Effects of Swimming Pool Conditions and Floor Types on White Roman Geese’s Physical Condition Scores and Behaviors in an Indoor Rearing System

Abstract

Biosecurity problems, including the continual risk of avian influenza spread by wild birds, have severely affected traditional free-range waterfowl production systems. Regulations and techniques for indoor goose production require more considerations for animal welfare. This study investigated the effects of swimming pool conditions and different floor types on the physical condition scores and behaviors of indoor-reared White Roman geese. A total of 48 male and 48 female White Roman geese reared from the age of 15 to 84 days were randomly allocated to pens with or without a swimming pool and with either mud or perforated plastic floors. Providing a swimming pool improved geese’s eye and feather cleanliness and breast blister scores at the age of 84 days. Compared with geese reared on a mud floor, those reared on a perforated plastic floor had better feather cleanliness and higher breast blister scores at the age of 56 and 84 days. Providing a swimming pool to indoor-reared geese may reduce the proportion of abnormal behaviors, such as injurious feather pecking, by increasing water-related behaviors. This study suggests a more appropriate environment design for better balancing commercial goose production with animal welfare in an indoor rearing system.

Welfare of ducks, geese and quail on farm

“…Interpretation: Inability to appropriately perform comfort behaviour is indicated by signs of conjunctivitis, sinusitis, swelling, discharge, occlusion or alteration around the eyes or of the eye structure itself with higher severity of disorders being worse stages -Domestic geese: Williams (2019), Liao et al (2022) Eye disorders have not been reported in quail…”

“…Comfort behaviour involves behaviours performed to maintain the feathers and in waterfowl also eyes (e.g. Jones et al., 2009 for Domestic ducks; Liao et al., 2022 for Domestic geese) and nostrils (e.g. O'Driscoll and Broom, 2011 , review by Nicol et al., 2017 for Domestic ducks) clean and in a good condition.…”

“…This seemed to be related to bathing behaviour, as the Domestic ducks kept on the perforated plastic net system water‐bathed more than the birds kept in the deep litter system or deep litter system with enrichment (Chen et al., 2015 ). Domestic geese kept on dirt floors without litter had reduced feather cleanliness at 56 and 84 days of age compared to birds kept on perforated plastic floors (Liao et al., 2022 ). However, in Mule ducks, housing without access to bathing water on plastic slats or solid floors with one of two types of litter (sand and wood shavings), or no litter, did not influence feather cleanliness (Mohammed et al., 2019a ).…”

“…During summer, Domestic ducks housed on slatted floors had more eye disorders than ducks housed on littered floors (Fraley et al., 2013 ), whereas no difference between flooring systems was found during winter (Karcher et al., 2013 ). In 84‐day old Domestic geese, eye condition was worse in birds kept on dirt floors without litter compared to birds kept on perforated plastic floors (Liao et al., 2022 ). In a study of Mule ducks, neither flooring material (plastic slats vs. solid) nor litter type (sand, wood shavings) or absence of litter affected eye condition (Mohammed et al., 2019a ).…”

“…( 2015 ) observed more feather pecking in Domestic ducks kept on a perforated plastic net system than birds kept in a deep litter system or deep litter system with enrichment. In contrast, Mule ducks housed on either plastic slats, solid floor without litter or solid floor with litter (sand or wood shavings) did not differ in feather quality (Mohammed et al., 2019a ), whereas feather quality in 56‐day‐old Domestic geese was worse for birds kept on dirt floors without litter compared to birds kept on perforated plastic floors (Liao et al., 2022 ). Increased occurrence of feather pecking and aggressive behaviour have been found when quail are housed on dried dirt floor without litter as compared to solid floors with litter (sand, wheat straw, sawdust or rice straw) (Mohammed et al., 2017 ).…”