Article published the December 4, 2024
I. INTRODUCTIONSevere feather pecking (SFP) is an abnormal behaviour which reduces both hen welfare and the efficiency of egg production. While the specific causes are unknown, it is acknowledged to be multifactorial, complex and unpredictable (Rodenburg et al., 2013; Hartcher et al., 2016). The problem is compounded because the behaviour seems to spread rapidly via social learning (Zeltner et al. ...
Article published the March 8, 2015
I. INTRODUCTION Calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) are essential minerals for many biological processes and skeletal health, however, they have a complex interactive relationship. Phytate is the naturally occurring storage form of P in plants, with the main storage site of phytate-P being seeds (Tamim et al., 2004). As poultry diets are comprised mainly of seed based ingredients, there is a considera ...
Article published the June 20, 2014
I. INTRODUCTION Calcium (Ca) is an essential nutrient for poultry for biological processes such as bone development and egg shell formation (De Vries et al., 2010). Laying hens must be provided with Ca at approximately 4% of the total feed volume. Very little Ca is provided within the cereal grain component of the diet, therefore diets must be supplemented with sources of Ca. Dietary Ca is provide ...
Article published the August 11, 2009
Summary We previously found that only 66% of hens in cages with a nest box became ‘consistent’ nest-box layers, that is laying at least 80% of their eggs in the nest box. To begin to understand how social factors might limit nest box use in ‘modern’ cages, we housed birds either singly or in groups of eight and recorded the incidence of nest box and floor eggs. The proporti ...
This member had joined Engormix
August 7, 2009