Observations on behavior of captive ostrich chicks from six weeks to one year were made three times a day: morning, lunch and afternoon, in a extensive farm from Romania. The main categories of behaviors identified at captive ostrich chicks were: feeding behavior, drinking, lithophagia, resting, dancing, walking, socializing, coprophagia and aggression. Regarding the feeding behavior of six weeks-old ostrich chicks, the largest share were fed with green fodder with percentage of 8%. Also, when moving through the paddock, only a small percentage of 1% were ingesting sand. The drinking had a small percentage of 2%. It was observed that refilling the concentrated feed gutters stimulated ostriches to eat. It has also been observed that they pick up stones from the ground or just nibble on the ground as they walk. In 1-year-old chicks, feed is administered several times during a day. If in 6-week-old chicks, coprophagy had a high percentage, in one-year-old chicks, this phenomenon is not common. In 1-year-old ostrich chicks, in resting periods they stay with their eyes closed for periods ranging from thirty seconds to three minutes. The rest in standing position had a weight of about 5%, the very low percentage is due to the overpopulation in the paddock, the animals being often disturbed by those who walk. Understanding the feelings in animals through behavioral observations is a vital step in improving their welfare

behaviour, ostrich chiks

biology

Presentation: poster