Kangas, B.D. & Branch, M.N. (2006).
Stability of pigeon body weight under free-feeding conditions
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 86, 393-396.
Increases in regulatory oversight of animal research require verification
of effects of standard practices. There are no formal guidelines for
establishing free-feeding weights in adult pigeons. In the present study,
pigeons were obtained from a commercial supplier, weighed upon arrival, and
then held in quarantine for 7 days with free access to food.
Subsequently, still with continuous access to food, they were weighed daily
for 30 days. No significant changes in weights occurred over the 30-day period
for male pigeons, indicating that seven days is sufficient for establishing a
baseline body weight. A secondary finding of higher day-to-day variability in
the weights of female pigeons may serve as a method of sexing pigeons.
Key words: body weight, free-feeding, food deprivation, pigeons