procedures. Often, sterile surgical techniques are required. Appropriate analgesics
and post-operative care must be provided. Any deaths have to be reported and
explained.
In Canada there is no legislation (yet) covering the use of animals in research.
Rather the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) has responsibility “to
ensure, through education, assessment and persuasion, that the use of animals for
research...employs care to acceptable scientific standards.” CCAC is funded
by public funds from major research councils. There is a “voluntary control
program” administered at the institution level, but committed to implementing
the guiding principles of the CCAC as an independent advisory body. All research
Institutes, Universities, and other bodies involved in research have an Animal Care
Committee (ACC). Studies have to conform to CCAC guidelines for the work to
be approved by the ACC. The system is enforced because research councils require
confirmation of animal care permits before research grants are funded.
9.2.4Housing and husbandry
There are two detailed and useful publications which provide a wealth of informa-
tion regarding the welfare of birds used in research—“Guidelines to the use of wild
birds in research,” edited by Abbot S Gaunt and Lewis W Oring (1999) available
at—www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET/GuideToUse/index.html, and Laboratory
Animals Volume 35, Suppl. 1 (2001) “Laboratory birds: refinements in husbandry
and procedures,” which is also available at http://www.rsm.ac.uk/pub/la.htm. Among the
very many recommendations of the latter are:-
- identify behavioral requirements—husbandry protocols should encourage
a range of behaviors similar to those seen in the wild - simulate appropriate wild conditions whenever possible
- include compatible conspecifics (for social species)
- allow sufficient space for exercise—flapping flight should be made possible
- provide good quality space including perches and refuges
- encourage foraging behavior
- Promote good health. High health standards do not necessitate sterile housing.
As well as dealing with welfare in general, this publication has detailed recommen-
dations for a range of species: seabirds, ducks, and geese, domestic fowl, turkey,
quail, pigeons, parrots, crows, starling, and finches.
A good standard of well-being and welfare requires appropriate housing,
husbandry, and care. Wherever possible and appropriate, birds should be kept in
outdoor aviaries. Where that is incompatible with the aims of the research, they
should be housed in indoor aviaries. Cages should be avoided whenever possible.
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