Avian Flock Behavior

Question 1

factors that affect a bird’s behavior

Answer 1

type of hatching, speciation/genetics, captive selection, rearing conditions, management at weaning, post-weaning socialization and experiences, training, states of health and disease

Question 2

type of hatching

Answer 2

wild or captive hatch; precocial or altricial

Question 3

management

Answer 3

right nesting conditions and correct environment

Question 4

health and disease

Answer 4

birds are the main transmitters of disease around the world

Question 5

new castle disease

Answer 5

can affect nervous system and can be transmitted to commercial birds

Question 6

precocial

Answer 6

hatched ready to run, simple imprinting process, short parental dependence

Question 7

nidifugous

Answer 7

precocial

Question 8

altricial

Answer 8

blind, unfeathered at hatch, complex imprinting process, longer periods of parental dependence

Question 9

nidiculous

Answer 9

altricial

Question 10

precocial birds

Answer 10

galliformes and anseriformes

Question 11

galliformes

Answer 11

chickens, turkeys, pheasants

Question 12

anseriformes

Answer 12

geese, ducks, swans

Question 13

altricial birds

Answer 13

psittaciformes, falconiformes, passeriformes

Question 14

psittaciformes

Answer 14

parakeets, parrots, etc; all prey species

Question 15

falconiformes

Answer 15

falcons, eagles, hawks

Question 16

passeriformes

Answer 16

robins, pigeons, doves

Question 17

speciation and genetics

Answer 17

innate behaviors designed for survival, to gain benefit and avoid pain

Question 18

rearing conditions for altricial birds

Answer 18

cavity/cup nesters, fed regurgitated food, isolated from all contact except that of parents, maintain close body contact with nestmates/parents for proper imprinting

Question 19

attributes of wild psittacines

Answer 19

90% waking time is spent flying, eating or socializing, may fly 35 miles a day in search of food, fewer that 50% of hatchlings survive to breeding age

Question 20

attributes of wild raptors

Answer 20

solitary birds, 50-70% survival of hatchlings but only one in 6 becomes a breeder

Question 21

problems with captive environments

Answer 21

confinement, prolonged lack of stimulation, solitary, no foraging or problem solving, forced weaning, overbonding

Question 22

natural weaning process

Answer 22

a gradual process with no decrease in food amount or change in type

Question 23

artificial weaning process

Answer 23

a stage for creating many problems by forcing change

Question 24

other factors resulting in behavioral problems

Answer 24

everything that hatches is raised, poorly behaved birds become breeding projects, owners have unrealistic expectations, parrots are empathetic to mood of environment around them, overbonding

Question 25

problems with hand rearing

Answer 25

recognizes humans as conspecifics, never becomes fully weaned, does not interact well with other birds, will select favorite person as a mate

Question 26

frequent outcome in improper imprinting and rearing

Answer 26

overbonding, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, screaming, biting/aggression, feather picking/self-mutilation

Question 27

shaping socialization process

Answer 27

parrots are empathetic, nurturing guidance is operative, behavior patterns do not stabilize until after sexual maturity, bad behavior is never the parrot's fault

Question 28

training birds

Answer 28

realistic expectations, strong human/parrot bond, rules, verbal cues and commands, instructional interaction, nurturing authority, eye contact and body language, lowering personal energy, stimulation and social interaction

Question 29

nurturing guidance

Answer 29

boundaries, discipline, direction as to appropriate behavior

Question 30

behaviors every large psittacine should know

Answer 30

step up, step down, sit, stay and the towel is your friend

Question 31

poultry behavior

Answer 31

precocial, social animals, flock behavior, dominance, polygamous

Question 32

poultry vision

Answer 32

2.5X humans, 300 degrees

Question 33

poultry taste

Answer 33

salt, acid, sugars

Question 34

poultry olfaction

Answer 34

smell, methyl anthrinilate, grapes

Question 35

maladaptive behaviors

Answer 35

feather picking, stereotypies, flightiness, cannibalism

Question 36

treating cannibalism

Answer 36

beak trim, lower lighting levels, hang cabbage, other distractions