Effect of group size, age and strain on the behaviour of Japanese quail

ABSTRACT

Fifty six quail hens from two strains [28 from each] were included in this study. Birds of each strain were divided into 4 groups in density of 2, 3, 4, and 5 birds/cage in two replicates for each group. Birds were observed for period from 6 to 12 weeks of age for changes in behavioral traits due to population size, age and strain effects. There was a significant difference in drinking, moving, preening and ruffling frequencies due to group size effect. However, larger sized groups perform higher percentage of rest, lower percentage and frequency of st and ing, higher frequencies of moving, preening, ruffling, head shaking and more wing and leg stretch and fewer aggressive pecking and gained more weight than the small sized groups. Positive correlation between body weight and group size was also observed. Moreover, feeding, drinking, moving and st and ing behavior were highly significantly [P <0.01] affected with age. On the other h and, except st and ing and aggressive pecking, none of the behavioral pattern was significantly affected by the strain of quail. The percentage and frequency of aggression was significantly higher in brown than white quails. Moreover, brown quails gained significantly more weight than white ones