Some observations on the development of feather pecking in poultry (1984)

Blokhuis, H. J., Arkes, J. G.

Abstract

Feather pecking occurs much more often when chicken are kept on wire floor rather then litter which allows the hens to peck up additional food particles. It is argued that feather pecking in the absence of a suitable litter substrate is a misdirected food-pecking.