Environmental Enrichment as Part of the Improvement of the Welfare of Japanese Quails

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the indicators of the behavioural and physiological welfare of Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) as possible responses to the enrichment of the birds’ habitat. The study sample consisted of 280 Japanese quails (224 ♀ and 56 ♂, respectively). Birds of 5 weeks of age were randomly divided into seven equally sized groups and then divided into replication subgroups (four per group, 10 birds in each replication). Birds were maintained in 0.5 m2 cages with unrestricted access to water and food. The experimental factor was the presence or absence of enrichment of the birds’ cages: the nest box, scratcher, plastic corrugated pipe (tunnel), limestone cubes, sandbathing box and feeder box with a drilled cover. Quails were subjected to behavioural tests (tonic immobility and open field tests) and, after 6 weeks, blood samples were taken from them to determine their biochemical indices as well as their cortisol and corticosterone levels. An additional element was the assessment of fertility indices. The presence of enrichment was shown to reduce behavioural disturbances in Japanese quails. This study also found that the colour and shape of an object were very important regarding the birds’ interest in it. Additionally, individuals kept in enriched cages, who were allowed to exhibit their natural behavioural patterns, had lower stress levels.

The relationship between lysozyme gene polymorphism and quality changes during the storage of eggs derived from 2 commercial strains of Japanese quail

“…The Japanese quails’ ( Coturnix japonica ) rearing and breeding is currently developing very intensively for meat, eggs, and chicks. These birds are easy to maintain, they have low environmental requirements ( Ramankevich et al, 2022 ) and at the same time high productivity ( Wengerska et al, 2022b ). Consumers find attractive the size of the egg, the unique spot pattern on the shell as well as the good quality and health-promoting properties ( Tolik et al, 2014 ; Ogunwole et al, 2015 ).…”

Does the marketing age impact growth performance, carcass traits, economic feasibility and hemato-biochemical properties of genetically-modified quails?

“…The profit achieved from raising it is more than 30% of the capital employed in the project ( Boni et al, 2010 ; Suppadit et al, 2011 ; Aminzade et al, 2012 ). Japanese quails are currently being utilized in managerial research to measure specific physiological, biological, behavioral, and productivity traits as indicators of the concept of bird care ( Ramankevich et al, 2022 ).…”

Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Silybum marianum and Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) on Japanese Quail’s Carcass Characteristics, Oxidative Stability, and Quality of Breast Meat

“…Quail production has found a special place in the poultry industry recently. Features such as short life cycles, high disease resistance, no need for multiple vaccinations (Ramankevich et al, 2022), small size, low nutritional needs, and short incubation period have attracted farmers' attention for raising this bird. Quail meat is useful for all age groups because it contains many nutrients, including protein, vitamin B6, thiamin, niacin, pantothenic acid, and riboflavin.…”