This post includes the following sections:
mortality
beak trimming
economics
Further reading (by language)
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Mortality
Mortality due to injurious pecking in furnished cages can be lower, on average, than in non-cage systems. Figures from the UK indicate that it is around 5.0 – 8.7% (or 65% of total mortality). In non-cage systems there is much more variation and the total mortality can increase up to 20-30%, of which 6-26% can be due to cannibalism, although the average figure is much lower.
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Beak trimming
Beak trimming is used to prevent the very worst effects of injurious pecking (i.e. cannibalism) but it does not tackle the underlying causes of injurious pecking, nor does it fully eliminate the risk of feather pecking. Beak trimming is a mutilation, amputating the sensitive tip of the beak of the birds. Beak trimming therefore is painful to the birds, even if it is done at young age with an Infra Red beam. Ideally, from the point of view of animal welfare, the environment and management should be arranged to ensure and safeguard bird welfare. In fact, mutilations adapt birds to a suboptimal environment, which is not the preferred way to keep animals.
According to Council Regulation 834/2007 beak trimming is not allowed for organic production in Europe. Some countries have banned beak trimming for all production systems.
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Economics
Injurious pecking is a serious problem both in commercial flocks with intact beaks and in those with trimmed beaks. In Switzerland about 1/3 of the farmers take measures to prevent feather pecking. In the UK, 47% of the farmers indicated that feather pecking is a normal occurrence, despite beak treatments. Researchers found that at least 65% of the flocks in the laying period have signs of severe feather pecking, despite beak treatments. This inevitably leads to a reduction in feather cover and increases (up to 40% or more) in feed intake. Increased feed costs and mortality result in serious economic losses due to feather pecking.
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Further reading
SPECIFIC
Scientific
GENERAL
English
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| FeatherWel management guide [pdf, 5.49mb] | AssureWel advice guide [pdf, 661kb] |
- A guide to the practical management of feather pecking and cannibalism in free range laying hens. Defra, 2005 (html)
- Animal welfare on organic farms. Fact sheet series reducing the risk of feather pecking for laying hens in organic egg production. Produced in consultation with the ECOA Animal Welfare Task Force, February 2009
- Controlling feather pecking & cannibalism in laying hens without beak trimming. Pickett H., July 2008 Compassion in World Farming
- Controlling feather pecking & cannibalism in laying hens without beak trimming. Pickett H., October 2009. Compassion in World Farming. This report reviews the evidence from the scientific literature and from practical experience.
- Feather pecking and cannibalism on OrganicVet.Co.UK
Nederlands
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| Noodmaatregelen tegen pikkerij [Treatment of FP]. Van Niekerk et al. 2013 (Report, 32 pp). | Van kuiken tot kip [Prevention of FP]. Van Niekerk et al.2011 (Report, 32 pp). |
- Literatuurstudie ingrepen bij pluimvee [Literature study mutilations poultry]. Fiks, T.G.C.M. ; Jong, I.C. de; Veldkamp, T. ; Emous, R.A. van; Middelkoop, J.H. van. Animal Sciences Group / Wageningen UR, 2006 (PraktijkRapport Pluimvee 19) – p. 92
Dansk
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| Fjerpilningsnøgle [Feather pecking key]. Johansen, N.F. 2013 (Report, 48 pp). |
- Fjerpilning og fjerpilningsnøgle, Johansen, N.F. 2013 (webpage).