbits also exhibited higher frequencies of comfort and marking and investigatory behaviours. Penned housing systems are more acceptable than cage systems as...

Year Published: 1991Topics: Housing, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Poderscek, A. L., Blackshaw, J. K., Beattie, A. W. 1991. The behaviour of group penned and individually caged laboratory rabbits. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 28, 353-363.

Group-housing rabbits

The management and success of a group-housing indoor/outdoor pen system for rabbits [mainly females] is described and discussed. Over a three-year study period a total of 141,000 rabbits were included in the assessment. The levels of fighting injuries was low,...

Year Published: 1991Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Love, J. A., Hammond, K. 1991. Group-housing rabbits. Lab Animal 20(8), 37-43.

Impact of a privacy panel on the behavior of caged female rhesus monkeys living in pairs

Thirty paired female rhesus monkeys were tested in a control situation when companions had no privacy, and in an experimental situation when they were offered the option to move behind a panel and be alone. Paired partners spent significantly more...

Year Published: 1991Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Reinhardt, V., Reinhardt, A. 1991. Impact of a privacy panel on the behavior of caged female rhesus monkeys living in pairs. Journal of Experimental Animal Science 34(2), 55-58.

Serum cortisol concentrations of single-housed and isosexually pair-housed adult rhesus macaques

Possible social distress was evaluated in 20 adult rhesus macaques housed in compatible isosexual pairs (5 female pairs, 5 male pairs) for the purpose of social environmental enrichment. Serum cortisol concentrations of paired animals were compared with serum cortisol concentrations...

Year Published: 1991Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Reinhardt, V., Cowley, D., Eisele, S. 1991. Serum cortisol concentrations of single-housed and isosexually pair-housed adult rhesus macaques. Journal of Experimental Animal Science 34(2), 73-76.

Social enrichment for aged rhesus monkeys who have lived singly for many years

There is widespread concern that aged rhesus monkeys who have been housed singly for a long time would do better living alone than sharing a cage with a companion. Ten female and five male rhesus monkeys, 22 to 33 years...

Year Published: 1991Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Reinhardt, V. 1991. Social enrichment for aged rhesus monkeys who have lived singly for many years. Animal Technology 43, 173-177.

Group formation of previously single-caged adult rhesus macaques for the purpose of environmental enrichment

An attempt was made to form two groups of 6 previously single-caged adult female and 6 previously single-caged adult male rhesus macaques. The study was based on the premise that simultaneous introduction of familiar animals reduces the risks involved during...

Year Published: 1991Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Reinhardt, V. 1991. Group formation of previously single-caged adult rhesus macaques for the purpose of environmental enrichment. Journal of Experimental Animal Science 34, 110-115.

A canine companion for a nursery-reared infant chimpanzee

Reduction in rocking and other stress-related behaviors in the dog's presence is a strong argument for providing nursery-reared chimpanzees with dog companions. ... We have safely housed dogs with single infants as well as with small groups of infants, until...

Year Published: 1991Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Chimpanzee, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Thompson, M. A., Bloomsmith, M. A., Taylor, L. L. 1991. A canine companion for a nursery-reared infant chimpanzee. Laboratory Primate Newsletter 30(2), 1-4.

Rearing infant monkeys (Macaca nemestrina) in pairs produces deficient social development compared with rearing in single cages

Many scientists and colony managers assume that social housing is a beneficial living condition for all captive primates. Several older studies of primate development question the generality of this assumption. We recently tested this assumption by comparing the social development...

Year Published: 1991Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Ruppenthal, G. C., Walker, C. G., Sackett, G. P. 1991. Rearing infant monkeys (Macaca nemestrina) in pairs produces deficient social development compared with rearing in single cages. American Journal of Primatology 25, 103-113.