project - Research and innovation
Minimising feather and injurious pecking in organic laying hens
Minimising feather and injurious pecking in organic laying hens
Objectives
NA
Objectives
Problems with feather and injurious pecking in organic hen farming can spread quickly throughout the flocks and severely impair welfare and production. Therefore, it is important to identify these behavioural problems early and to know how to prevent and reduce them. (see additional information field)
Activities
(see additional information field)
Additional information
The project Healthy Hens (FP7 ERA-Net project, CORE Organic II) published the following practice oriented recommendations to minimise feather and injurious pecking:
* Observe the hens during daily inspections, looking for damage in the plumage, naked areas and wounds, for agitation and other changes in the hens’ behaviour. Wounded hens often seek shelter on elevated perches or in remote areas of the pen. It is recommended to pick out several hens (approx. 20 hens) at regular intervals (e.g. weekly) and take a close look at them.
* Prevent stress as much as possible, for instance by avoiding unnecessary changes in the daily routine and in the feeding regime, or transport and placement in new surroundings. Hens should also be given the opportunity to perform their natural behaviour (like foraging, exploration and dust bathing) and to satisfy nutritional needs (fibres and nutritional balance). When they are able to do
Source of information:
* project´s recommendations www.coreorganic2.org/upload/coreorganic2/document/HealthyHensRecommenda… Coreorganic2 homepage: http://www.coreorganic2.org/
* HealthyHens leaflet: http://coreorganic2.org/Upload/CoreOrganic2/Document/k2_healthyhens2014…
Project details
- Main funding source
- Other EU research and development funds
- Agricultural sectors
- Poultry
Project keyword
1 Practice Abstracts
The project Healthy Hens (FP7 ERA-Net project, CORE Organic II) published the following practice oriented recommendations to minimise feather and injurious pecking:
* Observe the hens during daily inspections, looking for damage in the plumage, naked areas and wounds, for agitation and other changes in the hens’ behaviour. Wounded hens often seek shelter on elevated perches or in remote areas of the pen. It is recommended to pick out several hens (approx. 20 hens) at regular intervals (e.g. weekly) and take a close look at them.
* Prevent stress as much as possible, for instance by avoiding unnecessary changes in the daily routine and in the feeding regime, or transport and placement in new surroundings. Hens should also be given the opportunity to perform their natural behaviour (like foraging, exploration and dust bathing) and to satisfy nutritional needs (fibres and nutritional balance). When they are able to do so hens are less likely to direct their pecking activity towards other hens.
* Last but not least parasite infestation should be kept at a low level; the number of dewormings should be kept low by reducing the worm burden.
The project Healthy Hens (FP7 ERA-Net project, CORE Organic II) published the following practice oriented recommendations to minimise feather and injurious pecking:
* Observe the hens during daily inspections, looking for damage in the plumage, naked areas and wounds, for agitation and other changes in the hens’ behaviour. Wounded hens often seek shelter on elevated perches or in remote areas of the pen. It is recommended to pick out several hens (approx. 20 hens) at regular intervals (e.g. weekly) and take a close look at them.
* Prevent stress as much as possible, for instance by avoiding unnecessary changes in the daily routine and in the feeding regime, or transport and placement in new surroundings. Hens should also be given the opportunity to perform their natural behaviour (like foraging, exploration and dust bathing) and to satisfy nutritional needs (fibres and nutritional balance). When they are able to do so hens are less likely to direct their pecking activity towards other hens.
* Last but not least parasite infestation should be kept at a low level; the number of dewormings should be kept low by reducing the worm burden.