Reducing the Risk of Feather Pecking For Laying Hens in Organic Egg Production

by Tanya Brouwers

Both the incidence and the consequences of feather pecking in organic egg laying operations pose a serious threat to the health and welfare of laying hens. The pecking itself results in undue pain and suffering and will likely result in cannibalism, increased incidence of mortality and, eventually, reduced profits for the operator. In conventional operations the standard preventative procedure has been, traditionally, debeaking. The Canadian organic standard also permits this practice but only if absolutely necessary and after all other preventative strategies have been attempted and documented. Drawing on research from Europe, where debeaking will be prohibited entirely in 2011, the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada (OACC) has published a fact sheet that describes, in a step by step manner, numerous management practices that contribute to diminishing the incidence of feather pecking. Focussing primarily on housing conditions and feed rations, the publication attempts to provide farmers with the tools and information necessary to create environments that will prevent or, at the very least, minimize the need for physical alteration.

Housing and rearing conditions that are designed to encourage natural behaviours and to minimize stress are inextricably linked to the reduced incidence of feather pecking. Research in Europe has demonstrated that 79% of the variation in the extent of feather pecking in organic flocks was due to the type of living conditions. Therefore, it is vitally important to create optimal housing conditions, in good working order, from day one of a pullet’s life.

The OACC fact sheet lists several examples of housing design elements that will encourage natural behaviours. For example, operators can promote roosting by offering perches by 10 days and no later than 4 weeks of age. Scattering grain into the litter from the first day of life will encourage birds to forage and scratch at the ground rather than at their flock mates. It is also crucial to create conditions that are conducive to the utilization of outdoor runs. Early outdoor introduction and incorporating shrubs and trees into the outdoor area are just some of the practices that may encourage birds to explore beyond the hen house. Research has shown that when more than 66% of birds are using outdoor runs the incidence of severe feather pecking is virtually eliminated.

The publication also outlines numerous conditions that may contribute to elevated levels of flock ‘stress’. Laying hens that are ‘stressed’ are more likely to resort to feather pecking. Moving the pullets from the rearing house to a completely unfamiliar laying house is one instance where immature birds may experience acute anxiety. The operator should provide a similar layout and drinking system in both houses to make the transition easier. Overstocking is another example of a management practices that should be strictly avoided. It is recommended that the stocking density is no more than 10 birds/square meter by the time the pullets reach four weeks of age. Greater stocking densities will result in augmented stress levels as birds compete for floor, feeder and waterer space.

Feather pecking has also been observed in operations where the type and quality of the feed ration is poor or inadequate. For instance, research has demonstrated that outbreaks of feather pecking are more likely when feed rations are too low in protein, minerals or amino acids. Similarly, birds that are deficient in sodium and phosphorous are reportedly more inclined to engage in cannibalistic behaviour. The type of feed can also influence behavioural patterns. Feeding hens a mash rather than a pellet will increase the time they spend eating rather than pecking at their flock mates.

The OACC has published a fact sheet that provides farmers with examples of preventative management practices that may diminish the incidence of feather pecking and, ultimately, the need for debeaking. For some large scale organic egg operations, the suggested practices may prove both logistically and economically difficult to implement. However, the costs of avoiding feather pecking may be no more than the costs associated with dealing with the consequences of feather pecking, from both a financial and animal welfare point of view. An organic egg producer’s top priority, then, should be to create, in whatever degree possible, a poultry environment that minimizes abnormal behaviour, before the behaviour must be corrected through physical alteration.


For more information, please see the Animal Welfare Task Force Fact Sheet, Reducing the Risk of Feather Pecking for Laying Hens in Organic Egg Production.

 

Tanya Brouwers is a Consultant for the OACC. Please send comments or questions by phone to 902-893-7256 or by email to oacc@nsac.ca.


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Posted September 2009