Cannibalism in Poultry Causes

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Anti-pick pastes. These can be used Hen specks or blinders. These can to curb cannibalism if just a few be applied for the prevention of birds are affected. A bitter tasting, cannibalism in laying hens. They are ummm blood-coJored preparation or pine attached to the nostrils and prevent tar daubed on the picked portion is » the birds from seeing straight ahead effective. There are several com- but apparently do not affect eating mercial preparations for this pur- or drinking. Specks should be ap- pose. If many birds are picked one plied to pullets before they start to In Poultry of the following methods should be lay. Several types are available and used. appear equally effective.

Debeaklng. This is the most prac- Pick-guards. This device, as the tical method to use with broilers. speck, is attached to the nostril and Debeaking is accomplished by extends over the end of the beak. cutting off the upper beak from It prevents the hen from picking Vz to '/a the distance between forward, but does not hinder her the tip and the nostrils. If less eating. Neither specks or pick- than Vi of the beak is cut off it guards are commonly used on will grow back within a few turkeys. months. If Va or more of the upper beak is cut off it will not grow 'back, but the lower beak usually grows longer. This makes i it difficult for the birds to eat scratch from the litter or to drink from shallow waterers. In this Turkey-bits. These consist of a piece case it is advisable to feed the of wire placed between the upper scratch on top of the mash or in and lower beak, held in place by troughs on the floor. Chicks or squeezing the blunt ends into the poults can be debeaked at any nostrils. The wire prevents the age. Any sharp cutting tool can beaks from closing tightly and in- be used to debeak poultry. An juring other turkeys, but apparently electric debeaker with a heated fS> does not affect eating or drinking. blade to cauterize the tissue is *> commonly used.

Extension Circular 589 May 1955 Dubbing. Large combs and wattles make attractive targets. Cutting off the combs and wattles of roosters Federal Cooperative Extension Service at an early age will cut down cannibalism in breeding flocks. This WM Oregon State College • Corvallis will also prevent fertility losses due Cooperative Extension work in Agriculture and Home Economics, to frozen combs. F. E. Price, director. Oregon State ColleKe and the United States Department of Agriculture cooperating. Printed and distributed in furtherance of Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. ■■■■■■■HaBHI Cannibalism In Poultry causes

Crowding. During the brooding pe- Nutritional deficiencies. Adding salt, V^ANNIBALISAA among chickens and turkeys- riod chicks and poults should have whole oats, or animal protein to a picking feathers, toes, vents, or other body 1 square foot of floor space per balanced ration may help to control bird. Allow 21/2 square feet per cannibalism, although this is not a parts—is a vice that develops in many flocks. bird for pullets raised in confine- sure control. Beak wiping on the Molested birds will be killed if cannibalism is ment, until they are put in the lay- feathers may lead to cannibalism in ing house where they should have not controlled. Even if few birds are actually turkeys. Equip turkey feeders with 3 square feet. a tightly stretched wire to enable killed there may be great economic losses, such Chickens need 1 inch of feeder birds to wipe feed from the beak. as lowered growth efficiency and market grades, space per chick the first 2 weeks; increasing to 3 inches or more after or reduced egg production. 7 weeks. For turkeys, provide 1 The exact factors or combination of factors inch per poult the-first 2 weeks Inadequate nesting facilities. Insuffi- and 3 inches thereafter. cient nesting space may cause hens causing cannibalism are not known but certain to lay eggs on the floor or to crowd feeding and management practices appear to up in the nests. This entices the hens be associated with the vice. Observations at Too much light. Toes and blood- to start picking the exposed organs filled feathers show up in a bright immediately after the egg is laid. Oregon State College reveal that an outbreak of light. They make appealing targets. Community nests should be dark cannibalism may occur at any age after the birds Use red lights and darken the enough to avoid this. Provide at least 1 nest for every 4 or 5 hens, are 2 to 3 weeks old. It may happen even brooder house, leaving just enough light so the chicks or poults can see if using single nests, or a minimum though the best known management practices to eat and drink. Poults require of 1 square foot of community nest- are carried out, but the control methods dis- more light than chicks the first ing space for 5 hens. week. Do not seal air inlets. cussed in this circular often are effective. It is always a question whether or not a grower should debeak or use anti-pick equip- Injuries and blowouts. The sight of Improper temperature and ventila- ment before cannibalism actually gets started blood often starts cannibalism. Re- tion. Poultry houses that are too move from the flock any bird that in the flock. Certainly it is best to do so before hot, or filled with stale air, seem to has blood showing, or daub some' pullets reach heavy production if previous ex- encourage cannibalism. Start chicks anti-pick paste on the injured por- or poults under a hover with the ^i perience shows cannibalism is likely to occur. tion. Birds suffering from blowouts temperature at about 95° F. This should be removed from the flock Debeaking or applying specks or pick guards temperature can be reduced about immediately. Fighting among males during lay mav cause lower production. 5° F. each week. If the air in the encourages cannibalism. brooder house or laying house be- Some producers are able to avoid cannibal- comes damp or foul smelling, pro- ism through good management with certain vide more ventilation. strains. If a severe outbreak occurs it is better inheritance. It has been observed to debeak or use an anti-pick device than to lose that some strains are more cannibal- birds. The experienced grower who is familiar istic than others. This is difficult to with his strain can usually determine the pro- determine, because of the many Lack of something to do. Birds on environmental factors that influence gram he should follow under his system of wire floors and open-air, community cannibalism. Slow feathering, ner- management. type cages are most likely to de- vousness, and feather coloring are velop cannibalism. Birds housed or inherited characteristics that may raised on wire usually have to be affect cannibalism in both chickens This circular was prepared by Lawrence Johnson and J. A. Harper, debeaked or specked. Poultry Husbandry Department, Oregon State College. and turkeys. cures 0