Abnormal/Problematic Behavior

The effect of rearing environment on feather pecking in young and adult laying hens

Although the rearing period has an important influence on the development of feather pecking in laying hens, few studies have quantified the risk factors operating on commercial farms during this time and identified their long-term impact. Our aim was to...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Husbandry & Management, Natural Behavior, Rearing & WeaningAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Gilani, A.-M., Knowles, T. G., Nicol, C. J. 2013. The effect of rearing environment on feather pecking in young and adult laying hens. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 148(1), 54–63.

Feather pecking in non-beak-trimmed and beak-trimmed laying hens on commercial farms with aviaries

Severe feather pecking (SFP) is a major animal welfare problem in layers. It results in pain and injuries in the affected animal. SFP is a behavioral disorder and should not be confused with aggressive pecking. The aim of our study...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Body Modification/Mutilation, Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & Management, Stocking DensityAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Schwarzer, A., Plattner, C., Bergmann, S. et al. 2021. Feather pecking in non-beak-trimmed and beak-trimmed laying hens on commercial farms with aviaries. Animals 11(11).

Feather pecking and cannibalism in non-beak-trimmed laying hen flocks—Farmers’ perspectives

Pecking-related problems are common in intensive egg production, diminishing hen welfare and production performance, and negatively affecting sustainability. Beak trimming is a common practice to control these problems, but in Finland beak trimming is prohibited. Finnish egg producers have decades-long...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Body Modification/Mutilation, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Kaukonen, E., Valros, A. 2019. Feather pecking and cannibalism in non-beak-trimmed laying hen flocks—Farmers’ perspectives Animals 9(2).

Cause and prevention of injurious pecking in chickens

This collection features three peer-reviewed literature reviews on feather-pecking in poultry. The first chapter describes the three main forms of injurious pecking (IP) in poultry: tissue pecking (TP), aggressive pecking (AP) and feather-pecking (FP). It discusses the origin of severe...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Body Modification/Mutilation, Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: van Staaveren, N., Harlander, A. 2021. Cause and prevention of injurious pecking in chickens. In N. van Staaveren, A. Harlander, D. D. McKeegan, et al. (Eds.), Instant Insights: Feather-pecking in poultry. Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing.

Pain issues in poultry

This review highlights the possible pain experienced by layer and broiler poultry in modern husbandry conditions. Receptors which respond to noxous stimulation (nociceptors) have been identified and physiologically characterised in many different part of the body of the chicken including...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Body Modification/Mutilation, Emotion, Pain, & SentienceAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Gentle, M. J. 2011. Pain issues in poultry. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 135(3), 252–258.

Current methods and techniques of beak trimming laying hens, welfare issues and alternative approaches

Current methods and techniques of beak trimming laying hens, welfare issues and alternative approaches Beak trimming is used in the egg industry to prevent mortality from cannibalism and minimise injurious pecking, vent pecking, aggressive pecking at the head and all...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Body Modification/MutilationAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Glatz, P. C., Underwood, G. 2020. Current methods and techniques of beak trimming laying hens, welfare issues and alternative approaches. Animal Production Science, 61(10), 968–989.

Feather pecking and cannibalism

This well attended Workshop stimulated lively discussion that continued throughout the Conference. It addressed a behavioural problem in laying fowl that causes concern from both welfare and economic standpoints, particular in the context of the current trend towards alternative colony...

Year Published: 1995Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken, Fowl

Citation: Savory, C. J. 1995. Feather pecking and cannibalism. World’s Poultry Science Journal 51(2), 215–219.

The prevention and control of feather pecking in laying hens: identifying the underlying principles

The prevention and control of feather pecking in laying hens: Identifying the underlying principles Feather pecking (FP) in laying hens remains an important economic and welfare issue. This paper reviews the literature on causes of FP in laying hens. With...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Rodenburg, T. B., Van Krimpen, M. M., De Jong, I. C. et al. 2013. The prevention and control of feather pecking in laying hens: Identifying the underlying principles. World’s Poultry Science Journal, 69.

Effects of feeding corticosterone and housing conditions on feather pecking in laying hens (Gallus gallus domesticus)

Effects of feeding corticosterone and housing conditions on feather pecking in laying hens (Gallus gallus domesticus) Feather pecking (FP) and cannibalism in laying hens are disadvantageous to the well-being of the birds. We investigated whether stress could be proposed as...

Year Published: 2001Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: El-lethey, H., Jungi, T. W., Huber-Eicher, B. 2001. Effects of feeding corticosterone and housing conditions on feather pecking in laying hens (Gallus gallus domesticus). Physiology & Behavior 73(1), 243–251.

Comparison of changes in the plumage and body condition, egg production, and mortality of different non-beak-trimmed pure line laying hens during the egg-laying period

The spread of both alternative and non-cage laying hen housing systems and the more forceful European refusal of beak trimming generate new problems in commercial egg production. The hybrid layers, which have been genetically selected under cage housing conditions for...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Body Modification/MutilationAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Milisits, G., Szász, S., Donkó, T. et al. 2021. Comparison of changes in the plumage and body condition, egg production, and mortality of different non-beak-trimmed pure line laying hens during the egg-laying period. Animals, 11(2).