{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,24]],"date-time":"2026-10-24T01:28:00Z","timestamp":1792805280146,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":52,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"15","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,8,2]],"date-time":"2022-08-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1659398400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Minister of Education and Science","award":["SKN\/SP\/496740\/2021"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["SKN\/SP\/496740\/2021"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The aim of this study was to evaluate the indicators of the behavioural and physiological welfare of Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) as possible responses to the enrichment of the birds\u2019 habitat. The study sample consisted of 280 Japanese quails (224 \u2640 and 56 \u2642, respectively). Birds of 5 weeks of age were randomly divided into seven equally sized groups and then divided into replication subgroups (four per group, 10 birds in each replication). Birds were maintained in 0.5 m2 cages with unrestricted access to water and food. The experimental factor was the presence or absence of enrichment of the birds\u2019 cages: the nest box, scratcher, plastic corrugated pipe (tunnel), limestone cubes, sandbathing box and feeder box with a drilled cover. Quails were subjected to behavioural tests (tonic immobility and open field tests) and, after 6 weeks, blood samples were taken from them to determine their biochemical indices as well as their cortisol and corticosterone levels. An additional element was the assessment of fertility indices. The presence of enrichment was shown to reduce behavioural disturbances in Japanese quails. This study also found that the colour and shape of an object were very important regarding the birds\u2019 interest in it. Additionally, individuals kept in enriched cages, who were allowed to exhibit their natural behavioural patterns, had lower stress levels.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani12151963","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,8,2]],"date-time":"2022-08-02T21:41:37Z","timestamp":1659476497000},"page":"1963","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":21,"title":["Environmental Enrichment as Part of the Improvement of the Welfare of Japanese Quails"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"Anastasiya","family":"Ramankevich","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Student Research Group of Poultry Biology, Breeding and Management, University of Life Sciences, 13 Akademicka St., 20-950 Lublin, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Karolina","family":"Wengerska","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Student Research Group of Poultry Biology, Breeding and Management, University of Life Sciences, 13 Akademicka St., 20-950 Lublin, Poland"},{"name":"Institute of Biological Basis of Animal Production, University of Life Sciences, 13 Akademicka St., 20-950 Lublin, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kinga","family":"Rokicka","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Student Research Group of Poultry Biology, Breeding and Management, University of Life Sciences, 13 Akademicka St., 20-950 Lublin, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1195-8439","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kamil","family":"Drabik","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Biological Basis of Animal Production, University of Life Sciences, 13 Akademicka St., 20-950 Lublin, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4305-8168","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kornel","family":"Kasperek","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Biological Basis of Animal Production, University of Life Sciences, 13 Akademicka St., 20-950 Lublin, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3272-9862","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Agnieszka","family":"Ziemia\u0144ska","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Biological Basis of Animal Production, University of Life Sciences, 13 Akademicka St., 20-950 Lublin, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0587-3690","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Justyna","family":"Batkowska","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Biological Basis of Animal Production, University of Life Sciences, 13 Akademicka St., 20-950 Lublin, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,8,2]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"40","DOI":"10.1017\/S0043933907001705","article-title":"Animal Welfare in Poultry Production Systems: Impact of EU Standards on World Trade","volume":"64","author":"Achterbosch","year":"2008","journal-title":"World Poult. 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