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.
Offered By
Chicken Behaviour and Welfare
The University of EdinburghAbout this Course
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Shareable Certificate
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Approx. 10 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Italian, Vietnamese, German, Russian, English, Spanish
Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?
Try Coursera for BusinessFlexible 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.
Approx. 10 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Italian, Vietnamese, German, Russian, English, Spanish
Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?
Try Coursera for Business
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.
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
18 minutes to complete
Getting Started
This brief module will tell you all the things you need to know to begin, including the syllabus of the course, who we are, how to engage with one another.
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
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
2 hours to complete
Behaviour Patterns of Chickens, Part 2
Welcome back everyone! During this week, we will consider the reproduction process in chickens, from courtship to brooding and hatching of eggs. We will then look at some abnormal behaviours that you might see in chickens. This week will be a combination of video lectures, in-video quizzes, video clips from outside sources, and a downloadable poster on eggshell abnormality.
2 hours to complete
12 videos (Total 40 min), 6 readings, 1 quiz
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
Reviews
- 5 stars80.97%
- 4 stars16.21%
- 3 stars2.23%
- 2 stars0.38%
- 1 star0.19%
TOP REVIEWS FROM CHICKEN BEHAVIOUR AND WELFARE
by NWOct 28, 2020
I learned so much. I am a hobby farmer with a small flock, but I really enjoyed learning about all aspects of chicken welfare as it pertains to both small and large scale operations. Thank you!
by ASJun 8, 2016
I found this course to be very informative for those who are beginning to learn about chickens or would like to expand their knowledge to improve conditions for their backyard flock.
by ASJan 9, 2017
perfectly organised and set on many short videos which makes learning much easier and simplified and i found all the topics very interesting and very well explained by the professor
by PDMay 17, 2020
On the video section,the process should be shown by technically.It was just about telling the processes.But if the process was shown on the video,it would be more effecient.
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