Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (Jun 2016)

Environmental enrichment on the behavior and welfare of cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus)

  • V.D.L. Assis,
  • T.S.G. Carvalho,
  • V.M. Pereira,
  • R.T.F. Freitas,
  • C.E.P. Saad,
  • A.C. Costa,
  • A.A.A. Silva

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-4162-8747
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 68, no. 3
pp. 562 – 570

Abstract

Read online

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the influence of physical environmental enrichment on the behavior of cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus). Eighteen birds, nine males and nine females, were monitored in environments enriched with wooden sticks and bead rings and in non-enriched environments, in a completely randomized design. Behavioral categories were grouped into locomotion, maintenance, rest, feed, undesirable activities, and interaction with environmental enrichment. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis of behaviors to produce the ethogram and percentage comparison of frequency values for behavior analysis. Environmental enrichment positively influenced behavioral categories and some behavioral activities of birds.

Keywords