Feather-pecking and injurious pecking in organic laying hens in 107 flocks from eight European countries

Bestman, Monique; Verwer, Cynthia; Brenninkmeyer, Christine; Willett, A; Hinrichsen, Lena Karina; Smajlhodzic, F; Heerkens, Jlt; Gunnarsson, Stefan; Ferrante, V.

doi:10.7120/09627286.26.3.355

Cited by 26 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…comm. ), and restricted range access may increase the occurrence of feather pecking (Bestman et al 2017). Stress can likely increase susceptibility to disease outbreaks such as spotty liver disease, but conversely some outdoor conditions such as dirty drinking water on the range may also increase outbreak risk of this disease (Scott 2016;Courtice et al 2018), thus necessitating locking the hens inside the shed.…”

Section: Design Of Indoor Shed Management Practices and Rearing Envimentioning

confidence: 99%

Free-range egg production: its implications for hen welfare

2020

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Free-range laying hen housing systems are prevalent in Australia and perceived by consumers to provide greater opportunities for the expression of natural behaviour resulting in higher hen welfare. However, all housing systems have both benefits and risks and scientific evidence is needed on the welfare outcomes of free-range systems. In this review, the scientific literature is summarised from the past 10 years, from research conducted within Australia or internationally with brown laying-hen strains kept in free-range systems. It compiles information on range use by laying hens, hen behaviour while on the range, factors that affect range use, and impacts of ranging on hen health and other aspects of welfare. Novel insights have come from the use of radio-frequency identification systems that allow tracking of individual hens and have shown that the majority of hens access the range with multiple visits across the day, but a small proportion of hens within most flocks choose to remain indoors. Hens also vary in which areas of the range they use, and provision of natural or man-made shelters can increase both range access and range distribution. Hens spend most of their time foraging while outdoors, but the types and frequencies of behaviours vary depending on the resources available and other factors. Range access can be linked to health benefits such as improved plumage condition and reduced footpad dermatitis but there are also health risks associated with free-range systems such as greater susceptibility to disease (e.g. spotty liver disease), heat stress, predation, and potentially parasites in comparison to loose or cage housing systems. Design of the range area, indoor shed, management practices and rearing environments can all influence how hens utilise free-range housing systems. Further research is crucially needed on the impact of ranging on hen welfare in variable Australian climatic conditions, encompassing intense heat and sunlight as well as cooler or wet environments.

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Section: Design Of Indoor Shed Management Practices and Rearing Envimentioning

confidence: 99%

Free-range egg production: its implications for hen welfare

2020

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“…Birds may only use certain areas of the range, use varies throughout the flock cycle (Pettersson et al., 2016), and fearful birds may be hesitant to venture outside at all (Hartcher et al., 2016; Campbell et al., 2016b). Access to the range can also be inconsistent when birds are kept indoors during inclement weather which can cause stress in the birds (Campbell et al., 2018b) and increase feather pecking (Bestman et al., 2017). Conversely, daily access to the range and a high proportion of birds using the range during lay reduces the occurrence of feather pecking on a flock level (Bestman et al., 2017; Jung and Knierim, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Access to the range can also be inconsistent when birds are kept indoors during inclement weather which can cause stress in the birds (Campbell et al., 2018b) and increase feather pecking (Bestman et al., 2017). Conversely, daily access to the range and a high proportion of birds using the range during lay reduces the occurrence of feather pecking on a flock level (Bestman et al., 2017; Jung and Knierim, 2018). The rearing period can thus be critical for best preparing birds for successful outdoor access and adaptation to environmental variation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of environmental enrichment for laying hens during rearing in relation to their behavioral and physiological development

2019

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Globally, laying hen production systems are a focus of concern for animal welfare. Recently, the impacts of rearing environments have attracted attention, particularly with the trend toward more complex production systems including aviaries, furnished cages, barn, and free-range. Enriching the rearing environments with physical, sensory, and stimulatory additions can optimize the bird's development but commercial-scale research is limited. In this review, "enrichment" is defined as anything additional added to the bird's environment including structurally complex rearing systems. The impacts of enrichments on visual development, neurobehavioral development, auditory stimulation, skeletal development, immune function, behavioral development of fear and pecking, and specifically pullets destined for free-range systems are summarized and areas for future research identified. Visual enrichment and auditory stimulation may enhance neural development but specific mechanisms of impact and suitable commercial enrichments still need elucidating. Enrichments that target left/right brain hemispheres/behavioral traits may prepare birds for specific types of adult housing environments (caged, indoor, outdoor). Similarly, structural enrichments are needed to optimize skeletal development depending on the adult layer system, but specific physiological processes resulting from different types of exercise are poorly understood. Stimulating appropriate pecking behavior from hatch is critical but producers will need to adapt to different flock preferences to provide enrichments that are utilized by each rearing group. Enrichments have potential to enhance immune function through the application of mild stressors that promote adaptability, and this same principle applies to free-range pullets destined for variable outdoor environments. Complex rearing systems may have multiple benefits, including reducing fear, that improve the transition to the layer facility. Overall, there is a need to commercially validate positive impacts of cost-effective enrichments on bird behavior and physiology.

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“…In comparison with aviary systems with high stocking density, the increased space allowance and free-range access in organic egg production are meant to improve the welfare of laying hens by providing them possibilities to express their species-specific behaviour. This can result in a lower incidence of maladaptive behaviours like feather pecking and cannibalism, if the hens use the outdoor area, as reported in different studies (Bestman et al 2017;Jung et al 2019). The understanding of injurious pecking, however, still needs to be improved in order to fully prevent the problem.…”

Section: Behavioural Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health and welfare in organic livestock production systems—a systematic mapping of current knowledge

et al. 2020

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This review aimed to systematically map and summarize the status of animal health and welfare in organic production. The prevalence of diseases and behavioural effects in organic dairy cow, beef cattle, sheep, pig, laying hen and broiler chicken were discussed in the context of the organic values and current knowledge on animal health and welfare. In total 166 peer-reviewed scientific publications between 2008 and 2020 were included. No strong evidence for neither inferior nor distinctly higher animal welfare in organic compared with conventional production could be supported. The welfare status of organic livestock is in general good in relation to the OIE definition of animal health and welfare. However, organic systems are still facing several challenges related to animal health and the arising of goal conflicts due to management and practical implications. Greater possibilities to perform species-specific behaviours in organic production systems, however, indicate that the organic standards offer a good framework for high animal welfare management. For organic dairy farmers, the main health problems are similar to those of non-organic farms; especially mastitis and lameness need improvement. Parasites, together with mastitis and lamb mortality, are important welfare issues in organic sheep production. Piglet mortality, leg problems, parasite load and increasing respiratory problems are of major relevance in organic pig production. For organic laying hens, major health challenges relate to feather pecking and cannibalism, parasites and possibilities to express species-specific behaviours. For organic broilers, dermatitis of footpads, hocks and breast are reported as main health issues.

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Feather-pecking and injurious pecking in organic laying hens in 107 flocks from eight European countries

Cited by 26 publications

References 26 publications

Free-range egg production: its implications for hen welfare

Free-range egg production: its implications for hen welfare

A review of environmental enrichment for laying hens during rearing in relation to their behavioral and physiological development

Health and welfare in organic livestock production systems—a systematic mapping of current knowledge

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