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Different Animal Behaviours - Coggle Diagram
Different Animal Behaviours
Cats
Problem Behaviour
Posture
Over-Stimulated
flatten ear
twitch tail
give a low growl
ripples skin
stiffen body
Aggression
Types
Fear-Related
Cause:
fear people, other cats, or unfamiliar environments
Mitigation:
gradual desensitization
and
counter-condition
(reward calm behavior)
avoid
forcing interactions
reduce exposure to fear-inducing stimuli
2 more items...
Re-Directed
Cause:
triggered by arousal
Mitigation:
avoid interacting with an aroused cat, provide calming periods, and reduce triggers
prevent other cat interaction by closing window
NOTE:
Do Not
break up cat fights w/ your hands
Play-Related
Cause:
playful behaviours, stalking, pouncing, and biting during play due to high energy
Mitigation:
redirect
to toys,
provide
regular play sessions, and
avoid roughhousing
with hands or feet
NOTE:
do at early age, but don't overly wind up
not "abnormal"
when directed at people
Petting-Induced
Causes:
sensory
threshold exceeded
,
medical
pain,
lack
of early
socialization
Mitigation:
respect boundaries,
avoid
prolonged petting sessions
check for underlying health
issues
NOTE:
know cat petting preference
Natural Problem Behaviours
Excessive Vocalization
Chewing plastic/fabrics
Hunting
Teeth Chattering
Excessive Grooming
Maternal Issues
3 more items...
stress, boredom, medical issues
rule out health issues, reduce stress, enrich environment, consider medication
prey excitement/frustration, instinct
provide interactive toys and safe window-watching spots
keep indoors, use collar bells,
avoid
bird feeders, and
restrict
access to bird cages
instinct, maternal teaching
attract to smell/texture, stress, or breed predisposition
remove
target items,
offer chew-safe
toys, enrich environment,
address stress
hunger, loneliness, dirty litter box, pain,
"yowling"
= being in heat
meet basic needs,
vet check
medical issues, spay/neuter, provide enrichment
Cause
Mitigation
Destructive Scratching
Causes
marking territory (scent glands in paws)
stretching and energy release
claw health maintenance (removing dead outer layers)
Mitigation
provide scratching posts in prominent areas with suitable textures
use remote punishment cautiously
make inappropriate scratching areas inaccessible or unappealing
loud noise
longer = better
House Soiling
Spraying
Causes
territorial/social disturbance
emotional anxiety or stress.
medical issues
Mitigation
neuter/spay
maintain litter box hygiene
use enzymatic cleaner for sprayed areas
address inter-cat conflicts or environmental stressors
1 more item...
Vertical
Litter box aversion
Causes
dirty/poorly maintained litter box
associate litter box with pain
dislike for type of litter or box
stressful location
Mitigation
clean and maintain litter box
experiment w/ diff litter types and depths
place box in quiet, accessible locations
add additional boxes if needed (1 per cat)
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Horizontal
Dogs
Problem Behaviours
Postures
Submission
crouching
tail wagging
rolling over back
looking small
Arousal
aggressive
put ears back
tail up
snarl
show play-soliciting behaviour
Fear
putting ears curling back
eyes kinda close
looking small
Aggression
opening mouth wider
hair stand out
eyes open
looking big
Fear Aggression
3 more items...
Excessive Barking
Causes:
territorial, anxiety, social facilitation, reinforced
Mitigation:
block visual stimuli or reduce noise levels
reinforce
quiet behavior and avoid rewarding barking
teach
dogs the "quiet"
command
and provide adequate physical and mental stimulation
dog must be socialized at 4-16 weeks
less fearful & aggressive
Differentiate between fear, anxiety, and phobias, and discuss possible causes in dogs
Fear
emotional reaction
related to specific
objects
noises, children
Cause:
poor early socialization or adverse experiences
Anxiety
emotional reaction
often described as
general uneasiness
connoting a rather vague reaction
Cause:
stem from changes in routine or separation from the owner
Phobia
fear
of
object
or
situations
, which are cognitively understood to be way out of proportion to actual danger
Cause:
exacerbated by lack of early exposure or trauma
Aggression
Abnormal/Idiopathic
Cause:
abnormal brain functions or genetic predispositions
Mitigation:
euthanasia may be best
Toward children
Cause:
triggered by fear, jealousy, or a lack of socialization with children
Mitigation:
early socialization with children
teaching children to approach calmly
controlled introductions & using
positive reinforcement
to reward calm behavior around children
dogs may feel threatened by unpredictable movements or noise
Fear-related
Cause:
when dogs are
frightened
of certain people or situations, escalating to
snapping
or
biting
when they cannot escape
Mitigation:
desensitization to fear-inducing stimuli
avoid
direct confrontation with fear triggers & physical correction
NOTE:
could become
reinforced
if it repels people
Dominance
Cause:
owner’s inability to establish control or inconsistency in interactions
common in males
Mitigation:
consistent leadership and obedience training
castration can reduce some aggression
avoid aggression triggers (desensitize)
reinforce obedience through positive rewards
Pain-related
Cause:
defensive response when an area of the body is touched during pain
Mitigation:
ensure painful area is treated
use
desensitization
techniques to prevent aggressive reactions to touch
Territorial
Cause:
when dogs are not used to visitors, often intensified in certain breeds
Mitigation:
habituation to visitors using distance gradient
counter-condition
w/ food & affection
Interdog Aggression
owner's prescence
strange dogs away from home
absence of dominant
predatory towards small dogs
Fear and Anxiety
Separation
Display:
destructive behaviors - chewing and scratching at doors, house soiling, and howling
Cause:
traumatic event, change in routine, being left alone for the first time
Mitigation:
gradual desensitization
low-key departures
positive reinforcement
when
calm
behavior is shown
1 more item...
pair departure w/ treat
Phobias and Fears
Cause:
thunderstorms, children, and objects
Mitigation:
desensitization
is main approach
start with less intense stimuli and
gradually
increasing exposure
Prevention:
socialize with various people, animals, and environments
Natural Problem Behaviours
Leash Pulling
Destructive Chewing
Digging
Escape
Roaming
Soiling
3 more items...
eliminate attractions,
reinforce staying
at home, use perimeter wire if needed
attraction to distant places,
lack of rewards
at home
lack of consistent routine or secure enclosure
secure enclosure, maintain routine, avoid rewarding escape attempts
address the underlying cause;
reinforce good behaviour
or allow digging in appropriate areas
natural behaviour
provide chew toys, supervise, and offer
positive reinforcement
for good behaviour
puppies chew for teething; becomes destructive due to
boredom
or anxiety
training issue, dogs pull harder when restrained
teach your dog to walk calmly at your side, stop when you stop
Cause
Mitigation
Horses
Behaviour
Behavioural Biology
long nose allows it graze while maintaining surveillance
relies largely on caution, speed & agility
social herbivores
seek companions for added safety, mutual conform & enhanced food detection
isolated = insecure
developed ability to use minimal physical effort to rest while standing
trickle-feeder
obliged to forage frequently
not evolved to eat & ruminate in one spot
eats and move (repeat)
restriction of movement & imposing periods of fasting = problematic to equids most
Feeding & Foraging
↑ temp ↓ foraging behaviour
time of day affect foraging length
breaks between feeding bouts are short
doing other activities (maintenance, social, reproductive)
longer at dawn & late afternoon
Vision
can see objects clear but also maintain distant watch
blind zone account for proportion of startle responses
include shying
image magnification 50% > humans
good distance vision
visual field affected by head level
have night vision
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Panoramic
330-350
Binocular
60-70
Hearing
similar to humans
may hear higher pitches
funnel-shaped ears
can move in unison or independent
use 10 muscles
move ear lateral 180
impaired hearing
droopy ears
can protect hearing from loud noise by laying ears flat
ear direction help indicate horse current attention
Smell & Taste
olfactory well developed
have vomeronasal organ
flehmen response
taste discriminate between safe & toxic plants w/ variable accuracy
may detect trace minerals
Touch
Sensitive to tactile stimulation
around muzzle & ears
some dislike their ears, eyes, groin & heel bulbs touched
sensitive presence of others at their side
Allogrooming
areas
common: mane
uncommon: over back & rump
rare: shoulder & underside of neck
Grooming
rolling
shaking
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Calm/Relaxed
resting
standing on 3 legs
cocking/resting rear leg
+
relaxed ears, head, lip
open, soft-eyes
not darting, schleras not visible
breed specific
long, low head & neck
forward & down
loose lower lip & tail
licking & chewing
relaxed in training/work
sighing, blowing air/huffing
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Foals
Teeth clacking
show older horses not a threat
stops as they get older
looks like open/closing mouth
teeth usually no touch
submissive
repetitive but not stereotypi
Social Organization, Dominance Hierarchy & Leadership
Social Organization
Feral Horses
Social groups
Bachelor
excess males
leave natal band ~0.7-3.9 years of age
Harem
Permanent Type
constant association w/ male
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Stability dependent
herding instinct of stallion
strong social attachment between members
rejection of intruders
one male + multiple females + young horses
Dominance Hierarchy
remains stable once developed
Feral
males tend to rank at top
expressed as threats to bite or kick (or actual)
Canalized
: innate behaviour regardless of environment, unlikely to change
Domesticated
expressed in competitive situations
eg. restricted food
Small herds
linear hierarchy
Large herds
triangular
A dominate B who may dominate C, but C may dominate A
height or BW affect rank but not age and time in band
daughters of dominant mare tend to dominate their own herds
Sexual Behaviour
Seasonally polyestrous
long day breeders
duration of estrus decrease at breeding season height
Unreceptive mare
kicks, squeals & lays back her ear if stallion approaches
Receptive mares
ready for mounting
indicator
standing still
spread hind legs
lift tail to one side
lower pelvis
1 more item...
Foreplay is important in horses
male will smell, nibble & lick the mare
exhibit flehmen
Copulation
achieved between 15 months to 3 years
young male interest start at 3 months
semen collection using dummy
reduced motility
low total sperm count
Maternal-Offspring Behaviour
Gestation
340 + 5 days
Foaling
Feral
early morning hours
Domesticated
night & towards dawn
After birth
mare remains lying down
if foal moves within reach, she will nuzzle it
once mare stands
nuzzle & vigorously lick foal
begin formation of bond
Foal lying down
mare is close by
usually within 1 meter
mare keeps foal away from contact w/ herd members
calls foal to her side
"followers"
Mare-foal relationship
may continue up to
2 years
Stabled horse behaviour
can compromise feeding, social & kinetic behaviours as well as health
Feeding behaviour
limits feeding choice
centrated rations consumed more rapidly than pure forage diet
Feral or Pastured
70% its day foraging
Stabled
10% of its time feeding
Social Behaviour
perform operant tasks
eg. undoing bolts with lips to escape stable
choice of equine neighbours in stable is dictated by stable manager
bonded affiliates may be separated
individuals w/ mutually low tolerance may be housed next to each other
stables prevents detection of predators & escape
hinder survival instinct
eliminative behaviour in stable differs markedly from paddocks
occupants can't easily avoid contact with their waste
fresh layers of bedding regularly prompt urination in males
Kinetic behaviour
restricted space
rolling behaviour is difficult to do
unable to do basic maintenance behaviour
need 6m to roll side to side
horses enjoy rolling after baths
periods of confinement show
post-inhibitory rebound
thwarted behavior cause frustration & stress
lead to behaviour exaggeration
Lying & Standing
Sternal
Lateral
will rest longer and tired
go down front feet first
go up front feet first
Time Budget
70% foraging
15-35% standing/nothing
Recumbent posture (relaxing)
between 12am to 4am
change in activity levels often due to horse state of health, diet or management routine
Sleeping
required & crucial for younger animals to grow & assimilate new information
Four stages
wakefulness
drowsiness
slow wave sleep
paradoxical sleep (REM)
require lateral recumbency
can be achieved while standing or lying
polyphasic
sleep for short duration over multiple times
Rest
show reluctance to lie down to achieve sternal or lateral recumbency unless familiar with environment
housing and bedding influence longevity of resting
Pregnant mares
in
stables
spend more time resing overnight
spent more time
recumbent
w/
straw bedding
than wood shavings
Behavior Problems
Stereotypies
Cribbing
(crib-biting)
bites hard surface
pulls back & sucks air in
may be accompanied by wood chewing
Wind sucking
sucking air w/o biting hard surface
Pacing
(box/stall walking)
continuously paces or walks in circles in stalls
Weaving
stands in one spot & shifts weight/rocks from one front leg to another
may swing head & neck from side to side
"Bits"
mechanical approach to behaviour
used when trainer encounter horse that rapidly enters conflict and does not want to comply
Motivational conflict
increase pressure to overcome ressistance
when
aversive stimuli fail
to elicit desired response & begun to cause behavioural conflict, the
application of force is contraindicated
Behaviour Modification
horse-human relationship is nurtured
use of punishment can undermine relationship
keep in mind the
causal factors
responsible for problem behaviour
address underlying cause
Habituation
desensitization, structured
overcome fear related
Counter-conditioning
rely heavily on shaping alternative response through operant conditioning
positive reinforcement
subtle negative reinforcement
Common Handling Problems
Biting & bite threats
aggression to deter approaching personnel
total refurbishment of horse-human bond
Claustrophobia
Difficult to bridle
Difficult to saddle-up
Difficult to shoe
learned evasion from fear
habituation
counter-condition
--
clicker train
Dislike grooming
5 more items...
learned evasion
response to past pain
counter-condition
--
clicker train
to stand while being saddled
partially dismantle bridle & apple in parts to
identify most aversive element
learned evasion of discomfort from bit, crown piece & brow band
counter-condition
--
clicker train
to stand quietly in usual area used for bridling
shape
tolerance of key elements of bridling process
clicker train to approach, stand beside & enter enclosure
innate fear of enclosed spaces
learned fear of aversive human responses
reinstall leading cues
Approach to therapy
Cause
Agonistic Response to Conflict
Buckling
response used to fight conspecifics & dislodge predators
Rearing
response used to fight conspecifics & predators
Balking & Bolting home
motivation to return to home range or social group > motivation to respond to rider's signal
Rushing fences
unclear
travels too rapidly toward fence
thought to be making attempt to reduce aversiveness of stimulus bu running towards it
Under saddle
Fatigue
lack energy as distinct from lack of willingness to respond
Tripping, toe dragging , stumbling & clumsiness
poor locomotion due to fatigue, conformation or excessive hoof growth
Hitting fences
fail to elevate limbs especially the leading foreleg while jumping
Rider faults
Nagging
Poor timing
Inconsistency
Failure to reinforce
Inappropriate punishment
punish for fear responses
ignoring need to relieve pressure
fail to relieve pressure to reinforce every desirable response
application of signals after response has been offered
repeated application of aversive stimuli regardless of response
Behavioural attributes & uses of modern breeds
Cold Bloods
originate from small, heavily set horses
draft horses
Hot Bloods
originate from finer-boned horses of up to 14.3 hands
arabian, TB, akhal-teke
swift animals
reactivity & athleticism
favoured in racing
Show-jumping
agility over fences & against the clock
obedience
boldness
responsiveness
tendency when jumping to tuck in forelegs & kickback hind legs
speed
Dressage
controlled yet demonstrably powerful execution of set maneuvers
responsive
calm
classically correct, free, regular paces
confident
Eventing
combined demo of stamina, agility & compliance in dressage arena
responsive
calm
Ball sports
polo & polocrosse
reliable
responsive
1 more item...
Endurance
Long-distance riding, ride & tie events
tendency to bond w/ humans
calm
compliant
drink readily
Racing
flat, hurdles, steeplechasing, arab racing, quarter horse racing
reactive to stimuli
desire to run
competitive
Trotting & Pacing
harness racing at trotting or pacing gait
tolerant of harness and handling
desire to run
Leisure
recreational trail riding/trekking/hacking, riding club activities include quadrilles & combined training
adaptable
1 more item...
Pocket Pets
Chinchillas
Behaviour
Nocturnal
Paedomorphic
juvenile features as adult
Obligate herbivore
hindgut fermenter
coprophagic
Social
live in groups
provide safety and contribute to mutual grooming & play
can experience distress if housed alone
Communication
via vocalizations, scent, body language
extremely vocal (humming to barks)
use vomeronasal organ to determine familiarity, spatial boundary & predation probability
both learned & predisposed olfactory cues
defend themselves with urine
Activity pattern
most active during lower temp & dull light
evening & early morning
spend time resting in rock crevice/burrows during day
occasionally sunbathe during dusk/dawn
Locomotion
very active & great climbers
rudder like tail, assist w/ balance & leaping
Reproductive
seasonally polyestrous
Nov & May
estrus occur once every 30-50 days
female wont accept male other than during estrus
Courtship
~1min
enter estrus 12-24 hours after
parturition
Parental & Offspring
Gestation 105-118 days
Nursing 6-8 weeks
begin foraging at 1 week
active & curious
Problem Behaviour
Fur Chewing
Cause:
stress-induced form of self-mutilation, growing teeth
Mitigation:
provide species-specific enrichment like chew toys
cholla wood or pumice stones
Biting & Nibbling
Cause:
Biting: fear response to handling or a result of poor socialization,
environmental exploration
Mitigation:
desensitization
protocols
for handling
,
reinforcing calm approaches
and
rewarding desired behavior
don't discipline but redirect
Common Cause
stress, inadequate enrichment, or fear
Stereotypi
not being able to dust bathe increase the spin in their ritual sequence
Housing
avoid
dampness, high heat & bright light
provide furnishing -- hammocks, raised platforms
encourage climbing & jumping
provide hiding places & novel objects
easy access "digging boxes"
need dust baths 2x/week
ground pumice stone or silver sand
Handling
use one hand under the
abdomen
and the other at the
base of the tail
for support
cover
their
eyes
with a towel
if frightened
, or let them
burrow into
your
arm
for comfort
Hedgehogs
Behaviour
Vision
fair-good acuity
cone-type nuclei
poor colour vision
Olfaction
well developed lobes &
vomeronasal organ
long snout, moist tip
smell involve, foraging, pred detection, navigate, maternal, sex behaviour
Audition
detect high freq
important for locating insect & pred detect
Taste
don't like bitter
prefer sweet & salty
"sweet tooth"
Vocalization
snorting, spitting, hissing, huffing, puffing
aggression & warning
screaming
distress
whistle & squeek
young calling for dam
quack
twitter
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european
Eating & Drinking
opportunistic foragers/
predators
eat invertebrates, worms, caterpillars, beetles, centipedes, baby birds, mice, frogs etc.
lack canine teeth
hold & gnaw
feed in multiple short bouts
half of their day
dig sometimes
get water from insects & dew in wild
messy drinkers
shallow water bowl
clean water frequently
will not defecate in nest or near food/water
prefer one corner of enclosure
self anointing
expose to strong scent
chew it, make frothy saliva
rub in body
Nest Building
when not hibernating, rarely sleep in same nest
african, no temp below 25
lead to respiratory problem
Locomotion
waddle, trot, climb, swim
short sturdy spine act as cushion when falling
Defence
Threat:
erect spine & freeze
Near Threat:
flee
Close Threat:
defend face & "boxing"
Physical contact:
rolls into ball* 0.1s
don't ball up w/ conspecifics
Social
don't defend home ranges, overlap
male exhibit aggression towards each other
Captivity:
house together but only
one male
ensure enough resource
nest sharing occur in large groups
Reproductive
promiscuous
&
polygamous
Sex mature = europe 9-11 month, african 61-68 days
europe peak in May
african,
induced ovulators
, breed all year round
Courtship
last an hour
don't often end in copulation
lordosis stance
Maternal & Juvenile
Mother
attentive & aggressive
males cannibalize young
Gestation 35 days
build special nest
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Offspring
artricial
edematous skin, no spine
nurse on back
4-10 weeks weaning
check by weighing
Problem Behaviour
Defensiveness
Cause:
rolling into a ball, huffing, and snorting when
scared
(stress)
Mitigation:
use
desensitization
with
food rewards
to
associate
handling with
positive experiences
Biting
Cause:
exploratory behavior rather than aggression
Mitigation:
handle gently and avoid loud or sudden movements
Common Cause
fear or lack of socialization
Handling
Cause:
physical examinations, frightened, roll into ball
Mitigation:
never dangle, gently grasp, put in pan of warm water
Typically complete exam w/
anesthesia
Housing
smooth material for pen & tall walls
prevent toes & limbs from getting caught
prevent burrowing by putting 1 ft wall underground
Enclosure
soft absorbent bedding
avoid towels/cloths
newspaper/wood shaving
tissues & paper towels for nest
heavy crockery for food & water
shelter for sleep
1 more item...
Handling
use a slotted spoon, heavy gloves, or gently scruff them
if used to handling
if rolled into a ball, coax them to relax with
warm water
or
gentle handling
Rabbits
Behaviour
Social
wild - social group up to 400 rabbits
spend time underground in warrens
female related to same subgroup
male stay in subgroup or change subgroup or warren
male maintain rigid dominance hierarchy through ritual signal
Crepuscular
exit warren at dawn & dusk to graze
Ingestive
strict herbivores
require high fiber diet
primarily hay
coprophagy
normal & healthy
caecotrophs are consumed as they come out
Locomotion
only have one gait = "hop"
able to stand up on hind legs important for pred detection
display intraspecies affiliative behaviour
cuddling & allogrooming
Vision
panoramic
nearly 360 degrees
blind spot in front of nose
wide upward field
rods predominant photoreceptors dim light
Olfaction
great sense smell
Bucks scent mark via
urine spray
spray sub male, estrus female, human
scent mark via
chin rubs
Hearing and Vocalization
large ear allow detect low volume sound
ear can rotate independently
Vocal:
purr, click, tooth grind, grunt, growl scream, thumping
Reproductive & Maternal
sex mature = 4 months
Does = induced ovulators w/
gestation 31 days
prior to kindling does will commence nest build
artricial
fed 2x/day
grow fur, see, hear at
18 days
eat solid
8-12 days
wean
24 days
Problem Behaviour
Aggression
Displays
: Toward humans or other rabbits
Cause:
fear, territorial instincts, or overcrowding
Syrian hamsters are solitary and aggressive toward other hamsters.
Mitigation:
provide separate enclosures for territorial individuals
introduce rabbits gradually to avoid fights
Chewing & Digging
chewing & digging is normal
Display:
destructive chewing of inappropriate objects like wires
Mitigation:
offer chew toys and digging boxes to satisfy natural behaviors
Display:
dig furniture cushions in captivity to mimic burrowing behavior
Savaging
Cause:
overcrowding
may cause does to kill litters
Mitigation:
prevent overcrowding in breeding setups
Common Cause
stress, lack of environmental enrichment, poor socialization, or inadequate housing conditions
Housing
warren/hutch
Handling
support the
hindquarters
and
back
to
avoid injury
never pick up by
the
ears or scruff
use
calm
,
firm
movements for security
Ferrets
Behaviour
Vision
similar to cats
distinguish red but not blue, yellow, green
sensitive to light intensity than colour
see best at dusk/dawn
low visual acquity
1 more item...
Crepuscular
Hearing
similar to cats
sensitive to sounds 4-15 kHz
localize sounds well & react quick
Olfaction
for hunting & mating
have vomeronasal organ
help identify individual & reproductive status
variety of secretory gland
play role in mediating social behaviour
urine marking
1 more item...
Locomotion & play
need adequate space to play
groom by licking each other
play can be rough & tumble
differentiate from aggression
loose, bouncy & galloping movements
Vocalization
chattering, chuckling, clucking
high pitch chattering = alarm call
extreme
agitation or fear
induce
hissing
female whimper to encourage young to follow
Reproductive
polygynous
mating system
sex mature =
8-12 months
seasonal estrus - linked to day length
will continue indefinitely if not bred
copulation
is noisy & aggressive
~last an
hour
conspecific aggression
is very high during mating season
1 more item...
Maternal
Gestation = 42 days
2 weeks pre parturition
several days
after birth
should be
housed alone
cross-foster
altricial
1 more item...
need high protein diet
Problem Behaviour
Biting
Cause:
often playful but may escalate due to
frustration or fear
Mitigation:
redirect
biting and digging to appropriate behaviors using
positive reinforcement
and safe toys
normal
among ferrets
Digging
Cause:
dig carpets and claw at furniture as part of
exploratory behavior
Mitigation:
ferret-proof the environment to reduce damage risks
Litter Training Failure
Cause:
frequent elimination due to
short gastrointestinal transit time
can lead to accidents
Mitigation:
be
consistent
with litter training,
secure
litter box
to prevent tipping
Common Cause
frustration, lack of environmental enrichment, or inconsistent litter training
Housing
like to sleep in hammocks
poop in corners
susceptible to heatstroke
ferrets housed together snuggle
provide a big enough bed for this
need adequate ventilation
don't use saw dust for litter
watch for rotting food cache
consitent water source
dish must be heavy so they can't tip it
Handling
support the
chest
with one hand and the
hindquarters
with the other
handle
firmly but gently
to accommodate their active and curious nature
Sugar Gliders
Behaviour
Paedomorphic
prefer sweet sap & nectar
Gliders
Social
Highly social and dependant
harmonize wake-sleep patterns & grooming
hierarchical structure w/ one dominant male
responsible for patrol, scent-marking, copulation
faster and more agile than subordinate
Communication
info conveyed through scent-marking
distinguish individuals & groups
males (4) & females (3) have diff scent glands
should not be kept in isolation
disruption of dominant male → subordinate → depressed
Activity Patterns
Nocturnal
playful & hyperactive
forage
well adapted to temp fluctuations
topor in wild
great climbers & glide
not accurate in judging distance
Reproductive
Seasonally polyestrus
Sex mature = 8-12 month (F), 12-15 month (M)
breeding season = june-nov (wild), all year round in captive
fetal diapause
stop blastocyst from developing
75% copulation dominant male
Parental & Offspring
Gestation 15-17 days
must break out amniotic sac
remain in pouch 70-74 days
wean 110-120 days
force leave colony 7-10 months
female care young & carry on back & stomach
Problem Behaviour
Aggression
Cause:
new colony members or unfamiliar handlers
Mitigation:
gradually introduce sugar gliders to a colony by scent mingling
Note:
can take up to 3 weeks, multiple tries,
careful risk of ostracization
Vocalizations (handling)
Cause:
sign of stress or fear
Mitigation:
handle sugar gliders calmly for at least
two hours a night
to build trust
Note:
done individually, may still be ferocious to other humans
Common Causes
poor socialization or improper introduction to other sugar gliders
Housing
at least
two
aviaries - 2 x 2 x 2m size
<15% fruits & veg (treats)
Should include
nest box
branch or rods
feeding station
stimulate natural foraging behaviour
shallow
water bowls
must be large enough for group
nesting materials
perches, bird swings
solid bird or cat toys
solid plastic exercise wheel
don't allow cats in same room
don't put anything on top of cage
imitates aerial predators
Handling
allow sugar gliders to climb onto your hand voluntarily
handle at
night
when they are most active, ensuring a calm and quiet environment
Hamsters
Behaviour
Nocturnal
rely on hearing, somatic sensation & olfaction
olfactory signal via scent marking & ultrasonic vocalization (for identification & reproduction)
Vocalization
make few audible calls except when hurt, frightened, handled or fighting
teeth chatter heard in interactions btwn males (agonistic tension)
assist w/ explore & navigate
pups to elicit maternal care
Scent communication
vomeronasal organ
flank gland, ear, vaginal secretions, urine, feces & saliva
scent marking occur in both social & non-social context
individually identify info, sexual receptive, territory boundary
harderian gland
Vision
regulate activity by amount of light
max at twilight/evening
max acuity in dim light
acquisition of objects done w/ head & body movements
visual cue influence social behaviour
find holes while running, appear to rely more on tactile information
Reproductive
sex mature = 42 days
female reproductive in first year
seasonally polyestrous
4 days estrous cycle
lordosis stance
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Proceptivity
ultrasonic calls
immobile pre-lordosis stance
vaginal marking
allow male enter burrow
Maternal
Gestation 16 days
Pre-parturition
: dig, gnaw, nest build
artricial
carried in cheek pouch
eat at 7-10 days
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Problem Behaviour
Aggression
Displays
: standing upright, squeaking, chasing, or biting.
Cause:
territorial instincts, fear, sudden handling, or disturbances.
Syrian hamsters are solitary and aggressive toward other hamsters.
Mitigation:
Handle gently under dim light
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Cannibalism
Seen in dams after birth, especially during the first week postpartum
Cause:
stress, poor environmental conditions, or first pregnancy
Prevent:
provide clean cage & enough food for 7-10 days (prior to parturition)
Mitigation:
keep breeding females in quiet, undisturbed conditions before and after parturition
Stereotypies
Bar chewing
repetitive behavior
Cause:
stress or lack of enrichment
Mitigation:
provide a larger cage with chew toys, deep bedding, and a running wheel to
reduce stereotypies
supervise while in ball
Common Cause
fear, pain, inadequate housing, or lack of socialization
Housing
Natural
dry, rocky steppes or brushy slopes
Wild
burrows w/ one adult
Able to tolerate cold well & easily heat stresses >34C
prefer 18-26 C w/ RH 40-70%
14:10 light:dark cycle
need to provide for normal physiologic need
resting, nest build, groom, explore, climb, hide, dig, search food, hoard & gnaw
climbing & burrowing = predominant
prefer home w/ solid bottom & deep bedding
secure encolsure
min 48 in^2/hamster floor space
Handling
wake gently by
rustling bedding
before handling
scoop up with
cupped hands or scruff
by the loose skin on the neck or body
Birds
Crows
Behaviour
Social Organization
extended families
assist breeding pair in feeding new chicks
clean nest & defend territories from predators & intruders
more complex social = greater cognitive abilities
Vocalization
deep croaked "kraaa"
Diet & Feeding Behaviour
omnivorous
eat almost anything
1/3 annual diet = animal matter
scavengers
by nature
frequent sites inhabited by humans
actively hunt
occasionally co-operate w/ other crows
feed on food waste
adept at pirating
harass birds of prey or even species such as foxes & their kills
hide/store something =
caching
cache at 5 months & can fake it
often post a sentinel while feeding
Nesting Behaviour
begin in early spring (Feb-May)
bulky stick nest on tall tree, cliff edge, old buildings, pylons, near ground (occasionally)
4-6 brown-speckled blue/greenish eggs
incubated 17-19 days by female
fed by male
young fledge after 32-36 days
stay with parents for about 5 years
Intelligence
can count to 3-4
good at solving puzzles
good memory
can mimic human voice or other bird sounds
quickly learn to associate various noises & symbols w/ food
learn from parents
play is an intelligent behaviour
Large passering (perching) bird related to larger Ravent, Rooks & Jays
Flock = Murder
Life Span
few 4-6 years some 14, some 20 in captivity
adults have few predators
brood loss from predation, starvation, weather
Parrots
Behaviour
Nesting
almost all nest in tree holes
nest box in captivity
cavity nesters
some nest in trees
some nest on ground
Diet & Feeding Behaviour
mainly consist seeds, nuts, fruits, buds, nectar, pollen & other plant materials
some will eat insects
some eat small prey animals (rare)
Seed predators
NOT
dispersers
evolution of large powerful bill
adaption to opening & consuming seeds
seeds often have poison coat
parrot is careful to remove coat
some consume clay to absorb toxic compounds from gut
Bonding w/ human
species vary in temperament, noise lvl, talking ability, cuddliness w/ people, care needs
though how parrot has been raised often greatly affects its personality
can make excellent companion animals
form close, affectionate bonds w/ owners
however, require an enormous amount of attention, care, intellectual stimulation to thrive
Intelligence
considered the most intelligent bird
more prone to stereotypi
small cerebral cortex
however, birds use medio-rostal neostriatum/hyperstriatum ventrale
lower part of avian brain function similar to humans
can use tools & solve puzzles
Speech learning ability
don't have vocal cords
sound accomplished by expelling air across mouth of bifurcated trachea
difference sounds are produced by changing depth & shape of trachea
Vision
highly visual
communicate through eye contact & body language
use "
evil eye
" for few seconds, quick & effective way to communicate disapproval
Empathize ability
highly empathetic
behaviour & mood may reflect the energy & mood of owners
Social Organization
highly social
in wild, stay in touch using contact calls
Daily activity time budget
most species spend most time perched or climbing in tree canopies
use beak as hands
on ground, walk w/
rolling gait
like pedaling bike
live in flocks & will fly many hours per day
in wild
spend most time grooming themselves & others & foraging for food
can cope to over groom in captivity
pluck feathers - stereotypi when too much
destruction of leaves & fruit
part of food gathering behaviour
Breeding behaviour
Monogamous
nest in cavities & hold no territories other than nesting site
pair bonds are strong
remain close even during non-breed season
preceded by courtship displays
male take slow, deliberate steps = "
parade
" or "
stately walk
"
show "
eye blaze
" = pupil of eye constricts reveal iris edge
Allopreening
used by pair to help maintain bond
Rearing of Young
lay white eggs
emerge
altricial
(helpless)
young spend 3 weeks to 4 months in nest
depend on species
may receive parental care for additional months
the more particular it eats the longer it stays
Importance of Early Life Experience
much of social learning happen within nest
often practiced w/ siblings
foraging often learned from parents
play
forms large part of learning
can be solitary, related to motor skills, or social
may engaged in play fights or practice predator evasion
absence of stimuli can slow development of young
may show stereotypic behaviour or harmful behaviour (self-plucking)
good environmental enrichment help keep stimuli
Morphology
prominent upper mandible
curve downward & comes to a point
bill is not fused to the skull
move independently from skull
contribute to increased biting pressure
seed eating parrot have
strong agile
tongue
help manipulate seed or position nut in bill
mandibles apply cracking force
large head
eye positioned sideways
limit binocular
vision
enhance peripheral
vision
Other Senses
prey species w/ instinctive fears & prey animal responses
Life span
Cockatoos, amazon & macaws = long life span of
80-100 years
small parrots (love birds, budgies) = short life span of
15-20 years
Psittacines
(true parrots)
usually live in warm, tropical regions
curved bill, upright stance, clawed feet
wild animals!!
hand-raised birds are not truly domesticated
most come from Australasian & South America
most are green w/ other bright colours
crest used for display then retracted
most show little to no sexual dimorphism (except eclectus parrot)
Problem Behaviours in Birds
remember they are
WILD!
mainly about parots
Explain how natural bird traits can become potential behaviour problems in captivity
Bird Traits
Intelligent
Eat variety of foods
Destructive for nest building
Sharp nails
Active, they fly!
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Potential Problems
boredom
health issues
destruct towards other objects
scratches/damage
excess energy taken out in other forms
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redirects behaviour for stimulation
develop problems like feather plucking or destructive chewing
to themselves or others
Identify specific behaviour problems in birds, such as aggression, territoriality, screaming, destructive chewing & feather plucking, given a description of the behaviour, evaluate underlying cause, & recommend ways to mitigate
Aggression & Territoriality
parrots chose whom they wish to form strong bonds with
parrots mischievous & territorial
sometimes view others, including family members as intruders & can display jealousy
Mature sexually - resort to aggression to keep intruders away from their mate/ "chosen human" or protect their territory
as prey animals, birds naturally sus & defensive around strangers/ unfamiliar situation
Aggression causes & prevention
Cause
fear
will give you signs
lunged forward, crest is up
Prevention
expose bird to variety of scenarios when young
give time/space to adjusts to new things
let them venture outside cage
less territorial of that area
don't force interaction
1 more item...
don't have fear aggression
Screaming & social demands
highly vocal, express frustration
in wild, loud calls help maintain constant contact
parrots form strong bonds
manifest separation anxiety
Anxiety → screaming or constant tooting
don't rush over, will be positively reinforced
Prevention
hours of daily social interaction w/ human & other birds
talk softly & calming
don't get "worked up"
Destructive Chewing
parrot's beak = human hands
used for defensive behaviours
powerful enough to chew through tree branches
Causes
boredom
lack of things to chew
unsupervised
don't distinguish what's appropriate to chew
Prevention
provide wood/things to tear up in cage
supervise
Feather plucking
preening & some feather plucking is normal!!
problem when it becomes psychological/ occurs too often
FIRST
check w/ vet
can be caused by vitamin deficiencies, viruses, tumours or parasites
Prevention
provide enriching toys
spend time w/ bird
consider a mate
may cause 2 stressed birds
don't expose to chemicals
cleaners, tobacco
may need temporary solution
1 more item...
Summarize why flight is important in birds and explain concerns related to wing clipping as flight management technique
Flight
flight & exercise
behavioural needs
wing clipping
no bird meant to be kept from flying
proper clip allow "gliding"
proper clip not painful but
stressful
wing clipping
alternate
train bird to fly only in particular areas & return to cage
training and supervised flights takes TIME!
Flight Management
teach "up" command early
form bond w/ bird so doesn't fly away
make going back to cage
positive/rewarding
NEVER
chase
Avoid
toweling birds to get them back
2 more items...
Explain what is meant by failure to entertain
Failure to entertain
many parrots don't learn or choose not to speak or perform tricks
more of owner problem!
misguided expectations
Prevention
treat your bird as an individual w/ its own unique abilities & preferences
