| Popis: |
Cage enrichment devices (ED), frequently termed cage "toys," are often provided to captive parrots as a means of promoting a behaviorally stimulating environment, but it is not clear whether particular properties of EDs are more effective than others in eliciting engagement with them. We tested preference for color, size and hardness of cube-shaped EDs constructed from wood and of color preference for EDs constructed from flat rawhide rectangles. Orange-winged Amazon parrots ( Amazona amazonica ; N =8–10, mixed-sex, 4–5 years of age) were individually housed in cages each equipped with two computer-monitored omni-directional lever-type switches attached to cage ceilings. EDs were attached to the switches; any interactions generating lateral movement and causing switch closure (operationally constituting "use" of EDs) were continuously recorded. Preference for 3.8cm 3 softwood (Douglas fir) cubes dyed in eight different colors was tested by presenting each bird with all combinations of colors, two colors at a time. Daily switch activity averages were computed for each bird and subjected to repeated-measures ANOVA: yellow cubes elicited greater use than red, green, blue, violet or natural cubes ( P P 3 ; the smallest blocks were preferred over the largest size ( P 3 yellow cubes and blue cubes made of either Douglas fir ("soft") or birch/maple ("hard") wood; birds preferred softer cubes ( P |
Full Text from ScienceDirect