Many of the fear tests used in the welfare assessments of broiler chickens assume that birds will withdraw from a given stimulus if they are fearful. However, fear test responses may also depend on the...
Poultry can see in the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum and supplementation of UVA has been shown to reduce laying hens’ fear and stress. The shorter wavelengths (UVB) also facilitate vitamin D3 production. However, UV spectrums are...
Motivation to seek social interactions is inherent to all social species. For instance, even with risk of disease transmission in a recent pandemic, humans sought out frequent in-person social interactions. In other social animals, socialization...
The welfare of laying hens is crucial for a sustainable and ethical food industry. Free-range systems offer a more natural and stimulating environment, while dual-purpose autochthonous breeds and crossbreeding could address ethical concerns and improve...
Most wild parrot species live in flocks, enriched by the environment and conspecific interactions. Captive parrots often live individually and are prone to behavioral maladaptation. If captive parrots and their behavior become intolerable, they are...
Housing, including pullet rearing environment and enrichments, impacts the welfare of laying hens throughout their life. As the egg industry shifts towards alternative housing systems (furnished cages, aviary, free-run, and free range), an increase in...
For birds, access to direct sunlight (without the use of glass) is very important. If that cannot be achieved in captivity, then at the very least ensure provision of the right UV lamp. Appropriate UV...
Presenting chopped food in a bowl is a traditional feeding technique in zoos worldwide. However, it may not provide sufficient stimulation for many species to satisfy their behavioural needs. Recent studies suggest that dispersing food...
Providing an enriched species specific environment, coupled with the principles of the 3Rs (Refinement, Reduction and Replacement) is at the heart of the poulty team team at The Pirbright Institute. Periodically reviwed custom made cage...
Nest design is one factor contributing to floor-laying in farmed poultry. We investigated: (i) if ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) prefer a particular nest substrate; and (ii) how important that preference is to them, indicated by stress-induced...