REVISION B682B

Small Animal Husbandry• Husbandry = breeding and caring for animals,

providing for their needs with the right conditions and care

• Routine husbandry – food and water changed everyday, cleaned out weekly

• Pregnant/young animals need special care, high energy food to produce milk, high in protein

• Heat lamp may be needed to keep newborns warm

• Birds – diet high in calcium to form shells

Keeping AnimalsReason for keeping animal

How are they treated?

Companionship exercise dogs so that they do not become bored and bark excessively.castrate or spay cats so that they do not breed with other pets.confine animals that may bite

Food Cared for in terms of welfare until they are needed for food

Competition Treated as pets but with an interest in their performance

Hunting Treated as pets but kept for hunting purposes

Conservation keep animals away from the public to maintain a more natural environment.

Research animals kept away from the public to avoid transmission of disease.

Breeding

• Different breeds have different characteristics – size and temperament – selected for different purposes

• Cross breeding - mating different breeds (HYBRID VIGOUR)

• Line Breeding - mating closely related within a breed (keep characteristics)

Bird and Mammal ReproductionBirds Mammals

Similarities Produce egg by fertilisation of egg by sperm

Produce egg by fertilisation of egg by sperm

Differences Egg layingNo penis Testicles internalOvary on left hand side onlyFemale determines sex

Live birthTesticles externalOvaries on both sidesMale determines sex

Vent

Testes

OvaryInfundibulum

Magnum

Shell

glandVent

Rabbits (mammals)

Fertilisation

• Gametes or sex cells contain 23 chromosomes.

• The male gamete (sperm) fertilises the female gamete (egg) in the oviduct and produces an embryo with 46 chromosomes

Embryo Development Animal Development Gestation Functions

Rabbit 28-31 days

Uterus - nurturing the fertilised egg that develops into the foetus and holding it till the rabbit is mature enough for birthVagina – connect the cervix to the external genitals, part of the birth canal.

Bird 21 days Vent-male vent turns inside out, to allow the sperm to enter the female reproductive system and fertilise the egg. Female vent allows sperm to enter to fertilise eggShell Gland – where the shell is formed

Artificial IncubationChickens need an incubation period of 28 days at a temperature of about 38°C.

Turning - Eggs need to be turned every few hours to stop the chick becoming deformed. If the eggs spend too long on one side the chicken can have a ‘flat’ side.

60% Humidity so that the embryo does not dry out

We can check whether an egg is developing through CANDLING. This is holding an egg up to the light to see if a ‘shadow’ can be seen within the egg.

Artificial Incubator

Incubation Advantages DisadvantagesArtificial – Hatching eggs by putting them in an incubator

1) You can hatch eggs whenever you want - you don't have to wait for a hen to go broody.2) If you get a big enough incubator, you can hatch out as many eggs as you want.3) You get the satisfaction of caring for the eggs yourself

1) You have to worry about the temperature, ventilation, and humidity.2) If you do not have an automatic turner, you will have to turn the eggs at least three times a day at evenly spaced intervals.3) Incubators usually hatch out a lower percentage of eggs than broody hens do.

Natural – Hatching eggs by putting them under a broody hen

1. The hen does most of the work for you. You don't have to worry about turning the eggs or keeping the temperature stable 2. A broody hen will usually hatch out a higher percentage of eggs than you will get in an incubator.3. Once the chicks hatch, she will do much of the work of caring for them.

1) Cannot tell when a hen will go broody.2) You can't guarantee that she will be a good mother.3) You can only fit so many eggs under one hen, so you might not be able to hatch out as many as you want.4) Sometimes a mother hen will "go wild" when she hatches out chicks, and it will be much harder to tame them.

Food Tests• Grind up the food using a pestle and mortar• Starch – Add a few drops of iodine – does it turn black?• Glucose – Half fill a beaker with water, boil using a

Bunsen. Add food and Benedict’s Solution to a test tube. Place test tube in beaker and continue to heat – does the solution turn orange?

• Fat – rub onto filter paper – does it turn transparent?• Protein – Add copper sulphate solution – is there a

colour change?

Animal DietCarbohydrates – used in respiration to release energyProteins – used for growth and repair of body tissueFats – used as insulation and source of energyFibre – Prevents constipationWater – prevent dehydrationVitamin A – for vision. If deficient – eye problems, chickens

will have reduced egg production, C – to keep skin healthy ONLY ESSENTIAL FOR PRIMATES AND GUINEA PIGS, if deficient – chickens have reduced egg shell quality, D – for bones and teeth, if deficient – rickets, reduced growth

Minerals – Calcium – to strengthen bones, if deficient – brittle or deformed bones and weakened teeth

- Iron – for blood, if deficient - anaemiaExcess of fats and carbohydrates - obesity

Feedstuffs

Roughage succulent concentrate

Description High fi bre Low nutrient value

High moisture Processed f eeds High nutrient value

Example Carrots Hay

Grass

Pellets Crushed grain

Chicken and Rabbit Digestive System

Digestive System FunctionsDigestive part Function

Mouth food is chewed and mixed with saliva

Stomach mixes food with enzymes which digest food. Acid kills harmful microbes.

Small Intestine more enzymes, food is absorbed into the blood stream

Large Intestine excess water is removed

Caecum Break down cellulose turning it into cecotropes which are eaten by the rabbit

Gizzard Contains small stones to crush food

Crop Storage sac

Rectum holds dry pellet (faeces) until they are ready to be expelled out of the anus

Animal HousingAnimal Housing Size Cleaning Food and bedding Other info. Problems

Bird Aviary, cage, coop

Large enough for bird to spread it’s wings

Once a week Consumed in a day, bowls cleaned daily, fresh water, cuttlefish provides calcium and exercises jaw and trims beak

Bars for perching, cage cover for sleeping, toys for chewing, climbing

Cage too small = behaviour problems

Rabbit hutch Large, indoor sleeping, outdoor run

Once a week, fresh bedding

Hay, straw, wood shavings for bedding. Fresh food and water daily

Like Lots of hay, fruit and vegetables

Cage too small – behaviour problems, lack of exercise

Small Mammal

Cage As big as possible, room to exercise

Once a week with mild disinfectant.

Feed bowls/water cleaned daily. wood shavings, shredded paper for bedding

Toys for gnawing, wheels for exercise

Cage too small = behavioural problems

Reptile Tank Appropriate to reptile

Once a week Tank dry, except hide box – damp moss. Hiding places-leaves, bark

Thermal gradient needed

Food stored well to prevent disease

Fish bowl, tank, aquarium

Match fish to tank

Check, maintain pHChange 20% water twice a week, clean tank once a month

Correct floating food twice a day

Filter air pump to oxygenate water

Chlorine in tap water can kill fish, add dechlorinator

Rabbit Health Check • Have clean, bright eyes, which do not have

mucus, a crust, etc. in or near them. • Have clean ears, unobstructed by wax, and they

should not smell bad. • Have clean, untangled fur, and no ticks, fleas or

other parasites on their skin. Check them all over. They should not smell bad anywhere.

• They should not have anything in the fur around their anus. If they do, it's a suggestion of major health problems.

• They should not be limp and unresponsive, but they shouldn't be overly jumpy/trembly either.

Handling, Transport• Handled correctly to reduce stress and avoid injury both to the handler

and the animal. • Wash hands before and after handling to prevent spread of disease.

Reptiles can carry salmonella bacteria and it is possible to contract ringworm from rabbits.

• Up to date vaccinations, tetanus from an animal bite. Sometimes necessary to wear gloves.

• Hold the animal loosely and for short periods of time.• Be sensitive to the needs of the animal. Do not handle animals just after

they have woken up, if they are nursing young or are in the process of shedding their skin.

• Whilst handling it is important that routine husbandry tasks are carried out such as grooming and clipping nails.

• Small animals are usually transported in containers that are well ventilated, warm and comfortable, small enough to contain the animal from damage if bumped around but large enough to provide freedom of movement.

• Specific laws control the movement of cats and dogs in and out of the UK in order to prevent the introduction of rabies. Cats and dogs are required to spend 6 months in quarantine unless they have been issued with a pet passport by their vet, have been micro chipped and been vaccinated against rabies.