The effct of semi-natural environment on the behavior of Japanese quail
Khalil, H. A., A. M. Hanafy, Aml I. Mekawy and M. E. Mady (2014).
Animal production Department, Agricultural College, Seuz canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
Abstract
This study was designed to evaluate the effects of semi-natural environment (sand or straw) on the behavior of Japanese quail. A total of 135 Japanese quails (5-wk-old ) were individually weighed and randomly assigned to three experimental groups (3 replicate each ) according to semi-natural environment . The birds of the control group were housed in cages (100 x50x50 cm ) , the floor of the cage consist of galvanized wire . the 2nd and 3rd groups were housed in the same cages , but used a wooden box (50x 50 x7 cm ) at the end of each cage , which containing a sand (sand group ) or a straw (straw group ). At the front of each cage , there were a feeder and a waterer . Feed , water ,sand and straw were available ad libitum. The distribution of birds ( percentage of front or behind of the cage ), basic behavior ( percentage of standing , walking or sitting ) and additional behavior (percentage of feeding , drinking or preening ) were recorded by video camera at 7,9,11 and 13 wks of age . Results indicated that the birds changed significantly their distribution in housing cages as affected by the treatments .The birds kept under the semi-natural environment (sand or straw ) had spent more time in the behind of cage and lower time in the front of cage compared to the control group . However , no significant differences were observed due to treatments on basic and additional behavior activities . It could be concluded that semi-natural environment had no significant effect on basic and additional behavioral activities , therefore may be raising Japanese quail without the need for these environments .
Key words : semi-natural environment, sand, straw, behavioral activities, Japanese quail