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Poultry behavior
Knowledge of the behaviour of the stock and the application of that knowledge in the care of the stock plays an important part in the maximisation of production efficiency of a poultry production enterprise. In addition, the management of the domestic fowl has received considerable attention over recent years from the community, particularly animal liberation groups, because of the way that commercial poultry management systems have intensified. As a consequence, the study of poultry behaviour is important to the unit manager, not only to ensure that the welfare of the birds and production efficiency are maintained but also to minimise the influence of what is often uninformed debate. Behaviour is the way that animals respond to the different stimuli they encounter in their environment. The stimuli may be from other birds, their environment, people or any other thing or occurrence. Aggression and feather pecking or plucking are the two most common behavioral problems in chickens.
1. Introduction Welfare assessment in animals has increasingly emphasized the need for objective, non-invasive measures that reliably reflect physiological and psychological states [1–4]. In this context, pupillometry (the measurement of pupil dynamics) has gained traction as a valuable tool, particularly in human psychological and neurological research [5,6]. The pupil’s diameter is known to change in response to a variety of internal and external stimuli, including...
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An observational study conducted on three commercial layer farms showed that environmental enrichment increases number of birds on the range (see Dekoning et al. in this APSS Proceedings). In the same study, we aimed to determine if plumage damage score is different between birds found inside versus outside sheds. The farms were stocked with HyLine Brown flocks (all beak-trimmed); Farm-1 & Farm-3 had one shed each and Farm-2 had two sheds (all 3 farms & four flocks with a fixed...
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Feather pecking is synonymous with economic and major welfare problems in the poultry industry and is positively associated with feather ingestion. In a choice-feeding experiment, laying hens showed a stronger preference for unwashed compared to washed feathers (McKeegan and Savory, 2001). The attraction toward unwashed feathers could be related to the preen oil produced by the uropygial glands located dorsally at the base of the tail. Preen oil covers the feathers during the process of...
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As the global egg industry moves steadily toward cage-free production, ensuring a successful transition from rearing to laying is more critical than ever. Hy-Line pullets raised in environments that prepare them for the complexities of cage-free layer systems are far more likely to meet their full genetic...
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1. Introduction Aggressive behavior of roosters toward hens are rare in natural environments, where the two sexes form separate social hierarchies and male dominance is expressed in a passive manner [1–3]. However, it has been observed that males from broiler parental lines exhibit a high frequency of aggression toward females, especially during the display of sexual behavior [4–13]. This pattern of mating-related aggression has also been observed in slow-growing broiler...
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The ancestor of the modern-day chicken, the red jungle fowl, was exposed to different spectra of light in their natural habitat (Prescott et al., 2003). The surrounding environment, vegetation, season, and time of day all affect the color of light exposure to the wild bird (Endler, 1993), which may have lingering behavioral...
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Heat stress is a huge problem in farm animals, as their welfare and performance can be negatively affected by extreme environmental conditions. When animals are exposed to very high or low temperatures outside their comfort range, they might experience heat stress. This can bring about various unfavorable consequences, such as decreased food intake, reduced zootechnical performance, alterations in the immune system, and increased susceptibility to diseases. Mechanisms through which...
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Walking on eggshells - assessing anxiety in chickens Extension collaborative for the poultry industry -Attention bias...
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About 128,000 laying hens don’t lie: the nutritional value of DL-methionine hydroxy analogue is 65 % that of MetAMINO®
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Introduction Animal welfare pertains to the quality of life of an animal, denoting the cumulative positive and negative experiences of an animal 1 . The welfare of farmed animals impacts their development and productivity, shaping both...
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Enrichment is the process of improving the environment of an animal, to meet their behavioral needs and ultimately improve their welfare. Enrichment helps to reduce stress and improve welfare by providing physical and mental stimulation, encouraging highly-motivated species specific behaviors, allowing the animal more control over their...
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Mycotoxin detection: VICAM builds a stronger and more sustainable future for food
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This issue will cover: -What are behavioral needs? -What is dustbathing? -Dustbathing in commercial housing systems Substrate...
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In this issue: Introduction to the gut microbiome The function of prominent bacterial phyla Introduction to the gut-brain axis How microbial imbalance affects poultry welfare Practical strategies to improve the gut health of poultry What is the gut...
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Each summer, soaring temperatures present a significant challenge for the poultry industry worldwide. Poultry are particularly vulnerable to heat stress due to their limited ability to regulate body temperature, making them highly susceptible to environmental heat. While the immediate...
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Naturally brooded domestic chicks spend a large proportion of time resting under and gaining warmth from their mother, spending multiple short bouts in relative darkness (Shimmura et al., 2010). In contrast, during rearing, commercial chicks experience one continuous light period each day. In this situation, behaviours become unsynchronised, with the potential for active chicks to disturb and direct feather pecks towards resting conspecifics (Riber et al., 2007; Gilani et al., 2012)....
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Lilong Chai (University of Georgia) discusses advantages and issues of cage-free poultry houses regarding pecking behavior, egg production, and dust bathing, among other aspects, in this Engormix interview. ...
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Vent pecking is seen in 30 day old broiler birds in the farm refer as Cannibalism. Cannibalistic behavior performed by poultry is the pecking, tearing and consuming of skin, tissues, the case i met with birds have started pecking cloaca l region in some case intestine it is to harsh that intestinal loop drop outside through wound. However, this problem has been a consistent problem in layers but can also be encountered in broilers as i do. The I.B.D has been...
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I have 4700 layer birds of 30 weeks there are daily 5 to 6 mortality occur due to vent picking in laying time any one who treat this problem, thanks. ...
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1. Introduction Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) is an economically concerning disease in the poultry industry. This highly contagious disease is caused by Gallidalphaherpes virus type1 (GaHV 1), commonly known as infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) [1]. ILT is characterized by severe dyspnea, cough, and rales, while the sub-acute form is characterized by nasal and ocular discharge, tracheitis, conjunctivitis, and mild rales [2]. Chickens of all ages are prone to...
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Prices Hold, Pressures Build: What’s Moving the Veterinary API Market
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1. Introduction The laying hen industry in the United States consists of approximately 330–340 million laying hens [1] that must first go through the growing phase known as the pullet phase. The pullet phase accounts for approximately 25% of a laying hen’s lifetime [2] and encompasses approximately 0–16 weeks of age (WOA). During this time, the pullet reaches sexual maturity and grows to its full skeletal capacity. Early experiences during the pullet phase,...
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1. Introduction Ensuring efficient chicken farming is crucial, including prioritizing their welfare and health in agricultural production [1]. Individual variability in behavior enhances our understanding of how housing can be utilized differently by chickens. This may be due to individual preferences for certain types of equipment or impediments to access caused by dominant individuals [2]. This variability underscores the importance of improving accurate identification systems for...
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