Phenotypic and genomic analyses of agonistic interactions in laying hen lines divergently selected for feather pecking

Feather Pecking of Laying Hens in Different Stocking Density and Type of Cage

Both stocking rate and housing systems are main factors influencing the occurrence of feather pecking in laying hens raised in conventional cage system. This study examines the effects of different type of cage and stock density on feather pecking behaviour in hens. Total of 216 Hisex Brown hens at 16 weeks of age were randomly selected and put into 2 types of battery cages: conventional cages ...

Relationship between feather pecking and ground pecking in laying hens and the effect of group size.

The aim of this experiment was to study the relationship between feather pecking and ground pecking in laying hens and the effect of group size on feather pecking behaviour. Hisex White hens were kept in floor pens in group sizes of 15, 30, 60 and 120 birds, each with four replicates. Behavioural observations were performed at four different ages and focused on the number of feather pecks and a...

Severe feather-pecking in free-range ISA Brown laying hens

................................................................................................................................ 37 CHAPTER 1: General Introduction ......................................................................................... 44 TYPES OF BIRD-TO-BIRD PECKING .................................................................................. 47 HOUSING SYSTEMS ...........

Controlling Feather Pecking & Cannibalism in Laying Hens without Beak Trimming

Are genetic differences in foraging behaviour of laying hen chicks paralleled by hybrid-specific differences in feather pecking?

Feather pecking is a behavioural disorder in laying hens which consists of pecking the feathers of conspecifics, causing feather damage or even injuries to the skin. Its development can be explained by redirection of foraging behaviour. While the occurrence of feather pecking strongly depends on the kind of housing condition, it is also known that there are strain differences in the tendency to...