Poultry Studies
2023, Vol 20, Num, 2 (Pages: 052-061)
Effects of Environmental Enrichment on Ostrich Behaviours
Bilgehan YILMAZ DİKMEN 1
1 Bursa Uludağ University, Department of Animal Science, 16059, Bursa, Türkiye
DOI :
10.34233/jpr.1408365
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This study was aimed to investigate the behavioural differences of ostrich (Struthio
camelus) breeders reared under environmental enrichment with natural vegetation in farm
conditions. The effect of enriched environment with vegetation on eating, drinking, foraging,
pecking, defecation, walking, running, alert, standing, sitting, sleeping, dust bathing, preening,
head shake, thermoregulation, kantel, mating, laying, threat and fight behaviours of ostriches
were found similar (P > 0.05). The ratio of boom, courtship and displace behaviours were found
higher in enriched than in gravel floor (P=0.050; P=0.028 and P=0.001). The foraging, dust
bathing, boom, laying and displace behaviours of ostriches were affected by gender (P=0.029,
P=0.040, P=0.050, P=0.025 and P=0.001). The eating, foraging, standing, sitting, dust bathing
and laying behaviours of ostriches were affected by time of day (P=0.010, P=0.023, P=0.049,
P=0.026, P=0.018 and P=0.009). There was a significant interaction of enriched environment
and gender effect on eating, standing, boom and displace behaviours of ostriches (P=0.047,
P=0.031, P=0.050 and P=0.001). The pecking and standing behaviours of ostriches were affected
by enriched environment and time of day interaction (P=0.027 and P=0.023). As a conclusion,
enriched environment with natural vegetation in paddock only affected ostriches` courtship
behaviours, also affected male and female eating and standing behaviours differently.
Keywords :
Environmental enrichment Vegetation Ostrich Behaviour Gender