Food preferences of cockatiel chicks ( Nymphicus hollandicus ) in captivity

ABSTRACT In order to improve the management and maintenance of the quality of life of captive wild birds, this study aimed to assess the food preferences of cockatiel chicks (Nymphicus hollandicus) kept in captivity. Thirty-two cockatiel chicks, three to 12 months of age, were kept in a galvanized, wire-netted vivarium with six ceramic feeders, two for an extruded diet, two for a dry-mashed diet and two for a seed mixture. Both extruded and dry-mashed food are commercial psittacine diets. Three round ceramic pots were used to provide water. The birds were exposed to 12 hours of artificial light (40 W incandescent lamps) during the experimental period of 27 days. The birds were observed by video filming, daily, through an ad libitum observation technique. The food consumption was 3.34±0.42g/bird/day of extruded feed, 1.58±0.44g/bird/day of dry-mashed diet and 3.73±0.10g/bird/day of seed mixture. In conclusion, the cockatiel chicks preferred the seed mixture and the extruded food over the dry-mashed diet

Undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas in a cockatiel ( Nymphicus hollandicus ): case report

ABSTRACT Undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas is a malignant neoplasm that is uncommon among domestic species, especially cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus), one of the most popular birds kept as a pet throughout the world. The aim of this study was to describe the occurrence of an undifferentiated carcinoma in the pancreas of a cockatiel. A bird, an adult male that died naturally with swelling in the abdominal region, was referred to necropsy. Macroscopic examination showed poor body condition, the coelomic cavity filled with liquid and a white mass attached to the pancreas and other smaller masses attached to the duodenum. Tissue samples and organs were harvested and fixed in 10% buffered formalin, then routinely processed for histopathology and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Microscopic analysis demonstrated an epithelial neoplasia with a predominantly solid pattern, lymphatic invasion and involvement of the intestinal serous membrane. These findings indicate the occurrence of an undifferentiated pancreatic carcinoma in a cockatiel that was diagnosed by histopathology

Environmental enrichment on the behavior and welfare of cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus)

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the influence of physical environmental enrichment on the behavior of cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus). Eighteen birds, nine males and nine females, were monitored in environments enriched with wooden sticks and bead rings and in non-enriched environments, in a completely randomized design. Behavioral categories were grouped into locomotion, maintenance, rest, feed, undesirable activities, and interaction with environmental enrichment. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis of behaviors to produce the ethogram and percentage comparison of frequency values for behavior analysis. Environmental enrichment positively influenced behavioral categories and some behavioral activities of birds

Behaviour of cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) at two temperatures in captivity

Behavioural studies with cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) in captivity are scarce. Due to the need for appropriate management of these animals, this study was performed to examine the behaviour of cockatiels kept in captivity at two temperatures. Sixteen cockatiels were individually housed in cages (62cm high x 43cm long x 27cm wide) and fed with a commercial ration and seed mixture for psittacids. Water was provided ad libitum. The eight-day experiment was divided into two stages of four days each. In the first stage, the birds were kept at room temperature (25°C) with 70% relative humidity during 24 hours. In the next stage, they were kept at 35°C from 06:00 to 18:00h and 25°C from 18:00 to 06:00h, also at 70% relative humidity. The behaviour of the birds was assessed by the analysis of video recordings taken from 6:00 to 18:00h. Lateral displacement on the perch, walking on the wire net, resting on the abdomen, stopping on the wire net, standing on the drinker or feeder, seed intake, cleaning the wings and shaking the plumage were not influenced (P>0.08) by temperature. Undesirable activities such as gnawing the perch or the wire net also showed no influence of temperature (P>0.15). At 35°C, the birds remained on the cage floor less often (P<0.02) and more often on the perch. Flapping or gnawing the feeder increased as did the consumption of ration (P<0.01). Increase in temperature from 25 to 35°C changed the behaviour of the cockatiels, although these behaviours were not characterised as responses to temperature stress

Use of collard green stalks as environmental enrichment for cockatiels ( Nymphicus hollandicus ) kept in captivity

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of collard green stalks as environmental enrichment on the behavior of cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) maintained in captivity. Sixteen birds were housed individually in cages and fed a commercial diet for parrots and seed mix, with water ad libitum during 12 days in climatic chamber with temperature and relative humidity simulating tropical conditions. The animals (n = 8) were divided into two groups, control and enriched, and the experimental period was divided into two phases (during and after enrichment) of four days each. The collard green stalks were used as enrichment only during the first period of the experiment, daily changed and maintained only during the day. The stalks increased the feed intake and decreased the sleep activities. No effect was observed on the body surface temperature, locomotion, maintenance and other resting activities. Small undesirable activities were detected. It was concluded that collard green stalks can be used as environmental enrichment, becoming part of food preferences of cockatiels. However, its use does not significantly alter the behavior of birds kept in captivit

Equações de regressão para estimar valores energéticos do grão de trigo e seus subprodutos para frangos de corte, a partir de análises químicas Regression equations to evaluate the energy values of wheat grain and its by-products for broiler chickens from chemical analyses

Um experimento foi realizado com frangos de corte para a obtenção de equações de predição da energia a partir de análises químicas e dados de energia metabolizável (EM) utilizando como alimentos-teste o trigo e alguns de seus produtos, comparando quatro metodologias de estimação. Sete alimentos oriundos do trigo e uma ração-referência foram utilizados nos cinco tratamentos: trigo integral moído, gérmen de trigo, farinha de trigo clara, farinha de trigo escura, farelo de trigo para uso humano, farelo de trigo para uso animal e farelo de trigo grosso. Com base nas análises químicas de fibra bruta (FB), extrato etéreo (EE), proteína (PB), cinzas (Cz) e amido (A) dos alimentos e com os resultados observados de EM aparente (EMA), EM verdadeira (EMV), EM aparente corrigida (EMAn) e EM verdadeira corrigida pelo balanço de nitrogênio (EMVn) nos cinco tratamentos, desenvolveram-se equações de predição por stepwise. FB foi a variável que melhor se relacionou com os valores de energia metabolizável, entretanto esse valor isolado não foi suficiente para uma boa estimativa dos valores energéticos (R² abaixo de 0,80). Quando somada ao EE e à PB aumentou-se a precisão das equações, com valores de R² acima de 0,90 na maioria das equações. Estimativas a partir dos valores de todos tratamentos resultaram em equações menos precisas para EMA, com menores R². Quando se utilizaram somente dados dos tratamentos pela metodologia tradicional ou de alimentação forçada separadamente aumentou-se a precisão das equações, com R² acima de 0,85. Para EMV e EMVn, as equações lineares múltiplas, utilizando-se FB, EE e PB, apresentaram boa precisão (R²>0,90), independente da utilização de todos os dados experimentais ou seu agrupamento por metodologia. Para a EMVn, além da alta precisão, os valores do coeficiente linear (a) das equações foram muito próximos quando se utilizaram todos os tratamentos ou agrupando-os por metodologia, o que significou pouca influência da metodologia sobre essa medida. A FDN não mostrou ser melhor preditor de EM do que a FB.<br>One experiment was run with broiler chickens, to obtain prediction equations for metabolizable energy (ME) based on feedstuffs chemical analyses, and determined ME of wheat grain and its by-products, using four different methodologies. Seven wheat grain by-products were used in five treatments: wheat grain, wheat germ, white wheat flour, dark wheat flour, wheat bran for human use, wheat bran for animal use and rough wheat bran. Based on chemical analyses of crude fiber (CF), ether extract (EE), crude protein (CP), ash (AS) and starch (ST) of the feeds and the determined values of apparent energy (MEA), true energy (MEV), apparent corrected energy (MEAn) and true energy corrected by nitrogen balance (MEVn) in five treatments, prediction equations were obtained using the stepwise procedure. CF showed the best relationship with metabolizable energy values, however, this variable alone was not enough for a good estimate of the energy values (R² below 0.80). When EE and CP were included in the equations, R² increased to 0.90 or higher in most estimates. When the equations were calculated with all treatments, the equation for MEA were less precise and R² decreased. When ME data of the traditional or force-feeding methods were used separately, the precision of the equations increases (R² higher than 0.85). For MEV and MEVn values, the best multiple linear equations included CF, EE and CP (R²>0.90), independently of using all experimental data or separating by methodology. The estimates of MEVn values showed high precision and the linear coefficients (a) of the equations were similar for all treatments or methodologies. Therefore, it explains the small influence of the different methodologies on this parameter. NDF was not a better predictor of ME than CF