Controlling Feather Pecking and Cannibalism in Egg Laying Flocks

Daigle, Courtney L

doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-800879-9.00011-1

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…Although we were not able to quantify the cause of mortality in farm B, non–beak-trimmed hens are known to be subject to higher mortality ( Guesdon et al., 2006 ). Although gentle feather pecking is predominantly directed toward wing and tail feathers, the significant better cover of this area in hens offered with pecking stones in the present study may rather reflect an impact of pecking stones on gentle feather pecking ( Daigle, 2017 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 63%

“…Exposing pullets during rearing to a new pecking substrate may redirect pecking behavior from flock mates toward substrate pecking and prevent feather pecking in adult hen flocks ( Vestergaard and Baranyiova, 1996 ). Using environmental enrichment during rearing can encourage birds to develop their exploring behavior ( Glatz and Runge, 2017; Daigle, 2017 ). Further research is warranted to examine the effects particular of range use and individual exploratory behavior on feather pecking.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effect of pecking stones and age on feather cover, hen mortality, and performance in free-range laying hens

et al. 2020

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Severe feather pecking is frequently associated with impaired egg production, poor hen welfare, and increased mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of pecking stones to ameliorate the incidence of feather pecking. A total of 18 flocks of Hy-Line Brown laying hens were randomly assigned to control (n = 9 no pecking stone access) or treatment (n = 9 pecking stone access) flocks and housed in commercial fixed sheds (farm A, n = 10) or commercial mobile sheds (farm B, n = 8) differing in various housing conditions. Beak length, feather score, egg production, and mortality were evaluated at 16 wk of age and every 10 wk until at least 46 wk of age. On farm A, hens with access to pecking stones had significantly lower mortality than hens without pecking stone access ( P = 0.001). A significant interaction between pecking stone and age was observed on feather scores of wings of hens housed in farm A. Hens of the pecking stone group in farm A had higher wing feather score (indicating better feather condition) at the age of 56 and 66 wk than hens with no access to pecking stones (pecking stone × age, P = 0.002). The age of the hens was significantly associated with lower overall feather scores (poorer feather condition), reduced egg production, and higher mortality ( P < 0.05). Although pecking stones reduced some feather loss and mortality, this effect was only present on one farm and therefore may be related to farm management. Especially the impact of pecking stones on mortality was inconclusive as the cumulative mortality in farm B was nearly twice as high compared with that in control flocks. Further investigations are warranted including the effects of pecking stone provision at an early age such as during rearing (0–17 wk of age).

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 63%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of pecking stones and age on feather cover, hen mortality, and performance in free-range laying hens

et al. 2020

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“…Furthermore, our results agree with those presented by Patzke et al [ 44 ], who found a correlation between social stress and the living environment of laying hens. Previous studies reported that the increased flock size is associated with reduced birds’ feather pecking score [ 44 , 45 , 46 ]. In the present study, a slight improvement of whole plumage score was observed at T3.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multifactorial Evaluation of Regrouping Effects on Performance and Welfare in Two Italian Dual-Purpose Chicken Breeds: Bianca di Saluzzo and Bionda Piemontese

Dabbou

Mugnai

Soglia

et al. 2022

Animals

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The aim of the present study was to investigate the ability of two Italian slow-growing poultry breeds (namely, Bionda Piemontese, BP, and Bianca di Saluzzo, BS) to cope with a stressful event, such as collective grouping, using a multifactorial approach. A total of 120 hens of BP and BS breeds were homogenously distributed, according to breed, in 12 pens (10 hens/pen; 6 pens/breed), from 18 to 49 weeks of age. At 50 weeks of age, hens were regrouped (Stressful Farm Practice, SFP), by removing separators, both in indoor and outdoor areas. At 49 weeks of age, 24 hens/breed were randomly selected for the evaluation of welfare (ethological and physiological) parameters, at different time points: T0: 1-week pre-SPF; T1: 1-week post-SFP; T2: 3-week post-SFP; T3: 5-week post-SFP. Egg production was recorded from 38 to 56 weeks of age. Grouping produced a social stress in both BS and BP-laying hens, which was expressed in terms of productive traits (reduction of oviposition), behavioral modification (worsening of plumage condition due to feather peaking and extension of the duration of the tonic immobility test) and physiological modification (increased heterophil/lymphocyte ratio and corticosterone metabolites in droppings). Both breeds reacted in a similar way; in fact, no differences were attributed to the breed. At the end of the observation period, the egg rate fully recovered, while the behavioral and physiological parameters partially recovered but failed to recover to those recorded prior to the stressful event.

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“…If the manure removal system is not regularly in operation and/or if the collected manure is kept in the facility for days or even weeks, all parameters of the microclimate may be above the recommended values and the conditions in the facility may be very harmful to the hens but also the workers. Avian behavior is largely dependent on the housing system and microclimate (46), and providing, among other, environmentally stable temperature, lighting, and air quality conditions may safeguard against the development of feather pecking (8). Therefore, in the above-described conditions, the appearance of harmful behaviors is quite expected.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioral and health problems of poultry related to rearing systems

Relic¹,

Sossidou²,

Dedousi³

et al. 2019

Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi

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This review paper aims to give an overview of the literature data on common behavioral and health problems in broiler chickens and laying hens and to explain their interrelation and relation to the rearing system. In the initial part, the mechanism of arising of the most common forms of abnormal behavior and the way they affect the poultry are briefly described. Furthermore, the possibility of poultry to fulfill behavioral needs in different rearing systems and some of the consequences to the birds in the case of their inability to meet their needs are displayed. The influence of the main microclimate and space factors is also discussed, as well as the occurrence of some infectious, parasitic and production diseases in poultry rearing systems. The welfare problems of poultry are complexes and most often caused by the system design and its improper use. Continuous work on improving rearing systems is as important as better informing the producers and the public on poultry welfare problems.

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Controlling Feather Pecking and Cannibalism in Egg Laying Flocks

Cited by 11 publications

References 61 publications

Effect of pecking stones and age on feather cover, hen mortality, and performance in free-range laying hens

Effect of pecking stones and age on feather cover, hen mortality, and performance in free-range laying hens

Multifactorial Evaluation of Regrouping Effects on Performance and Welfare in Two Italian Dual-Purpose Chicken Breeds: Bianca di Saluzzo and Bionda Piemontese

Behavioral and health problems of poultry related to rearing systems

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