Title: Effects of floor type during rearing and of beak trimming on ground pecking and feather pecking in laying hens
Abstract: Forty groups of 12 1-day-old chicks of a brown egg-laying strain were housed on either litter (n = 20 groups) or wire floors (n = 20 groups). Ten groups of birds on wire floors and 10 groups on litter floors were beak trimmed at 45 days of age. At 18 weeks of age, each group was moved to one of 40 identical pens with a partly litter, partly slatted floor. Behavioural observations took place at 7, 10, 14, 17, 18, 23, 30, 36 and 42 weeks of age. Feather damage was scored at 17, 30 and 42 weeks of age. During the rearing period, beak-trimmed birds showed a lower frequency of ground pecking. Ground pecking as well as ground scratching was highest in non-beak-trimmed groups on litter. Both beak trimming and litter floors reduced the average level of feather pecking and pecking at objects during rearing. In the laying period, no differences in the frequency of ground pecking were detected between treatments. Birds reared on wire showed a higher frequency of feather pecking. Feather damage was significantly higher in non-beak-trimmed groups. It was concluded that experiences during rearing influence pecking preferences during the laying period. Moreover, it was concluded that beak trimming does not change pecking preferences nor does it decrease the frequency of feather pecking.
Publication Year: 1989
Publication Date: 1989-04-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 97
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