Ciência e Tecnologia Veterinária

Some Behavioral Traits of Red Neck Ostrich under Captive Conditions

Abstract

Fawzi Ali Mohammed Ahmed and Reem Rabie Mohammed Salih

The present study has been conducted to observe some behavioral traits of ostrich under captive conditions. The observations have been carried during the period 14 June to 24 June, 2005, for 8 equal time period, extending for 24 hours from 06:00 p.m hour to 06:00 p.m hour next day. The bird flack consisted of two adult males and adult female, kept in the College farm, in a cage joined to a fence to allow for free movement. The recorded behavioral activities included: standing in the sun, standing in shade, laying in the shade, laying in the sun, staying in the cage, movement and sitting on the knees, feeding, drinking, quarrel, urination, defecation, ritual display, courtship, and preening. It was noticed that the most time consuming activities were standing in the sun, standing in the shade, laying in the shade, and movement. The longest period of the time budget was taken in laying in shade (250.3 min.). The shortest fraction of the time budget was spent in courtship maneuvers (3.25 min.). The main target of the study was to provide ostrich breeders with useful information for better management.