Development of feather pecking in relation to light intensity

Kjaer, Joergen; Vestergaard, K.

doi:10.1016/s0168-1591(98)00217-2

Cited by 146 publications

(91 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…It may also be speculated that the basic behavior is the same in EFP birds and the remaining sub-group, but EFP birds may be more sensitive to specific enhancing physiological or environmental factors. Monoamines (van Hierden et al, 2002;Kops, 2014), glucocorticoids (Kjaer and Guémené, 2009) and high light intensity (Kjaer and Vestergaard, 1999) have been reported to influence SFP. The occurrence of EFP birds may also be the result of the co-occurrence of SFP with other facilitating behaviors.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The presence of extreme feather peckers in groups of laying hens

Piepho

Lutz

Kjaer

et al. 2017

Animal

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Feather pecking is a serious economic and welfare problem in laying hens. Feather damage occurs mainly through severe feather pecking (SFP). Selection experiments have proved that this behavior is heritable and lines have been divergently selected for high (HFP) and low feather pecking (LFP). The number of bouts of SFP per hen follows a Poisson distribution with a maximum nearby 0. A few studies indicate that the distribution within flocks is not homogenous but contains sub-groups of birds showing extremely high levels of feather pecking (EFP). It was the aim of the current study to re-analyze data on SFP of lines selected for HFP/LFP and their F2 cross so as to uncover hidden sub-populations of EFP birds. Data of seven selection generations of HFP and LFP selection lines as well as their F2 cross have been used. We fitted a two-component mixture of Poisson distributions in order to separate the sub-group of EFP from the remaining birds. HFP and LFP lines differed mainly in mean bouts per bird. The proportion of EFP was only marginal in the LFP as compared with the HFP and the F2 population. Selection for LFP did not result in total elimination of EFP. The presence of even small proportions of EFP may play an important role in initiating outbreaks of feather pecking in large flocks. Further studies on feather pecking should pay special attention to the occurrence of EFP sub-groups.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The presence of extreme feather peckers in groups of laying hens

Piepho

Lutz

Kjaer

et al. 2017

Animal

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“…Effects of low and bright light intensities on animal welfare had been examined. A few studies have shown that low intensity light, as compared to bright light, can reduce cannibalism and feather pecking and has been used in commercial operations (Kjaer and Vestergaard, 1999). At the same time, some studies showed that birds reared in low light intensity at 0.5 or 1 lux resulted in heavier and larger eyes (Deep et al, 2010).…”

Section: Daily Time Spentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The recommended light intensity for commercial hen houses is 20 to 30 lux during laying period (Hy-Line, 2015). Some studies have reported that lower light intensity could reduce the incidence of cannibalism and feather pecking for layers (Kjaer and Vestergaard, 1999). However, improper low light intensity (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of lighting needs by W-36 laying hens via preference test

Xin

Zhao

et al. 2016

animal

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Light intensity, spectrum and pattern may affect laying hen behaviors and production performance. However, requirements of these lighting parameters from the hens' standpoint are not fully understood. This study was conducted to investigate hens' needs for light intensity and circadian rhythm using a light tunnel with five identical compartments each at a different fluorescent light intensity of <1, 5, 15, 30 or 100 lux. The hens were able to move freely among the respective compartments. A group of four W-36 laying hens (23 to 30 weeks of age) were tested each time, and six groups or replicates were conducted. Behaviors of the hens were continuously recorded, yielding data on daily time spent, daily feed intake, daily feeding time, and eggs laid under each light intensity and daily inter-compartment movement. The results show that the hens generally spent more time in lower light intensities. Specifically, the hens spent 6.4 h (45.4%) at 5 lux, 3.0 h (22.1%) at 15 lux, 3.1 h (22.2%) at 30 lux and 1.5 h (10.3%) at 100 lux under light condition; and an accumulation of 10.0 h in darkness (<1 lux) per day. The 10-h dark period was distributed intermittently throughout the day, averaging 25.0 ± 0.4 min per hour. This hourly light-dark rhythm differs from the typical commercial practice of providing continuous dark period for certain part of the day (e.g. 8 h at night). Distributions of daily feed intake (87.3 g/hen) among the different light conditions mirrored the trend of time spent in the respective light intensity, that is, highest at 5 lux (28.4 g/hen, 32.5% daily total) and lowest at 100 lux (5.8 g/hen, 6.7%). Hen-day egg production rate was 96.0%. Most of the eggs were laid in <1 lux (61.9% of total) which was significantly higher than under other light intensities ( P < 0.05). Findings from this study offer insights into preference of fluorescent light intensity by the laying hens. Further studies to assess or verify welfare and performance responses of the hens to the preferred lighting conditions and rhythm over extended periods are recommended.

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“…Severe feather pecking may have a less clear stereotypic nature. The number of severe pecks per bout is rather low compared to gentle feather pecking, as its performance often evokes a flight reaction of the peckee [23]. It can, however, be described as abnormal behavior with repetitive c.q.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Stereotypies are generally defined as unvarying, repetitive behavior patterns that have no obvious goal or function [33]. It has been suggested that gentle feather pecking (usually performed in long bouts) has stereotypic characteristics [23], as its motor patterns closely resemble drug-induced stereotypic pecking in chickens [3]. Severe feather pecking may have a less clear stereotypic nature.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adrenocortical reactivity and central serotonin and dopamine turnover in young chicks from a high and low feather-pecking line of laying hens

Hierden

Korte

Ruesink

et al. 2002

Physiology & Behavior

112

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Adrenocortical reactivity and central serotonin and dopamine turnover in young chicks from a high and low feather-pecking line of laying hens van Hierden, YM; Korte, SM; Ruesink, EW; van Reenen, CG; Engel, B; Korte-Bouws, GAH; Koolhaas, JM; Blokhuis, HJ Take-down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim.Downloaded from the University of Groningen/UMCG research database (Pure): http://www.rug.nl/research/portal. For technical reasons the number of authors shown on this cover page is limited to 10 maximum. AbstractFeather pecking in domestic fowl is a behavioral abnormality that consists of mild or injurious pecking at feathers of conspecifics. Previously, it was shown that chicks from a high feather-pecking (HFP) and low feather-pecking (LFP) line of laying hens already differ in their propensity to feather peck at 14 and 28 days of age. As a first step in investigating a possible relationship between the development of feather pecking and physiological and neurobiological characteristics of laying hens, two subsequent experiments were carried out. Firstly, we investigated the development of adrenocortical (re)activity in HFP and LFP chicks during the first 8 weeks of life. Secondly, we studied dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) turnover in the brain of 28-day-old HFP and LFP chicks. In both experiments, chicks were exposed to manual restraint (placing the chicks on its side for 5 min). Plasma corticosterone levels were lower (baseline on Days 3 and 56; restraintinduced on Days 3, 14 and 28) in HFP chicks. Both brain DA and 5-HT turnover were lower in the HFP chicks, as well. Possible consequences for the observed differences in (stress) physiology and neurobiology between the two lines in relation to the feather pecking are discussed. D

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Development of feather pecking in relation to light intensity

Cited by 146 publications

References 22 publications

The presence of extreme feather peckers in groups of laying hens

The presence of extreme feather peckers in groups of laying hens

Assessment of lighting needs by W-36 laying hens via preference test

Adrenocortical reactivity and central serotonin and dopamine turnover in young chicks from a high and low feather-pecking line of laying hens

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