An individually fitted physical barrier device as a tool to restrict the birds? access to certain environmental areas: Can their use alter behavioral responses?

PELLEGRINI, S; MARÍN, R. H.; GUZMÁN, D. A.

Louisville, Kentucky

Congreso; Poultry Science Association 104th Annual Meeting; 2015

Poultry Science Association

Social interactions have beenextensively studied in poultry in a variety of environmental situations. Manystudies allowed full social contacts between birds, but there are others inwhich the interactions are tested through barriers (wire mesh or glass),precluding birds to get full social contact. Thus, a situation where, accordingto their needs, some birds can get access to physical contact with conspecificswhile others cannot, would be useful to expand the testing options for socialinteraction studies. We developed an individual physical barrier device (IPB)that is fitted on the birds to prevent them from passing across boundaries ofmetal mesh while IPB free birds can easily pass (delimiting their ambulation areas).The prototypes showing greater efficacy consisted of a small metal bar placed inthe bird?s back perpendicular to the sagittal plane that slightly exceeds thebody width, held by a harness fitted by 2 elastic fabric bands around the wings?base. To be useful, the IPB should allow natural birds´ movements withoutaffecting the expressions of behaviors (non-invasive). Thus, the aim of thisstudy was to assess whether the IPB may alter adult Japanese quail behavioralresponses using 4 classical but different test situations: Open-Field, Runway,Time Budget in Home Cage, and Sexual Interactions. Open-field ambulatorybehavior was affected 1 h but not 7 d after IPB was fitted, suggesting that 7 d(or less) are required to habituate to the device. After that period, IPBfitted birds showed no differences in any of the behaviors registered in theother 3 test situations when compared with birds that do not carry it. Findingssuggest that after a brief habituation, the IPB does not affect main behaviorsin adult quail. Thus, their use would be adequate to assess social interactionswhere IPB fitted birds are confined to certain areas while their IPB freecounterparts can freely ambulate, get access and potentially interact withthem. Its application could be expanded if an IPB device is also found suitablefor other poultry species.