How to get rid of vent picking problem in layers?
Published: August 3, 2013
By: Bibek Bandhu Regmi
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Alimentos CCR
5 de agosto de 2013
Bibek:
There is some information that is missing in your commentaries which is important to attempt to diagnose your situation: 1. What genetics are your layers? 2. When (age) does the vent picking problema begins? What is the mortality rate you are experiencing in the flock? 3. How are you distributing the daily feed in time ? What is the physical form of feed and daily intake (gr/b/day) 4. What is the flocks body weight? 5. What is the mortality body weight? Are dying birds extremely apart fromo average body weight? Very light or very heavy? 5. Do you beak trim ? 6. Have you weighed eggs to determine how do they comprae to the genetics guide? 7. Are there any other noticeable characteristics of the flock: body fat, (have you determined it?), is there layer fatigue or bone incompetence? 8. What is the number of birds per drinking and feed source? In my opinión You really dont need a luxometer to measure light intensity. Light is problem when it is very intense or birds receive direct sunlight or (most probable) its very fluctuating. Birds do not need or respond (in production, yes, in behavior) from 1 to 5 luxes. Light intensity is sufficient when you can read a newspaper print without aid. If you could add up this info, perhaps answers (or attempts to) would be comming your way. Vent pecking, in addition to all these variables and the ones you mentioned can become a learned behavior.
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5 de agosto de 2013
Dear BIBEK,
As mention above,Genetics of Layers must considered in this matter
You also note birds behavior on feeding,anything deviate from normal elaborate something to you.
Also feeder er place at birds level so birds can can blunt there beaks by using them against feeder er
You can use lux meter for light measurement as well
This is very common practice in our region as well.Share some good material
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5 de agosto de 2013
vent pecking during rearing could be totally eleminated through double debeaking,but if pecking exacerbated during production please recheck the following :-
1- egg weight.
2- bird weight.
3- the weight of the birds during the onset of laying.
4- the weight of the abdominal fat compared to bird weight.
5- and finally the quantity of feed per bird per day.
my advice to you brother try to reduce the feed to certain level without affecting production and double the choline containt in the ration.
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Anthem Cellutions Pvt Ltd
6 de agosto de 2013
Apart from all the measures provided by my fellow members, it should also be in noticed that the behaviour of vent picking spreads like a contagious disease. Also Blood makes the bird attract and encourage the behaviour. Immediate isolation is recommended, once such behaviour or blood or protrusion etc. are observed in the herd.White birds are more susceptible.
Control is the best way to minimize this vice and also debeaking at proper age is recommended.
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Alimentos CCR
6 de agosto de 2013
Berek:
What really disturbs me from your comments is the mention that vent pecking starts at 4 weeks of age. I personally have never seen it happen so early in life. Its hard to comemmnto not knowing the genetics, since some genetics are certainly mucho more prone to vent peck than others. In any case, the apperanece of vent pecking so early suggests an issue with feed quality or with managemnat and housing and as mentioned once it starts it is difficult to top as birds learn this behaviour.
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6 de agosto de 2013
check body weight as per genetics given by the breeders
correct de-beaking procedure
formulated ration
not necessary to add too much of additives /amino-acids (cost effectiveness is very important)
floor space you have mentioned during laying but what about during chick / grower sheds?
lighting during chick period(0-8 weeks) is it step down properly or suddenly discontinued at any age?
brooding the day old chicks properly?
in general follow the details provided by your chick company
housing (floor space in each chick/grower/laying stage)
brooding
lighting
growing
nutritional allowances as required
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Agrarian Systems
7 de agosto de 2013
This behavior is common here in Africa.But depending on the age and space as mentioned. Feeds quality and management contributes big in this vice but in laying flocks we also found out that inadequate laying nests is the other factor. the design, type,space and position of the nests contributes to the behavior.
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7 de agosto de 2013
Berek
I have noticed cannabalism in first week of age and in that case light intensity was more than 3 time the requirement. The problem dramatically ended within hours of decreasing light.
Bibek
The measures you have mentioned above are the things that we do mostly and most of the time they are right. If you have Lohman breed,then the problem is totally feed quality. If other then
1. space per bird
2. amount of fat per bird
3. breed character.
the most important, I think, is the third one.
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Guybro Chemical
3 de octubre de 2013
Dear Bibek,
Vent pecking or cloacae cannibalism is most often found in layers birds and also seen in broilers flocks. There are many causes for this behavioral problem. As we all are aware that it may be caused by dietary insufficiency such as salt, vitamins, or amino acids (protein components). Other factors include stresses such as feed deprivation, over-crowding, over-heating, inadequate ventilation and bright lighting.
Most of the preventive measures you have already followed & all other learned forum members have also suggested their opinion. However, one major probability for this behavioral problem in deep litter system would be due to litter pest known as Darkling beetles/Lesser Mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus) and the Hide Beetle (Dermestes maculates). Some cases have been found contributing to vent pecking due to these pests as they are nocturnal in nature and may bite birds & damage skin of birds which may attract birds towards vent pecking behavior.
Often it is only a few hens, which are doing most of the damage. However, it is difficult to break birds of the habit and it is best to cull those that begin pecking & injured one. To distract the culprit one you may spread some red coloured paper ½” to 1” squire pieces in litter.
How to find the cull?
Observe your hens and try to identify such hens.
The presence of blood spot or reddish skin on the vent often helps in identifying them.
Treat your deep litter with a little conditioner to reduce litter pests. Do correction of dietary ration & management improvement if necessary so that you could raise your layers flock without this problem.
Best wishes !
G.K.Dahal
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VET.HABERTS:
The best way is to control in early stages by:
-proper beak trimming. Use standard electric debeakers.
-supplement your birds on phytobiotics and minerals.
-follow a standard lighting programme. Avoid deviations of light.
-understand breed characteristics before stocking.
And lastly thank GOD before venturing into any bussines to reduce on risks and reward him upon prosperity.
THANK YOU
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