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Impact of feeding management on feather pecking in laying hens

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2007

M.M. Van Krimpen ,
R.P. Kwakkel ,
B.F.J. Reuvekamp ,
C.M.C. Van Der Peet-Schwering ,
L.A. Den Hartog  and
M.W.A. Verstegen
M.M. Van Krimpen*
Affiliation:
Applied Research, Animal Sciences Group, Wageningen UR, PO Box 65, NL-8200 AB Lelystad, The, Netherlands
R.P. Kwakkel
Affiliation:
Animal Nutrition Group
B.F.J. Reuvekamp
Affiliation:
Applied Research, Animal Sciences Group, Wageningen UR, PO Box 65, NL-8200 AB Lelystad, The, Netherlands
C.M.C. Van Der Peet-Schwering
Affiliation:
Applied Research, Animal Sciences Group, Wageningen UR, PO Box 65, NL-8200 AB Lelystad, The, Netherlands
L.A. Den Hartog
Affiliation:
Animal Production Systems Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, NL-6700 AH Wageningen, The, Netherlands Nutreco R&D, PO Box 220, NL-5830 AE Boxmeer, The, Netherlands
M.W.A. Verstegen
Affiliation:
Animal Nutrition Group
*
*Corresponding author: marinus.vankrimpen@wur.nl
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Abstract

In the near future EU-legislation will ban the use of conventional battery cages, while national legislation in some countries in Western Europe will ban beak trimming as well. The ban on battery cages and beak trimming causes an increased risk of feather pecking and cannibalism in laying hens. Many factors influence feather pecking behaviour, but this paper focuses on nutritional factors. Nutritional factors can have positive and negative effects on feather pecking behaviour in laying hens. Severe feather pecking has been demonstrated in birds that were fed a too low mineral level in the diet, a too low protein level or a too low amino acid level (methionine, arginine). Sometimes somewhat more feather pecking was found when layers were fed diets with mainly vegetable protein sources as compared with diets with protein from animal origin. Also more feather pecking may occur when the diets were fed restrictedly, fed coarsely ground, or fed as pellets. Feeding high-fibre diets, low energy diets, or roughages reduced feather pecking. Providing additional grain or straw in the litter during rearing could result in lower levels of feather pecking behaviour in adult stages. Some of these positive effects on feather pecking seem to be related to the time birds spend on feed intake and foraging. This paper gives an overview of the relationships between the occurrence of feather pecking behaviour and nutritional factors, such as diet composition and feeding strategies in laying hens.

Keywords

nutritionfeather peckingpulletslaying hensdiet compositionfeeding management
Type
Reviews
Information
World's Poultry Science Journal , Volume 61 , Issue 4 , December 2005 , pp. 663 - 686
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2005

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