4.8
stars
1,062 ratings

Dr Victoria Sandilands

33,625 already enrolled

Offered By

Chicken Behaviour and Welfare

The University of Edinburgh

About this Course

23,943 recent views

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.

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Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

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Approx. 9 hours to complete

English

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Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

Learn more about Coursera Labs

Approx. 9 hours to complete

English

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Instructor

Instructor rating

4.84/5 (293 Ratings)

Dr Victoria Sandilands

Senior scientist

Avian Science Research Centre, SRUC

33,625 Learners

1 Course

Offered by

The University of Edinburgh

Since 1583 the University of Edinburgh has been influencing the world, from Nobel laureates and Olympic champions to space explorers and prime ministers. As a world-leading, research-intensive university, we are here to address tomorrow's greatest challenges. We do so with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships - both locally and globally.

Ranked in the top 50 universities in the world, the University of Edinburgh has been a leader in digital education since the earliest days of online learning. Embracing the technological and pedagogical opportunities of our digital age, the University provides an outstanding online distance learning experience as part of our commitment to making learning accessible to all. We offer free short online courses in a variety of subjects, all designed to build the skills of the global community, as well as degree-level education through our online masters programmes. Visit our website to browse our catalogue of online courses, and join our global network of 4 million learners to upskill and gain academic accreditation to boost your career. https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/online-learning

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating98%(8,794 ratings)

Week1

Week 1

18 minutes to complete

Getting Started

18 minutes to complete

2 videos (Total 8 min), 1 reading

2 hours to complete

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.

2 hours to complete

13 videos (Total 28 min), 5 readings, 1 quiz

13 videos

What is behaviour?1mWhat is a chicken?1mDomestication1mPrehatch and hatching1mImprinting2mOther types of learning3mHormones and Behaviour52sMotivation4mVision2mHearing1mTaste1mSmell and Touch2mInterview with Sarah Brocklehurst3m

5 readings

What is a chicken? Some images10mSmithsonian's How the chicken conquered the world.10mLearning who is your mother10mExercise: how operant conditioning works10mArticle on vision10m

1 practice exercise

Domestication, Development and Learning, the Senses30m

Week2

Week 2

2 hours to complete

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.

2 hours to complete

12 videos (Total 32 min), 4 readings, 1 quiz

12 videos

Introduction To Maintenance Behaviours1mFeeding Behaviour1mHistory Of Feeding, Contrafreeloading3mMotivation To Show Feeding Phases1mBroiler Feeding Behaviour1mDrinking Behaviour3mPreening And Dustbathing4mPerching1mStretching, Wing Flapping, Thermoregulation, Sleeping3mCommunication3mDominance Behaviour, Aggression, Bird-to-bird Pecking5mSocial Spacing1m

4 readings

Article on feed choice in chickens10mDrinking from a nipple drinker or dish10mDistinction between preening, and oiling + preening10mAggression between males10m

1 practice exercise

Behaviour part 130m

Week3

Week 3

2 hours to complete

Behaviour Patterns of Chickens, Part 2

2 hours to complete

12 videos (Total 40 min), 6 readings, 1 quiz

12 videos

Introduction To Reproduction1mCourtship54sMating Behaviour2mNesting and Laying Behaviour2mBrooding Behaviour2mProblems With Nesting And Laying Behaviour4mInterview With Johnny - Breeding And Preparing For The Show Ring5mInterview With Derek - Small-scale Commercial Broiler Incubation And Hatching9mFeather Pecking And Cannibalism6mStereotypic Behaviours1mOverdrinking (polydipsia)1mLitter Eating58s

6 readings

Transcript for interview with Johnny - Breeding and preparing for the show ring10mHens that go broody10mHow to assess developing embryos in eggs10mEgg shell abnormalities10mEgg eating10mDifferent types of feather pecking10m

1 practice exercise

Behaviour part 230m

Week4

Week 4

2 hours to complete

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

2 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 16 min), 3 readings, 2 quizzes

5 videos

Defining Welfare, and the Five Freedoms2mEthics and Poultry Production4mWelfare Organisations and Accreditation Schemes2mEffects of Stressors1mAssessing Welfare: Behavioural and Physiological Measures5m

3 readings

Ruth Harrison10mArticle on a 'good life' for hens10mWelfare accreditation schemes10m

2 practice exercises

Welfare, ethics, welfare standards30mA Life Worth Living Exercise (just for fun)30m

Reviews

4.8

389 reviews

5 stars
80.93%
4 stars
16.33%
3 stars
2.15%
2 stars
0.37%
1 star
0.18%

TOP REVIEWS FROM CHICKEN BEHAVIOUR AND WELFARE

by MSJul 30, 2019

Great information about chickens' instinctive behaviors and the advantages and disadvantages of various means of caring for them. I learned a lot about the various systems used throughout the world.

by CCMay 4, 2020

There is some super helpful information in this course, at times it was difficult to maintain concentration with the background noise of the chickens and a monotone speach delivery.

by PMAug 25, 2022

the course was excellent and very informative, i have learnt alot about chicken behaviour and welfare, i dont regret commiting my time for this course, it was worth it.

by MIFeb 14, 2019

An informative course for backyard and commercial poultry farmers to improve welfare aspects in the process of chicken production whether its for meat or egg production.

View all reviews

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Chicken Behaviour and Welfare

Chicken Behaviour and Welfare

About this Course