Volume: 3, 2024
3rd International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland:
ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT
Abstract number: A024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL3.A024
Published online: 24 April 2024
ICDSUPL, 3, A024 (2024)
Examination of the reactions of greenleg partridge roosters using the mirror test
Anastasiya Ramankevich1*, Kornel Kasperek1, Grzegorz Zięba1
1 Institute of Biological Basis of Animal Production, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Bioeconomy, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
* Corresponding author: anastasiya.ramankevich@up.lublin.pl
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to examine the reactions of greenleg partridge roosters in response to their own reflection and in response to another representative of their breed in order to test the birds’ conscious behavior. The material for the study consisted of 60 roosters of the greenleg partridge breed of the Zk line. The birds were kept in litter boxes with unrestricted access to feed and water. At 11, 20 and 37 weeks of age, 20-minute individual mirror tests were performed (10 minutes in the presence of another individual, 10 minutes in reaction to own reflection in the mirror). The following behaviors were analyzed on the recordings made: defensive behavior, observing an object, offensive behavior, pecking, vocalization and defecation. At 11 weeks of age, a mirror was additionally inserted into a box with 20 roosters and a recording was made. This recording was analyzed for behaviors such as the number of interacts with reflection and the number of pecks of the reflection. It was shown that exposure to the self-reflection increased the time spent observing the object (self) compared to the time spent observing another individual, but did not affect the number of behaviors. The age of the birds contributed to differences that were significant in all the behaviors analyzed. However, birds at 20 weeks of age observed the object the least often, compared to birds at 11 and 37 weeks of age. In conclusion, in the mirror test, it was not proven that roosters have self-awareness.
Keywords: behaviour, roosters, self-awareness
How to cite
A. Ramankevich, K. Kasperek, G. Zięba, 2024. Examination of the reactions of greenleg partridge roosters using the mirror test. In: 3rd International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL3.A024