An individually fitted physical barrier device as a tool to restrict the birds? spatial access: can their use alter behavioral responses?

PELLEGRINI S.; MARIN R.H.; GUZMAN D. A.

POULTRY SCIENCE

POULTRY SCIENCE ASSOC INC

Año: 2015 vol. 94 p. 2315 - 2321

0032-5791

Social interactions have beenextensively studied in poultry in a variety of environmental situations. Manystudies allow full social contacts between birds, but there are others in whichthe interactions are tested through barriers (wire mesh or glass). Thus, a situationwhere, according to their needs, some birds can get access to physical contactwith conspecifics while others cannot, would be useful to expand the testingoptions for social interaction studies. We developed an individual physicalbarrier device (IPB) that is fitted on the birds to delimit their ambulationareas by preventing them from passing across metal mesh boundaries that IPBfree counterparts can easily overcome. The prototypes showing greater efficacyconsisted of a small metal bar placed in the bird´s back perpendicular to thesagittal plane that slightly exceeds body width, held with a harness fitted bytwo elastic fabric bands around the wings? base. To be useful, the IPB shouldallow natural birds´ movements and not affect the expressions of behaviors(non-invasive). This study assessed whether the IPB may alter adult Japanesequail behavioral responses using four classical but different test situations:Open-Field, Runway, Time Budget in Home Box, and Mating Interactions.Open-field ambulatory behaviors were affected 1 h, but not 7 d, after IPB wasfitted, suggesting that 7 d (or less) are required to habituate to the device.After that time period, IPB fitted birds showed no differences in any of thebehaviors registered in the other three tests situations when compared to nonIPB fitted birds. Findings suggest that after habituation, the IPB does notaffect main behaviors in adult quail. Its application could be expanded if an IPB device isalso found suitable for other poultry species.