Back to basics - Accommodating birds in the laboratory setting Penny Hawkins Research Animals Department, RSPCA, UK Helping animals through welfare science
Aim: to provide practical information on refining husbandry and procedures
JWGR membership Scientific welfare organisations Scientists using animals Animal technologists Veterinarians Animal behaviour scientists Home Office Inspectors http://www.lal.org.uk/workp.html
JWGR reports Bird husbandry and procedures Administration of substances Telemetry procedures Housing for animals on telemetry studies GM mouse creation, management and care Dog husbandry and procedures Primate husbandry and procedures Welfare assessment Three Rs in vaccine batch potency testing
Basics about birds Over 9000 species - currently Extremely diverse range of adaptations for locomotion and feeding Most range over large, 3-D areas by flying, walking, running, swimming, diving; while foraging and migrating Can be very difficult to meet birds needs in the laboratory
Basics - senses Complex retina; excellent colour vision and acuity Many can see UV light Some can perceive magnetic fields Probably cannot hear ultrasound, some may hear infrasound Taste and smell at least similar to humans Nociceptors have been found all over the avian body
Basics - cognition Categorisation: pigeons Object permanence: parrots, domestic fowl Social learning: blue tits Tool use: thrushes, vultures Play: parrots, corvids
Good bird housing should: Identify behavioural requirements Simulate appropriate wild conditions Include compatible conspecifics (for social individuals) Allow space for exercise Provide good quality space Encourage foraging behaviour Promote good health
Species included in JWGR Seabirds Ducks and geese Birds of prey Domestic fowl Domestic turkey Quail Pigeon Psittacines Tits and chickadees Corvids Starlings Finches
Domestic fowl Animal behaviour and welfare literature Ecology and behaviour of Jungle fowl ground living, ample overhead cover usually one male, up to four females up to 75 % of time foraging much time preening, dustbathing chicks stay with hen for six to eight weeks
Fowl - flooring and foraging Solid floor with loose litter for foraging and dust bathing If scientific justification for cages, provide solid area with litter over at least a third of floor space Reduce feather pecking with objects such as string, turf or pecking blocks
Fowl - perching Highly motivated to perch Good for bone strength, foot and plumage condition At least 15 cm per bird, flat top 3 to 4 cm wide Ideally range of heights to allow expression of dominance behaviour
Fowl - nesting and cover Very highly motivated to lay in nest boxes Frustration and stereotypies if denied access At least one nest box each from 16 weeks old, with nesting materials Natural or artificial cover reduces stress
Fowl - group sizes Highly social, forms stable hierarchies in groups of 5 to 20 birds Prefer familiar birds to empty cage Male:female ratio around 1:5 Plenty of structured space to reduce aggression
Pigeons (Columba livia) Animal behaviour and welfare literature Ecology and behaviour of rock doves Nests and roosts on cliffs or gorges, in caves Pairs to large flocks Very territorial Mates in monogamous pairs Eats wide range of grains, fruits, invertebrates
Pigeons Sufficient area for flight - or access to flight rooms Adequate perching space, e.g. box perches located in blocks If cages must be used, try rabbit cages Solid floor with litter for foraging Mixed social groups - with adequate space and monitoring
Zebra finch Animal behaviour literature Ecology and behaviour of wild finches Highly social; live in flocks of up to several hundred Range over wide areas Roost in nests outside breeding season Breeding triggered by rains grass seeds Long term, monogamous pair bonds
Zebra finch Perches and swings - natural or dowelling Variety of levels to allow gradual descent Ground foraging and Panicum millet, fruit, insects Group housing Sufficient nest sites if breeding required
RSPCA housing and care sheets www.rspca.org.uk/laymembers
European guidelines JWGR was basis for revised standards for birds in European convention These are Annex to current Directive Should be Annex to new Directive
Example - domestic fowl Body mass (g) Min enclosure size (m 2 ) Min area per bird (m 2 ) Min height (cm) Min feed trough (cm) Up to 200 1 0.025 30 3 Over 200 to 1 0.03 30 3 300 Over 300 to 1 0.05 40 7 600 Over 600 to 1 0.09 50 15 1200 Over 1200 to 2 0.11 75 15 1800 Over 1800 to 2 0.13 75 15 2400 Over 2400 2 0.21 75 15
Example - pigeon Group size Min enclosure Min height Min food Min perch size (m 2 ) (cm) trough (cm) (cm) Up to 6 2 200 5 30 From 7 to 12 3 200 5 30 Each additional bird 0.15 5 30 Current UK Home Office guidance: 0.008 m 2 in groups and 0.1225 m 2 singly, min height 35 cm. This is a cube with a side of 35 cm for a singly housed pigeon!
Reducing the conflict New thinking about birds, their capabilities and their needs Forget poor husbandry in farmed and companion situations Go back to the basics and put the birds s requirements first Good welfare = good science
Thank you for listening!