Effects of age and disturbance on fear in pheasants kept in a rearing facility

The survival of captive-reared pheasants in the wild depends primarily on their ability to avoid predators, therefore, need maintain innate anti-predatory behaviour. aim this study was assess effects age and disturbance tonic immobility (TI) ( Phasianus colchicus ) kept a commercial rearing facility. TI tests were performed aged 8, 10, 12, 14 16 weeks. Randomly selected same tested either immediately after capture (group C) or exposure various stimuli/disturbance D). No significant differences number attempts induce found between observed groups (the vast majority remained immobile first attempt). effect only group D, where birds weeks showed reduction duration compared younger birds. In C, different ages did not differ. results document change response an intense stimulus depending pheasants. Knowledge changes behaviour habituation environment new stimuli is essential when determining optimal for be released into considering its impact subsequent Birds at older thus accustomed repeated disturbances during captive may have impaired defence