Animal accommodation Pack 2 Fixtures and furnishings Pack Code: AA2 This pack you will help you to: www.lbcnc.org.uk Describe the purpose and functions of fixtures and furnishings Discuss the main kinds of fixtures and furnishings for mammals and birds
About this pack Objectives This pack looks at the role of fixtures and fittings in accommodation for mammals and birds. In more detail, the pack will help you to: Describe the purpose and functions of fixtures and furnishings Discuss the main kinds of fixtures and furnishings for mammals and birds This pack is relevant to the level 3 unit Manage Animal Accommodation, and in particular the following outcome: Outcome 1: Know how to plan the accommodation of animals Outcome 2: Be able to prepare and maintain accommodation for animals Outcome 3: Be able to monitor and evaluate accommodation for animals Links to other packs This is one of a series of learning packs, each tackling an aspect of animal accommodation. They are: AA1: Planning an enclosure (small mammals and birds) AA2: Fixtures and furnishings (small mammals and birds) AA3: Designing a vivarium (reptiles, etc.) AA4: Furnishing a vivarium (reptiles, etc.) AA5: Substrates and bedding AA6: Animal collections AA7: Enrichment methods AA8: Planning and reviewing Animal accommodation 2
Introduction Fixtures and furnishings are important parts of animal accommodation. Fixtures are (often) permanent features in an enclosure that suit a purpose for the animal, e.g. fixed nest box, shelving, perches, wire mesh, electric lighting or heating. Furnishings are removable items or equipment used for decoration, and comfort or convenience of the animal, e.g. litter trays, hides, plastic plants, feeding and drinking apparatus, enrichment material such as toys, cardboard tubes, and logs to climb and gnaw on. As with all aspects of animal accommodation, it is important that fixtures and furnishings meet the needs of the animals and provide opportunities for enrichment. They are important in maintaining the Five Freedoms. Activity 1 Which of these items are fixtures, and which are furnishings? a) Shelves b) Heaters c) Drinking bottles d) Logs 2 Suggest one way in which fixtures and furnishings maintain the Five Freedoms: Check your answers with the feedback at the end of this pack. Animal accommodation 3
Fixtures Arboreal mammals Arboreal (climbing) mammals either come from habitats that are high up (e.g. mountains), or live in trees. Climbing species need lots of opportunities to get up high where they feel most comfortable. Shelves are useful for jumping on and provide a platform to put food and water bowls on. This encourages climbing and behaviours such as play and foraging all natural behaviours for arboreal species and a form of enrichment. Animal accommodation 4
Arboreal birds Most flying birds are arboreal, and naturally live up in trees, so branches are needed. Hard, artificial branches can be used that help to wear down a bird s claws. For both arboreal mammals and birds, fixed nest boxes that are raised off the ground are good shelters as well as breeding sites. For safety, all shelves, branches, and fixed nest boxes must be secure to avoid injury to the animals and handlers, and should be checked periodically. Wire mesh Wire mesh that makes up the walls of an enclosure can be a kind of fixture as birds and climbing mammals can use it to grip onto. It can also be used to attach other fixtures and furnishings to, e.g. branches and drinkers. It is important to make sure the wire mesh used is not sharp and is the right size for the animals it is meant for. Using the wrong type or size of wire may result in the animal escaping by either chewing through thin wire or squeezing through. There is also the risk of trapped limbs or head. Vermin or predators may be able to get through wire into the enclosure (e.g. rats, snakes, mink etc.) or pull the animal through (foxes have been known to pull the legs of poultry through wire mesh and chew off the limb). Animal accommodation 5
Terrestrial mammals Mammal species that live on the floor (terrestrial) do not generally require a lot of fixtures compared to climbing species, although low shelves provide different levels. Rodents frequently chew their fixtures - it is in their nature. This means that fixtures may need changing from time-to-time. Heating fixtures Species from warmer climates, sick, elderly or young animals, and outside aviaries during the winter may require electric heaters to provide warmth. Below is a perch heater birds can safely rest on it and warm up without getting burnt. Obviously safety is a big issue when dealing with electrics. Rodents and lagomorphs will chew wiring, and most substrates and beddings are flammable and should not be resting against the device. Activity Write down answers to these questions. 1 What do climbing and nesting furnishings encourage in arboreal species? a) b) 2 Give two reasons why the size of wire mesh is important: a) b) 3 Why should fixtures be checked regularly? Check your answers with the feedback at the end of this pack. Animal accommodation 6
Furnishings An enclosure can have many examples of furnishings: Food and water bowls Cardboard boxes and tubes acts as a shelter/tunnel and for chewing Hay ball Wooden stumps and logs for jumping on and chewing Movable nest box for hiding and rest Plastic tubing acts like a tunnel Dirt tray/litter tray for digging or excretion Some furnishings are similar to fixtures. The shelves and ladders in some mice, gerbil, and hamster tanks are removable. Furnishings have many uses. The main ones are: For feeding and drinking For enrichment Decoration Animal accommodation 7
Food and drink Most species will eat or drink from a simple bowl. Some species prefer to eat high up, so bowls may need to be hung up on wire mesh or placed on shelves with food, water, or grit (for birds). A lot of species naturally drink by licking up dew/water from surfaces, e.g. rodents and rabbits. Pet drinker bottles are a great way of getting such species to drink. Gravity drinkers and feeders allow lots of food or water to be placed inside and can last several days, depending on the size of the device. Food/water moves down as exposed food at the bottom is eaten/drunk Gravity Drinker Gravity Feeder It is important to provide hay for certain animals. Hay balls are a great way of doing this they encourage exercise, making the animal work to get its food and means the animal cannot gorge itself in one sitting. Alternatively a hay rack can be attached to a wall in the enclosure. Hay should not be simply placed on the floor as animals will excrete over, wasting the food and potentially leasing to sick animals. Animal accommodation 8
Enrichment Many furnishing provide enrichment by allowing animals to carry out or extend their natural behaviour. Tubing is useful for animals that naturally dig in burrows, and can encourage foraging and play. Some species that naturally dig can benefit from having a peat tray. Skunks possess a good sense of smell hiding burrowing worms in peat encourages the animal to have to dig for them. Some species naturally use an area as a toilet/latrine (e.g. a corner of their pen). A litter tray is useful for such species. Birds, gerbils, degus, and chinchillas need a sand/dust bath. This helps clean their fur/feathers as the sand sticks to and removes bodily oils. It also helps to remove external parasites such as lice. Gerbils and chinchillas should not get wet, but birds and some small mammals such as ferrets do appreciate a large water bowl in which they can properly bath as well. Cardboard boxes and tubes are great forms of enrichment, and can be used as shelters, burrows, chews, and as a hiding place for food that the animal has to chew/break into. Animal accommodation 9
Many small animals are prey species. This means that such animals need access to hiding places so that they are not out in the open and feel exposed. Movable nest boxes and shelters provide such cover and can double up as a bed for the animal. Wooden logs, twigs, and stumps are great for rodents and rabbits to chew/gnaw on to keep their constantly-growing teeth down and to and stimulate digestion. They also provide obstacles to run around, over, and under. Novelty chews can also be used (some are flavoured). Bird beaks also need to be kept down. Cuttlefish can be provided for birds to chew on. It also provides them with calcium which is important for healthy bones, beak and egg development. Special holders can be used that hang up on the wire of a bird cage or aviary. Novelty toys can also be provided that help keep beaks and claws down, too. Activity Write down answers to these questions. 1 Give two advantages of a hay ball: a) b) 2 Why is it important to give rodents and rabbits something to gnaw and chew on? 3 Why do birds, gerbils, degus, and chinchillas need a sand/dust bath? Check your answers with the feedback at the end of this pack. Animal accommodation 10
Activity Make a list of fixtures and furnishings that would be appropriate for a species you work with: Resources and further reading You will find a number of publications dealing with animal accommodation in the college library. You may find the following helpful: Warren, D., 2009. Small animal care and management. Delmar Cengage Learning Young, R., 2003. Environmental enrichment for captive animals. Wiley- Blackwell Answers to activities Activity on page 3 1 a) and b) are fixtures, c) and d) are furnishings 2 For example, feeding equipment can maintain freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition while play equipment can support the freedom to express normal behaviour. Activity on page 6 1 Natural behaviour and breeding 2 a) Animals cannot escape; b) animals cannot get caught or stuck in the wire 3 To avoid injury to the animals and handlers Activity on page 10 1 It keeps the hay clean; it provides enrichment as the animal must work to get at the food; it takes longer to eat 2 As their teeth keep on growing they need to wear them down by gnawing hard items 3 It helps clean their fur/feathers as the sand sticks to and removes bodily oils. Animal accommodation 11
Knowledge quiz 1 Define: a) Fixtures b) Furnishings 2 Give two ways in which fixtures and furnishings support the Five Freedoms: a) b) 3 Give two examples of fixtures for arboreal animals: a) b) 4 What are the main functions of furnishings: a) b) 5 What is the main role of each of these furnishings: a) Cardboard boxes and tubes b) Sand or dust baths c) Wooden logs Animal accommodation 12
Acknowledgements This learning pack has been produced by the Land Based Colleges National Consortium Ltd. The LBCNC is a consortium of colleges working in the land-based sector which cooperate in the development and production of quality flexible learning materials which encourage independent learning. We would like to acknowledge the contributions made by the following individuals and colleges in the development of this learning pack. Initial guidance and source material: This pack was based on learning materials provided by: Dan Coomber and Simon McGill, Plumpton College Cover photograph: Reaseheath College Developed and produced for LBCNC by Learners First Developed in November 2012 2012 The Land Based Colleges National Consortium Ltd. All rights reserved. Permission to photocopy or adapt the material in this learning pack is granted to members of the Land Based Colleges National Consortium Ltd. only. For further information please contact the LBCNC project management team at 7 Tyne Road, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8EE. Tel 0117 942 3504 Animal accommodation 13