This course explains the general principles of chicken behaviour and welfare, and the behavioural and physiological indicators that can be used to assess welfare in chickens kept in hobby flocks through to commercial farms. The focus is primarily on laying hens and meat chickens (broilers) although many of the principles are relevant to other types of poultry. The course is likely to be of interest to people who own chickens as pets or keep a small hobby flock, commercial egg and chicken meat producers, veterinarians and vet nurses. Learning Objectives: at the end of this course, you will be able to - - Describe avian sensory perception and motivation - Explain the main behaviour patterns of poultry - Define welfare and explain the bases of welfare standards - Assess chicken welfare, using behavioural and physiological means - Understand common welfare problems of chickens This course is taught by staff from Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), University of Glasgow, and St David's Poultry Team. You can follow us on Twitter! #chickenmooc © University of Edinburgh and Scotland's Rural College 2016 CC BY
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Lehrplan - Was Sie in diesem Kurs lernen werden
Getting Started
This brief module will tell you all the things you need to know to begin, including the syllabus of the course, who we are, how to engage with one another.
Introduction to Animal Behaviour: Domestication, Behaviour Development and Learning, the Senses
Welcome to the first week of the Chicken Behaviour and Welfare Course. If you haven't seen it - watch the video which introduces you to the course: you can find it under "Getting Started; Welcome!" During this lesson, we will consider what makes a domestic animal, how behaviour develops in the chicken from before hatching and beyond, different types of learning and the senses - vision, hearing, taste, smell and touch.
Behaviour Patterns of Chickens, Part 1
During this week, we will consider some of the major behaviour patterns of chickens, such as maintenance behaviours of chickens, and social behaviours. Maintenance behaviours means feeding, drinking, and comfort activities. Comfort activities include preening, dustbathing, and perching (among others). Social behaviours include communication, dominance, aggression, and spacing. This week will be a combination of video lectures, in-video quizzes and an interview with a backyard producer.
Behaviour Patterns of Chickens, Part 2
Welcome back everyone! During this week, we will consider the reproduction process in chickens, from courtship to brooding and hatching of eggs. We will then look at some abnormal behaviours that you might see in chickens. This week will be a combination of video lectures, in-video quizzes, video clips from outside sources, and a downloadable poster on eggshell abnormality.
What is chicken welfare? Defining "welfare", ethical obligations, and welfare standards
During this week, we will consider what we mean by "animal welfare", and how a set of criteria known as the Five Freedoms can help you assess it. Dr Dorothy McKeegan from the University of Glasgow will discuss what the ethical obligations are of meeting an animal's welfare needs, and we will explore some of the various welfare standards that exist. Finally, we will look at welfare indicators, and Dr Barry Thorp from St David's Veterinary Team will discuss with Vicky what signs to look for in chicken flocks to make a welfare assessment. This week's Learning Outcomes: •Define 'welfare' and the Five Freedoms •What drives our ethical choices, including cost-benefit analysis •Describe some welfare standards available worldwide and how they differ •Explain ways to assess welfare, using behavioural and physiological indices
Top reviews from Chicken Behaviour and Welfare
Fantastic course if you're just starting out in the world of chickens. I feel that I gained vital knowledge which has boosted my confidence in my abilities as a back garden hen keeper.
I found this course to be very informative for those who are beginning to learn about chickens or would like to expand their knowledge to improve conditions for their backyard flock.
Dozent
Dr Victoria Sandilands
Senior scientistÜber The University of Edinburgh
Häufig gestellte Fragen
Wann erhalte ich Zugang zu den Vorträgen und Aufgaben?
Sobald Sie sich für ein Zertifikat angemeldet haben, haben Sie Zugriff auf alle Videos, Quizspiele und Programmieraufgaben (falls zutreffend). Aufgaben, die von anderen Kursteilnehmern bewertet werden, können erst dann eingereicht und überprüft werden, wenn Ihr Unterricht begonnen hat. Wenn Sie sich den Kurs anschauen möchten, ohne ihn zu kaufen, können Sie womöglich auf bestimmte Aufgaben nicht zugreifen.
Was bekomme ich, wenn ich das Zertifikat erwerbe?
Wenn Sie ein Zertifikat erwerben, erhalten Sie Zugriff auf alle Kursmaterialien, einschließlich bewerteter Aufgaben. Nach Abschluss des Kurses wird Ihr elektronisches Zertifikat zu Ihrer Seite „Errungenschaften“ hinzugefügt – von dort können Sie Ihr Zertifikat ausdrucken oder es zu Ihrem LinkedIn Profil hinzufügen. Wenn Sie nur lesen und den Inhalt des Kurses anzeigen möchten, können Sie kostenlos als Gast an dem Kurs teilnehmen.
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