The prevalence of feather pecking and development in commercial flocks of laying hens

Huber-Eicher, B.; Sebö, F

doi:10.1016/s0168-1591(01)00173-3

Cited by 74 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Ambrosen and Petersen (1997) observed that most mortalities were related to cannibalism in 4 white and 3 brown layer genotypes. Pavan et al (2005) showed that mortality rates were not affected in ISA Brown hens kept in cages having 563, 450 and 375 cm 2 space allowance per hen, agreeing with the results of other studies in brown layers (Süto et al, 1997;Nicol et al, 1999;Huber-Eicher and Sebö, 2001;Guesdon et al, 2006;Wezyk et al, 2006).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

“…A decrease in floor densities causes a reduction in egg production (EP), egg weight (EW) and feed intake (FI), an increase in mortality and feather pecking with poorer plumage scores (Bell, 1981;Roush et al, 1984;Anderson et al, 1989;Sandoval et al, 1991;Hester et al, 1996;Huber-Eicher and Sebö, 2001;Anderson et al, 2004;Onbasilar and Aksoy, 2005;Tauson, 2005;Jalal et al, 2006;Nahashon et al, 2006;Nicol et al, 2006). However, there is still a need to carry out further studies regarding egg production, egg quality, lower mortality and plumage damage of layers, as responses to reduced cage densities.…”

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confidence: 99%

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The effects of space allowance on egg yield, egg quality and plumage condition of laying hens in battery cages

Sarıca¹,

Boga²,

Yamak³

2008

CZECH J ANIM SCI

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This study was conducted to investigate the effects of cage stocking density on egg yield, some egg quality traits and plumage condition in laying hens. Eighteen weeks-old 264 ISA-Brown pullets were divided into four cage density groups. The densities were 2 000, 1 000, 667 and 500 cm 2 per hen (by allocating 1, 2, 3 and 4 hens per cage; floor area 40 × 50 cm) with 48, 30, 24 and 21 replicate cages, totally 123 three-tier battery cages. During the experimental period from 18 to 53 weeks of age, all birds were provided illumination for 16 hours a day. The hens were fed a diet containing 11.7 MJ ME/kg and 180 g CP during the period of 18 to 40 weeks of age and 11.3 MJ ME/kg and 170 g CP during the period of 41 to 54 weeks of age. Feed and water were available for ad libitum. Egg yield, mortality, live weights at 50% egg production age and at the end of experiment, pecking related mortalities, some egg quality traits and plumage condition were recorded weekly. Hen-housed egg production, egg mass, viability, and live weights were significantly decreased by higher densities. Most of the egg quality traits were not affected by cage densities. Pecking related mortalities increased in cage densities of 667 cm 2 and 500 cm 2 per hen compared to the other densities (P < 0.05) while plumage scores were higher in all body parts of hens kept in cages of 2 000 cm 2 and 1 000 cm 2 densities compared to the higher densities. The results showed that brown laying hens should be kept in cages having 1 000-2 000 cm 2 densities in order to improve their welfare and performance.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of space allowance on egg yield, egg quality and plumage condition of laying hens in battery cages

Sarıca¹,

Boga²,

Yamak³

2008

CZECH J ANIM SCI

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“…Causative factors that lead to feather picking in ducks are not known; however, there appears to be a seasonal component similar to the occurrence of feather picking in galliforms (Huber-Eicher and Sebö, 2001). During the spring and fall seasons when weather is changing from cold to warm and warm to cold, respectively, ducks have been observed to increase the amount of picking aimed at themselves and others (Huber-Eicher and Sebö, 2001).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of environmental enrichment devices on feather picking in commercially housed Pekin ducks

Colton

Fraley

2014

Poultry Science

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Like other poultry species, Pekin ducks occasionally show an auto-mutilation behavior referred to as feather picking. Self-picking can lead to further pecking by conspecifics and ultimately to reduced feather quality and poor overall health of the bird. Although the reasons underlying feather picking are not clear, it appears to occur when the ducks are transitioning between downy feathers and adult plumage, between 17 and 22 d of age. We hypothesized that giving Pekin ducks a substitute outlet for this behavior in the form of environmental enrichment devices (EED) would decrease feather picking and improve feather quality and duck health and welfare. The EED were plastic Wifflestyle balls, each threaded with 4 zip-ties. In the first experiment, we set out to determine that placement of EED would not induce fear or harmful behaviors. Five barns were each divided into 2 pens, holding an average combined total of approximately 4,500 ducks with one pen per barn used as control. Upon placement of the EED in one pen per barn, both pens were videotaped for a total of 2 h per day. The physical characteristics of 100 ducks per pen were scored at age 7, 21, 28, and 35. Results showed a decrease (P = 0.034) in both selfpicking and conspecific-pecking in pens with EED compared with pens without EED. Although no differences in body condition scores were observed at 7 d of age, by d 21 ducks with EED showed better (P = 0.021) feather quality and cleanliness scores compared with ducks without EED. In a second experiment, we set out to determine if ducks had a color preference for blue/green, red, or white EED. Again, ducks with EED showed reduced (P = 0.038) feather picking compared with ducks without EED. Ducks interacted considerably more (P = 0.00089) frequently with blue/green EED then either red or white EED. These results suggest that providing environmental enrichment may minimize feather picking and improve feather quality and duck welfare.

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“…Feather pecking is still one of the main welfare issues encountered in commercial egg production (Huber-Eicher and Sebö, 2001;Lambton et al, 2015). Feather pecking can have several reasons, among them feed composition, in particular inappropriate amino acid supply (Kjaer and Bessei, 2013;Van Krimpen et al, 2005).…”

Section: Health and Welfare Parameters Of Layersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Replacement of soybean cake by Hermetia illucens meal in diets for layers

Maurer

Holinger

Amsler

et al. 2016

JIFF

136

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Insects will likely play an important role as protein sources for livestock in the future. Many insect species are able to convert materials not suitable for human nutrition -or even waste -into valuable protein with a favourable amino acid composition for poultry and other livestock. A feeding trial with partly de-fatted meal of dried Hermetia illucens larvae (Hermetia meal) reared on vegetarian by-products of the pasta and convenience food industry was carried out in small groups of Lohmann Selected Leghorn laying hens (four rounds, 10 hens/round). Experimental diets H12 and H24 contained 12 and 24 g/100 g Hermetia meal replacing 50 or 100% of soybean cake used in the control feed, respectively. After three weeks of feeding experimental diets, there were no significant differences between feeding groups with regard to performance (egg production, feed intake). There was a tendency (P=0.06) for lower albumen weight in the H24 group; yolk and shell weights did not differ. No mortality and no sign of health disorders occurred. Plumage as well as wound scores remained stable during the feeding period and did not differ between treatments. Dry matter of faeces increased with increasing proportions of Hermetia meal in the diet, with a significant difference between H24 and the control (P=0.03). An increase of black faecal pads was observed in the H12 and H24 groups. Overall, these results suggest Hermetia meal can be a valuable component of layer diets. However, insect meal production still has to become economically more viable through upscaling production and, especially, legislative issues have to be solved.

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The prevalence of feather pecking and development in commercial flocks of laying hens

Cited by 74 publications

References 15 publications

The effects of space allowance on egg yield, egg quality and plumage condition of laying hens in battery cages

The effects of space allowance on egg yield, egg quality and plumage condition of laying hens in battery cages

The effects of environmental enrichment devices on feather picking in commercially housed Pekin ducks

Replacement of soybean cake by Hermetia illucens meal in diets for layers

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