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Feather Pecking in Laying Hens and Its Effects on Welfare

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A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Poultry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2019) | Viewed by 29190

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Bas Rodenburg

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Guest Editor

Department of Animals in Science and Society, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Interests: social behavior; maladaptive behavior; poultry welfare; social networks; animal personality; behavioural development; maternal effects; behaviour genetics; early-life conditions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Assoc. Prof. Alexandra Harlander

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Guest Editor

Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E., Guelph, ON, Canada
Interests: research aims to explore the core aspects of poultry physical and mental health and strive to determine from the birds’ point of view what they want from their physical and social environments

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The term feather pecking describes the pecking at and pulling out of feathers from conspecifics. It can lead to severe feather damage and the triggering of cannibalistic behaviour. This process is painful, and outbreaks of severe feather pecking can lead to increased fearfulness and stress sensitivity in the affected flock. Feather pecking and cannibalism are seen in conventional cage housing, furnished cages and non-cage systems. However, due to the large flock size in non-cage systems, feather pecking can be more difficult to control in this environment. The main approach to control damage is to trim the tip of the upper beak of birds in affected flocks. However, beak trimming itself is a painful procedure, and it is not a real solution for the problem. With more and more countries and continents transitioning from conventional cages to alternative systems, sustainable solutions to control feather pecking and cannibalism are needed.

We invite researchers working on the topic of feather pecking and cannibalism to submit their papers to this Special Issue. We are interested in papers that focus on the underlying mechanisms of feather pecking, but also those with applied perspective or a focus on comparing levels of feather pecking and feather damage in commercial flocks of laying hens. Also, papers that link the topic of feather pecking to other relevant disciplines, such as genetics, nutrition, physiology or microbiology are invited. Further, we aim to include contributions from different countries and continents to provide a global perspective on feather pecking and cannibalism in laying hens.

Prof. Bas Rodenburg
Assoc. Prof. Alexandra Harlander
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Feather Pecking
cannibalism
feather damage
laying hen
foraging
environmental enrichment
housing system
nutrition
genetics
rearing conditions

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 306 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Management Strategies on Non-Beak-Trimmed Laying Hens in Furnished Cages that Were Reared in a Non-Cage System

by Maryse Guinebretière, Amandine Mika, Virginie Michel, Loïc Balaine, Rodolphe Thomas, Alassane Keïta and Françoise Pol

Animals 2020, 10(3), 399; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10030399 - 28 Feb 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2580

Abstract

Beak trimming in laying hens limits the negative consequences of injurious pecking, but could be prohibited by future regulations. This study assessed a combination of management strategies during the rearing period (objects, perches, music, human presence) and laying period (scratching mats, objects, feed fiber supplementation) to raise non-beak-trimmed animals. The welfare and laying performances of beak-trimmed (T) and non-beak-trimmed (NT) ISA Brown birds were compared between groups with (E) or without (NE) these strategies, with or without fiber supplementation in the diet during laying period. Fiber supplementation did not provide any benefit on pecking-related problems. In comparison with NT-NE birds, NT-E birds had lower mortality, were less fearful of a novel object, and had a better feather cover, without a negative impact on productivity (same laying rate and egg quality). Although this study showed advantages of beak trimming (T birds had higher body weights, laying rates and lower hen mortality than NT birds), it highlighted related problems (increasing pullet mortality, decreasing early weights and increasing beak defects). This study proposes practical solutions to limit the consequences of injurious pecking in non-beak-trimmed animals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feather Pecking in Laying Hens and Its Effects on Welfare)

18 pages, 2322 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genomewide Mapping of Selection Signatures and Genes for Extreme Feather Pecking in Two Divergently Selected Laying Hen Lines

by Hanna Iffland, Robin Wellmann, Markus Schmid, Siegfried Preuß, Jens Tetens, Werner Bessei and Jörn Bennewitz

Animals 2020, 10(2), 262; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10020262 - 06 Feb 2020

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2416

Abstract

Feather pecking (FP) is a longstanding serious problem in commercial flocks of laying hens. It is a highly polygenic trait and the genetic background is still not completely understood. In order to find genomic regions influencing FP, selection signatures between laying hen lines divergently selected for high and low feather pecking were mapped using the intra-population iHS and the inter-population F_ST approach. In addition, the existence of an extreme subgroup of FP hens (EFP) across both selected lines has been demonstrated by fitting a mixture of negative binomial distributions to the data and calculating the posterior probability of belonging to the extreme subgroup (pEFP) for each hen. A genomewide association study (GWAS) was performed for the traits pEFP and FP delivered (FPD) with a subsequent post GWAS analysis. Mapping of selection signatures revealed no clear regions under selection. GWAS revealed a region on Chromosome 1, where the existence of a QTL influencing FP is likely. The candidate genes found in this region are a part of the GABAergic system, which has already been linked to FP in previous studies. Despite the polygenic nature of FP, selection on these candidate genes may reduce FP. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feather Pecking in Laying Hens and Its Effects on Welfare)

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13 pages, 987 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Gradual Provision of Live Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae to Older Laying Hens: Effect on Production Performance, Egg Quality, Feather Condition and Behavior

by Laura Star, Tarique Arsiwalla, Francesc Molist, Raymond Leushuis, Monika Dalim and Aman Paul

Animals 2020, 10(2), 216; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10020216 - 28 Jan 2020

Cited by 45 | Viewed by 8070

Abstract

Feather pecking is a key welfare challenge in laying hen husbandry. Feeding of live Hermetia illucens larvae could provide a possible solution to reduce feather pecking in hens. This research investigates effects of dispensing live H. illucens larvae to non-beak trimmed older laying hens on production performance, behavior and welfare. Control treatment hens were provided a commercial diet, while larvae treatment hens were provided live H. illucens larvae (using special dispenser) on top of a soy-free diet. Feather condition, production performance and egg quality were measured during the initiation (67 weeks age) and termination (78 weeks age) of the trial. Behavior of birds was monitored using video recording. Feed conversion ratio, body weight gain and egg laying parameters were similar for both treatments. At termination of the trial, larvae-fed hens exhibited better feather condition in comparison to control hens (p = 0.004). Behavioral observations indicated that larvae provision influenced the number of birds on floor during morning and afternoon hours. In conclusion, live H. illucens larvae could successfully replace soy in diets of older laying hens (in combination with local plant proteins). Provisioning of these insects also had a positive effect on the feather condition of laying hens with intact beaks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feather Pecking in Laying Hens and Its Effects on Welfare)

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14 pages, 625 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Dual-Purpose Hen as a Chance: Avoiding Injurious Pecking in Modern Laying Hen Husbandry

by Mona Franziska Giersberg, Birgit Spindler, Bas Rodenburg and Nicole Kemper

Animals 2020, 10(1), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10010016 - 19 Dec 2019

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3824

Abstract

Dual-purpose strains, with hens housed for egg laying and roosters kept for meat production are one alternative to the killing of male day-old chickens. However, dual-purpose hens seem to have additional advantages compared to conventional layers, for instance, a lower tendency to develop behavioral disorders, such as feather pecking and cannibalism. In the present study, three batches of about 1850 conventional layers (Lohmann Brown plus, LB+) and 1850 dual-purpose hens (Lohmann Dual, LD) each, all of them with untrimmed beaks, were observed during production (20–71 (56) weeks of life) in a semi-commercial aviary system. The aim was to investigate whether the hybrid and batch affected the occurrence of injurious pecking, and to identify a detailed time course of the damage caused by this behavior. Therefore, the hens’ plumage and skin condition were assessed as an indicator by means of a visual scoring method. The LB+ hens had higher production performances and higher mortality rates compared to the LD hens. Plumage loss in the LB+ flocks started at 23 to 25 weeks of age, and deteriorated continuously. The LD hens showed only moderate feather loss on the head/neck region, which started at 34 to 41 weeks and remained almost constant until the end of the observations. Compared to feather loss, injuries occurred in the LB+ hens with a delay of several weeks, with a maximum of 8% to 12% of hens affected. In contrast, skin injuries were observed only sporadically in single LD hens. In all batches, hybrid had an effect on the occurrence of feather loss (p < 0.05). Within the LB+ strain, the proportions of hens affected by plumage loss and injuries differed among batches (p < 0.05), whereas this was not the case in the LD flocks. Thus, severe feather pecking and cannibalism seemed to occur in the conventional layer hybrids but not in the dual-purpose hens, though both genetic strains were raised and managed under the same semi-commercial conditions. Therefore, keeping dual-purpose hens should also be considered as an alternative approach to avoid injurious pecking in laying hen husbandry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feather Pecking in Laying Hens and Its Effects on Welfare)

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15 pages, 1391 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of LED Light Color and Intensity on Feather Pecking and Fear Responses of Layer Breeders in Natural Mating Colony Cages

by Haipeng Shi, Baoming Li, Qin Tong, Weichao Zheng, Dan Zeng and Guobin Feng

Animals 2019, 9(10), 814; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9100814 - 16 Oct 2019

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3566

Abstract

Natural mating colony cages for layer breeders have become commonplace for layer breeders in China. However, feather pecking (FP) and cannibalism are prominent in this system. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of four light-emitting diode (LED) light colors (white: WL, red: RL, yellow-orange: YO, blue-green: BG) with two light intensities for each color, on FP, plumage condition, cannibalism, fear, and stress. A total of 32 identical cages were used for the eight treatments (four replicates for each treatment). For both light intensities, hens in RL had a lowest frequency of severe FP, whereas hens in WL had the highest frequency of severe FP. Hens in RL and BG had better plumage conditions than in WL and YO. Compared with RL and BG treatments, hens treated with WL and YO had a significantly longer tonic immobility (TI) duration. Hens treated with RL had a higher concentration of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), a lower concentration of corticosterone (CORT), and a lower heterophil to lymphocyte ratio than WL and YO. Furthermore, RL could significantly reduce mortality from cannibalism. Overall, hens treated with RL and low light intensity showed a lower frequency of severe FP, less damaged plumage, were less fearful, had lower physiological indicators of stress, and had reduced mortality from cannibalism. Transforming the light color to red or dimming the light could be regarded as an effective method to reduce the risk of FP and alleviate the fear responses of layer breeders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feather Pecking in Laying Hens and Its Effects on Welfare)

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10 pages, 760 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of a Scoring System to Assess Feather Damage in Canadian Laying Hen Flocks

by Caitlin Decina, Olaf Berke, Nienke van Staaveren, Christine F. Baes and Alexandra Harlander-Matauscheck

Animals 2019, 9(7), 436; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9070436 - 10 Jul 2019

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4214

Abstract

Feather damage (FD) due to feather pecking behavior is an ongoing welfare concern among commercial egg-laying hens. Canada’s current transition from conventional cage housing to alternative housing systems, where FD can spread easily within large flocks, underlines the need for frequent and accurate assessment of plumage condition. A standardized methodology for assessing FD in Canada does not yet exist. To improve FD assessment on commercial farms, a FD scoring system and visual scoring guide for farmers were developed. Two existing plumage scoring systems, LayWel and AssureWel, which differ in level of detail and bird handling, were assessed for ease of use, and intra- and inter-observer reliability. Practical application of the AssureWel scoring system was greatest, with strong intra- and inter-observer reliability for the back region of the body (weighted kappa = 0.88 for both measures) in small-scale flocks. This informed the creation of a modified version of the AssureWel system, which included three scoring levels and the visual assessment of 50 birds per flock. An accompanying guide was developed including sampling instructions and depictions of the scoring scheme, both written and visual. This simplified scoring system can serve as a benchmarking tool for FD prevalence, and can allow for future effectiveness assessments of management strategies to prevent and control FD; however, farmers should be trained to apply this system under commercial conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feather Pecking in Laying Hens and Its Effects on Welfare)

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Other

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14 pages, 519 KiB

Open AccessOpinion

Importance of Basic Research on the Causes of Feather Pecking in Relation to Welfare

by Lisa B. Fijn, F. Josef van der Staay, Vivian C. Goerlich-Jansson and Saskia S. Arndt

Animals 2020, 10(2), 213; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10020213 - 28 Jan 2020

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3719

Abstract

Feather pecking is a prominent issue in the commercial egg industry, associated with economic losses and welfare problems. A non-systematic literature search suggests that studies on feather pecking are predominantly concerned with applied research goals. That is to say, they aim to solve or diminish the effects of this problematic behavior by orienting towards practical approaches. The strong emphasis on this research approach has skewed our knowledge of the causes of feather pecking in relation to welfare. While the need for such research is high, there is an equivalent need for basic research that has not received corresponding effort. Also, current research predominantly focuses on the negative effects on the birds being pecked, whereas too little attention is given to the possible welfare problems of the peckers. We argue that more basic research is needed for obtaining comprehensive science-based knowledge of behavioral needs and abilities of hens, in particular with respect to behavioral problems that threaten their welfare. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feather Pecking in Laying Hens and Its Effects on Welfare)

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