Research Project

• Ute Knierim
• Maren Bulheller
• Krista Kuhnt
• Jörg Hartung

• Stiftung Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover, Institut für Tierhygiene, Tierschutz und Nutztierethologie, Hannover
• Lehr- und Forschungsgut Ruthe, Stiftung Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover
• Klinik für Geflügel, Stiftung Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover
• Institut für Anatomie, Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien, Österreich
• Department of Biology, Group of Evolutionary Biology, Universität Antwerpen, Belgien

01.05.2002 - 30.09.2004 (2 years, 5 months)

The housing of muscovy ducks on perforated floors and in barren houses raises some welfare concerns, particularly with regard to the regular occurrence of feather pulling and cannibalism and the lack of bathing opportunities. In this study the effect of different types of water provisions (deep water trough: 10 m x 0.50 m x 0.25 m at deepest point, shallow basin: 8 m x 0.50 m x 0.08 m, shower, bell drinkers with wide and narrow rim) on the welfare of the ducks was investigated. For the water trough, equipment for continuous water cleaning was developed and optimised. Furthermore, different occupational objects were developed and their use by the ducks evaluated.
It is possible to apply a circulation system for continuous cleaning of bathing water to a satisfactory effect. However, amount of water required, costs and labour demands will in practice pose a problem. The shallow basin also requires high amounts of water, but is easy to use and satisfactory in behavioural terms. It needs further investigation regarding possible health effects, as in general there is a lack of knowledge on minimum hygienic requirements to safeguard duck health. Bell drinkers and the shower used do not fulfil the Council of Europe Recommendation on the provision of bathing opportunities for muscovy ducks. Lack of occupation appears to play a major role in the development of feather pulling and cannibalism, and further investigations are needed here, for instance regarding possibilities to provide litter. The regular occurrence of abnormal behaviour even in this study shows that the ducks are unsuccessful in coping with the intensive housing conditions and that suffering, pain and damage are resulting from this. In order to keep muscovy ducks in line with animal welfare requirements, further investigations and improvements are needed.

• Bulheller, M.A., Knierim, U. (2005): Wasserbezogenes Verhalten der Moschusenten (Cairina moschata) an verschiedenen Wasserangeboten und Auswirkungen auf die Sauberkeit der Tiere. In: Aktuelle Arbeiten zur artgemäßen Tierhaltung 2005, KTBL-Schrift 441, KTBL, Darmstadt, 128-137
• Bulheller, M.A., Kuhnt, K., Hartung, J., Knierim, U. (2004): Effects of different types of water provision on the behaviour and cleanliness of the plumage of muscovy ducks (Cairina Moschata). In: Hänninnen, L., Valros, A. (eds.): Proc. 38th Int. Congr. Int. Soc. Appl. Ethol., Helsinki, Finland,  212
• Knierim, U., Bulheller, M., Kuhnt, K., Hartung, J. (2004): Mindestanforderung an die Haltung von Moschusenten (Cairina moschata dom.)  Schlussbericht des Forschungsauftrags 01HS039 der Bundesanstalt für Landwirt­schaft und Ernährung (BLE), 155 S.
• Knierim, U., Bulheller, M.A., Kuhnt, K., Briese, A., Hartung, J. (2004): Wasserangebot für Enten bei Stallhaltung – ein Überblick aufgrund der Literatur und eigener Erfahrung. Dtsch. Tierärztl. Wschr. 111, 115-118
• Kuhnt, K., Bulheller, M.A., Hartung, J., Knierim, U. (2004): Hygienic aspects of the provision of bathing water for muscovy ducks in standard housing. In: WPC 2004 XXII World’s Poultry Congress, Full paper, Istanbul, Turkey, D1 – Veterinary aspects of metabolic disorders and welfare
• Knierim, U., Bulheller, M., Tutsch, S. (2002): Federrupfen und Kannibalismus bei Moschusenten – gibt es Ansätze zur Prävention? In: Tagungsband 4. Nds.Tierschutzsymposium in Oldenburg; Nds. Ministerium f. Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Forsten und Nds. Landesamt für Verbraucherschutz und Lebensmittelsicherheit, 53-58