CHOICES OF FARM FOXES FOR RAISED WIRE MESH CAGE AND GROUND PEN

Time-budget distribution for a raised wire mesh cage and a ground-leve l solid-floored pen were assessed in male silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes) (N = 8 adults) and blue foxes (Alopex lagopus) (N = 10 adults and N = 10 juveniles) in a combined cage-pen housing arrangement employing 24 h infrared activity detectors and video recordings. The experimental set-up comprised a ground floor pen (2 m wide x 4 m long x 1.5 m high) equipped with a 1 m long wire mesh tunnel (diameter 30 cm) which was connected to the standard shed cage (110 cm long x 107 cm wide x 60 cm high). Time spent for locomotion, sitting and standing in silver foxe s was of the same order of magnitude in both sections. However, the ca ge floor was utilized significantly more (p < 0.001) than the ground f loor for resting. The total time spent in the cage section was also si gnificantly higher (p < 0.001) than that in the pen section. Silver fo xes spent 48 min/24 h for digging which occurred only in the pen secti on. The feeding location did not significantly influence the choice of section due to the short amount of daily time used for eating. In adu lt blue foxes the time used for locomotion was about the same in both sections. However, juvenile blue foxes spent more time in the cage sec tion (p < 0.01). It can be concluded that farm foxes originally born a nd lived in shed cages do not reject wire mesh flooring. (C) 1997 Else vier Science B.V.