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Some Observations on the Nesting Behavior of Japanese Quail (Coturnix Coturnix Japonica) In Pseudo-Natural Conditions1
SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE NESTING BEHAVIOR OF JAPANESE QUAIL (COTURNIX COTURNIX JAPONIC A) IN PSEUDONATURAL CONDITIONS1 ROBERT ROTHSTEIN State University of New York, Farmingdale, N.Y. 11735 (Received for publication November 7, 1966)
1
This work was done during the summer of 1963 while the author was a participant in a Summer Institute in Animal Behavior at Pennsylvania State University sponsored by the National Science Foundation. 2 Grateful acknowledgment is hereby made to Prof. Martin W. Schein and Prof. E. B. Hale for their advice and counsel during this work.
coop all birds were dusting vigorously in the sawdust area. An establishment of dominance was observed with one Blue3 male appearing to have peck rights over the other male (Blue-Red). The Blue male also repeatedly interrupted mounting attempts made by Blue-Red. Neck stretching and crowing on the part of the males was observed but could not be associated with any particular stimulus. Other behavioral patterns were observed in auxilliary studies but are not relevant to this discussion and are not reported here. The first egg was laid in nest area # 1 on July 19. The first egg in area # 2 was laid on July 21, and in nest area # 3 on July 24. Subsequently, eggs were laid at a rate of one per day in the general vicinity of areas # 1 and #2, but no additional eggs were laid in area # 3 . Camouflaging of artificial nests was repeatedly destroyed by the birds. Although eggs were put back in the nests daily by the author, the birds rolled out the eggs and deposited new eggs in, or in areas around the nest sites. In an attempt to provide some degree of isolation for nest sites, chicken wire quonset-type structures were placed over nest areas # 1 and # 2 . In addition an abandoned Robin's nest was introduced which was quickly trampeled beyond recognition. On the seventeenth day after the first egg was laid, there was a change in behavior of two females (Blue-Blue and SilverSilver), with these females investigating
260
' Colors refer to banding code
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Victoria, McPherson Library Serials on April 25, 2015
In general, there is a relative paucity of papers dealing with Japanese quail. The work of Wilson et al. (1956, 1959), Abplanalp (1960), Arrington et al. (1962), Wilson and Huang (1962), Abplanalp et al. (1962), Rexniers and Sacksteder (1960), Padgett and Ivey (1959), Abbot and Craig (1960), and Woodard and Wilson (1963) dealt primarily with various aspects of the use of these animals for poultry studies and as a research tool. A search of the sparse literature at the time of this study, presented practically no information with regard to the behavioral aspects of Coturnix. This study2 was undertaken with a view to making some observations on the behavior of Japanese Quail with respect to nesting activity and other associated and nonassociated behavior under conditions approximating those found in nature, and to explore the value of using these animals in behavioral research. An outdoor coop 4' X 8' was set up containing all materials known to be required by gallinaceous birds during their nesting activities. (See Fig. 1). On July 17, two male and five female birds were banded and admitted to the coop. Five minutes after admission to the
261
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nest area # 1 . A hen would walk to the area, stretch, look above quonset protector, enter, peck and/or preen among the eggs and then go out along the same path by which she had entered. This activity would be repeated several times. She was in no way disturbed by other females being in the nesting area, or another hen being involved in similar behavior. Aside from this activity there was no attempt at any time, by any of the females, to construct a nest in the usual sense, or lay eggs in a nest, hence the inability to determine clutch size counts. There was no incubation behavior or broody type behavior. At one point early in the laying period strange young were presented. These were attacked. One naturally questions why in the presence of nesting materials, and all materials known to be required by gallinaceous birds, these animals do not build nests. In answer to this, one can only hypothesize, bearing in mind that the length of time for this experiment was not sufficient for expanded conclusions.
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It should also be borne in mind that all animals used in these experiments were raised in captivity for an unknown number of generations. These animals were accustomed to laying their eggs on wire with no nesting materials provided and with eggs being removed daily as laid. 1) It is conceivable that lack of nest building could be explained by imposing genetic change governing nest building behavior and that this is no longer part of the behavioral repertoire since natural pressures that would make nest building a positive factor for survival have been removed. 2) In addition to, or separate from the above is the factor that these animals have never been subject to parental nest building behavior or other aspects of parental behavior. 3) It is possible that investigation of nest site # 1 may, in effect, have indicated the start of broody behavior. It would seem that these animals would lend themselves well to further behavioral investigation.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Victoria, McPherson Library Serials on April 25, 2015
"JB" NE-ST
262
RESEARCH NOTES REFERENCES
Japanese quail under germ free and conventional conditions and their use in cancer research. J. National Cancer Institute, 24: 14051421. Wilson, W. O., U. V. K. Abbott and H. Abplanalp, 1959. Development and physiological studies with a new pilot animal for poultry cotumix quail. Poultry Sci. 38: 1260-1261. Wilson, W. 0., and R. H. Huang, 1962. A comparison of the time of ovipositing for Coturnix and chicken. Poultry Sci. 4 1 : 1843-1845. Wilson, W. O., A. E. Woodard and H. Abplanalp, 1956. The effects and after effects of varied exposure to light on clutch development. Biol. Bull. 111:415-422. Woodard, A. E., and W. 0 . Wilson, 1963. Eggs and yolk weight of Coturnix quail in relation to position in egg sequence. Poultry Sci. 42: 544-545.
NEWS AND NOTES (Continued from page 248) land freshman, was named "Star Poultry Farmer" of the Northeast. WATT NOTES O. A. Hanke, Executive Vice-President and Publishing Director was honored on June 30 for 40 years of service with Watt Publishing Company. At a special dinner he was presented with a $500 U.S. bond by L. A. Watt, President of the Company. Hanke joined the editorial staff of Poultry Tribune July 1, 1926 as Associate Editor. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1926 with a major in agricultural journalism and a minor in poultry husbandry. Following his sophomore year, he served for a year as Head of the Texas National Egg Layer Contest and Superintendent of the poultry farm at Texas A and M College. As he advanced from Associate Editor to his present position, 12 specialized farm magazines were either created or purchased by Watt Publishing Company. For more than 25 years Hanke wrote the editorial page in Poultry Tribune. Through the years he has established an enviable record in the field of poultry journalism and as an industry leader.
W.P.S.A. NOTES During the 13th World's Poultry Congress held in Kiev, U.S.S.R., August 15 to 21, the following officers of the Worlds' Poultry Science Association were elected for the next term of office: President —E. E. Penionzhkevick, U.S.S.R.; Honorary Past-President—R. C. Blake, Australia; Secretary and Assistant Treasurer—I. MacDougall, England; and Treasurer and Assistant-Secretary—R. G. Jaap, United States of America. MARYLAND NOTES Dr. Dan E. Bigbee has recently been appointed as Assistant Professor in the Department of Poultry Science at the University of Maryland. Dr. Bigbee is a native of Oklahoma and received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Oklahoma State University. In 1962, he received a Ph.D. degree from Michigan State University. Following the awarding of his advanced degree, he was appointed as Assistant Professor by Oklahoma State University to serve in their branch in Ethiopia. He has spent four years in Ethiopia at the College of Agriculture, Haile Sellassie I University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. In this position, he helped to develop an interest in poultry both among students and commercial farmers.
(Continued on page 264)
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Victoria, McPherson Library Serials on April 25, 2015
Abbot, U. R., and R. M. Craig, 1960. Observations on hatching time in three avian species. Poultry Sci. 39: 827-836. Abplanalp, H., 1960. Response of Japanese quail to restricted lighting. Nature 189: 942-943. Abplanalp, H., A. E. Woodard and W. O. Wilson, 1962. The effects of natural day length upon maturation and egg production of Japanese quail Cotumix cotumix japonica. Poultry Sci. 4 1 : 1963-1968. Arrington, L. C , H. Ablanalp and W. D. Wilson, 1962. Experimental modification of the laying pattern in Japanese quail. British Poultry Sci. 3 : No. 2, 105-113. Padgett, C. A., and D. Ivey, 1959. Cotumix quail as a laboratory research animal. Science, 129: 267-268. Rexniers, J. A., and M. Sacksteder, 1960. Raising
1
This work was done during the summer of 1963 while the author was a participant in a Summer Institute in Animal Behavior at Pennsylvania State University sponsored by the National Science Foundation. 2 Grateful acknowledgment is hereby made to Prof. Martin W. Schein and Prof. E. B. Hale for their advice and counsel during this work.
coop all birds were dusting vigorously in the sawdust area. An establishment of dominance was observed with one Blue3 male appearing to have peck rights over the other male (Blue-Red). The Blue male also repeatedly interrupted mounting attempts made by Blue-Red. Neck stretching and crowing on the part of the males was observed but could not be associated with any particular stimulus. Other behavioral patterns were observed in auxilliary studies but are not relevant to this discussion and are not reported here. The first egg was laid in nest area # 1 on July 19. The first egg in area # 2 was laid on July 21, and in nest area # 3 on July 24. Subsequently, eggs were laid at a rate of one per day in the general vicinity of areas # 1 and #2, but no additional eggs were laid in area # 3 . Camouflaging of artificial nests was repeatedly destroyed by the birds. Although eggs were put back in the nests daily by the author, the birds rolled out the eggs and deposited new eggs in, or in areas around the nest sites. In an attempt to provide some degree of isolation for nest sites, chicken wire quonset-type structures were placed over nest areas # 1 and # 2 . In addition an abandoned Robin's nest was introduced which was quickly trampeled beyond recognition. On the seventeenth day after the first egg was laid, there was a change in behavior of two females (Blue-Blue and SilverSilver), with these females investigating
260
' Colors refer to banding code
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Victoria, McPherson Library Serials on April 25, 2015
In general, there is a relative paucity of papers dealing with Japanese quail. The work of Wilson et al. (1956, 1959), Abplanalp (1960), Arrington et al. (1962), Wilson and Huang (1962), Abplanalp et al. (1962), Rexniers and Sacksteder (1960), Padgett and Ivey (1959), Abbot and Craig (1960), and Woodard and Wilson (1963) dealt primarily with various aspects of the use of these animals for poultry studies and as a research tool. A search of the sparse literature at the time of this study, presented practically no information with regard to the behavioral aspects of Coturnix. This study2 was undertaken with a view to making some observations on the behavior of Japanese Quail with respect to nesting activity and other associated and nonassociated behavior under conditions approximating those found in nature, and to explore the value of using these animals in behavioral research. An outdoor coop 4' X 8' was set up containing all materials known to be required by gallinaceous birds during their nesting activities. (See Fig. 1). On July 17, two male and five female birds were banded and admitted to the coop. Five minutes after admission to the
261
RESEARCH NOTES
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nest area # 1 . A hen would walk to the area, stretch, look above quonset protector, enter, peck and/or preen among the eggs and then go out along the same path by which she had entered. This activity would be repeated several times. She was in no way disturbed by other females being in the nesting area, or another hen being involved in similar behavior. Aside from this activity there was no attempt at any time, by any of the females, to construct a nest in the usual sense, or lay eggs in a nest, hence the inability to determine clutch size counts. There was no incubation behavior or broody type behavior. At one point early in the laying period strange young were presented. These were attacked. One naturally questions why in the presence of nesting materials, and all materials known to be required by gallinaceous birds, these animals do not build nests. In answer to this, one can only hypothesize, bearing in mind that the length of time for this experiment was not sufficient for expanded conclusions.
NEST
"SoqsT
1
It should also be borne in mind that all animals used in these experiments were raised in captivity for an unknown number of generations. These animals were accustomed to laying their eggs on wire with no nesting materials provided and with eggs being removed daily as laid. 1) It is conceivable that lack of nest building could be explained by imposing genetic change governing nest building behavior and that this is no longer part of the behavioral repertoire since natural pressures that would make nest building a positive factor for survival have been removed. 2) In addition to, or separate from the above is the factor that these animals have never been subject to parental nest building behavior or other aspects of parental behavior. 3) It is possible that investigation of nest site # 1 may, in effect, have indicated the start of broody behavior. It would seem that these animals would lend themselves well to further behavioral investigation.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Victoria, McPherson Library Serials on April 25, 2015
"JB" NE-ST
262
RESEARCH NOTES REFERENCES
Japanese quail under germ free and conventional conditions and their use in cancer research. J. National Cancer Institute, 24: 14051421. Wilson, W. O., U. V. K. Abbott and H. Abplanalp, 1959. Development and physiological studies with a new pilot animal for poultry cotumix quail. Poultry Sci. 38: 1260-1261. Wilson, W. 0., and R. H. Huang, 1962. A comparison of the time of ovipositing for Coturnix and chicken. Poultry Sci. 4 1 : 1843-1845. Wilson, W. O., A. E. Woodard and H. Abplanalp, 1956. The effects and after effects of varied exposure to light on clutch development. Biol. Bull. 111:415-422. Woodard, A. E., and W. 0 . Wilson, 1963. Eggs and yolk weight of Coturnix quail in relation to position in egg sequence. Poultry Sci. 42: 544-545.
NEWS AND NOTES (Continued from page 248) land freshman, was named "Star Poultry Farmer" of the Northeast. WATT NOTES O. A. Hanke, Executive Vice-President and Publishing Director was honored on June 30 for 40 years of service with Watt Publishing Company. At a special dinner he was presented with a $500 U.S. bond by L. A. Watt, President of the Company. Hanke joined the editorial staff of Poultry Tribune July 1, 1926 as Associate Editor. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1926 with a major in agricultural journalism and a minor in poultry husbandry. Following his sophomore year, he served for a year as Head of the Texas National Egg Layer Contest and Superintendent of the poultry farm at Texas A and M College. As he advanced from Associate Editor to his present position, 12 specialized farm magazines were either created or purchased by Watt Publishing Company. For more than 25 years Hanke wrote the editorial page in Poultry Tribune. Through the years he has established an enviable record in the field of poultry journalism and as an industry leader.
W.P.S.A. NOTES During the 13th World's Poultry Congress held in Kiev, U.S.S.R., August 15 to 21, the following officers of the Worlds' Poultry Science Association were elected for the next term of office: President —E. E. Penionzhkevick, U.S.S.R.; Honorary Past-President—R. C. Blake, Australia; Secretary and Assistant Treasurer—I. MacDougall, England; and Treasurer and Assistant-Secretary—R. G. Jaap, United States of America. MARYLAND NOTES Dr. Dan E. Bigbee has recently been appointed as Assistant Professor in the Department of Poultry Science at the University of Maryland. Dr. Bigbee is a native of Oklahoma and received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Oklahoma State University. In 1962, he received a Ph.D. degree from Michigan State University. Following the awarding of his advanced degree, he was appointed as Assistant Professor by Oklahoma State University to serve in their branch in Ethiopia. He has spent four years in Ethiopia at the College of Agriculture, Haile Sellassie I University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. In this position, he helped to develop an interest in poultry both among students and commercial farmers.
(Continued on page 264)
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Victoria, McPherson Library Serials on April 25, 2015
Abbot, U. R., and R. M. Craig, 1960. Observations on hatching time in three avian species. Poultry Sci. 39: 827-836. Abplanalp, H., 1960. Response of Japanese quail to restricted lighting. Nature 189: 942-943. Abplanalp, H., A. E. Woodard and W. O. Wilson, 1962. The effects of natural day length upon maturation and egg production of Japanese quail Cotumix cotumix japonica. Poultry Sci. 4 1 : 1963-1968. Arrington, L. C , H. Ablanalp and W. D. Wilson, 1962. Experimental modification of the laying pattern in Japanese quail. British Poultry Sci. 3 : No. 2, 105-113. Padgett, C. A., and D. Ivey, 1959. Cotumix quail as a laboratory research animal. Science, 129: 267-268. Rexniers, J. A., and M. Sacksteder, 1960. Raising