Beak trimming/Alternatives to Beak trimming
From Poultry Hub
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The EU directive has resulted in research to identify practical, effective and affordable alternatives to beak trimming. Selective breeding strategies are underway to produce strains that are not cannibalistic. In addition, a number of nutritional, management and environmental strategies are being promoted as an alternative to beak trimming. The alternatives have some potential to be effective in various management situations, but there is no guarantee that cannibalism and feather pecking will be prevented.
Alternatives to beak trimming
Genetic Selection
There are large differences in feather pecking and mortality in strains indicating the potential for developing commercial strains that require less severe beak-trimming or no trimming at all. Selection for low mortality reduces propensity of birds to develop feather pecking and cannibalism. Molecular technology has the potential for improving welfare by manipulating genes involved in the control of pecking behaviour.
Light
All chickens have colour vision and are able to see red, orange and yellow. Green and blue light improves growth and lowers age at sexual maturity, while red, orange and yellow light increases age at sexual maturity and red and orange light increase egg production. Birds are calmer in blue light. For many years it was practice to brood and rear chickens under red light to prevent cannibalism. Currently, the most useful method to prevent feather pecking and cannibalism is to house birds under very dim white light. The birds cannot see each other well which reduces aggressive behaviour among them. This requires light proof shedding. However low light levels can cause eye abnormalities.
Use of devices to restricting vision and beak use
The use of spectacles (fitted to the nares of birds) controls feather pecking. It only allows birds to look to the side or down but not directly ahead. Spectacles can only be put on birds of pullet size or larger, cannot be used in cages and are easily dislodged. Red contact lenses have been used for layers as an alternative to beak-trimming. They cause eye irritation, eye infections, and abnormal behaviour and are not retained well. Bitting devices have been developed for use in game birds, which are held in place by lugs inserted in the nares. The use of fitted devices as a preventative measure against feather pecking is not permitted in many countries.
Environmental enrichment
Environmental enrichment increases desirable behaviours, reduces harmful ones, sustains the birds’ long-term interest, and enables them to cope with challenges. Enrichment involves increasing environmental complexity to encourage birds to interact with its environment.
Practical enrichment devices to minimise feather pecking A wide range of objects fitted to cages has been used to provide enrichment for poultry. The ‘Agrotoy’ (blue plastic frame with red and blue moving parts) reduced aggression and mortality in caged layers. Likewise a small silver bell was found to attract pecking. Cereal based ‘Peckablocks; also reduced the amount of aggressive behaviour. Adult laying hens will peck at bunches of plain white propylene string and reduce gentle and severe feather pecking.
Stimulating use of the range Infrequent and uneven use of the hen run is one of the main problems in all free range systems for laying hens. Birds do not feel safe in a non roofed run area. When the range has cover, trees or hedges, birds are more evenly distributed and risk of feather pecking is reduced.
Enriched rearing facility Less feather pecking in layers is seen if farmers do their own rearing, provide sufficient perch space, adequate drinkers and provide high quality litter.
Use of anti-pick compounds
Applying anti-pick compounds (commercial anti-pick, pine tar or axle grease to wounded areas reduces pecking. Likewise treating the everted vent of hens suffering vent trauma with a stock wound spray can prevent other birds pecking at the vent. Incidence of vent trauma can be reduced by raising flocks of birds with an even body weight. A range of predator scents and other agents are being considered for use as repellents against predators and may have application to prevent feather pecking in layers.
Nutrition
The main strategy to prevent feather pecking is to provide an adequate substrate. Substrate conditions during the rearing period affect the development of feather pecking. Use of scratch grain is recommended. During the rearing period, placing semi sold milk blocks in the house, hanging green leafy vegetables and spreading grass clippings can prevent feather pecking.
An adequate amount of insoluble fibre in the layer diet is important for minimising the outbreak of cannibalism in chickens. Millrun, oat hulls, rice hulls and lucerne meal are effective sources of fibre. The physical properties of the fibre modulate the function of the gizzard making the birds calmer. Providing adequate calcium, manganese, arginine, zinc, protein, sulphur amino acids (methionine and cysteine), trytophan, B group vitamins, thiamine and dietary electrolytes minimises pecking mortality.
Beak abrasives
Abrasive materials applied to the feed trough may enable the bird to blunt the hooked end of the beak while feeding and reduce the effectiveness of pecking. The beak blunting technique can be applied to growing pullets and during the laying period. Utilising the blunting procedure early in the rearing period may prevent the formation of the hooked end of the beak.
See also
- Original article written by Dr Phil Glatz
- Beak trimming
- Pros and cons of Hot Blade Trimming and Infra Red Beak Treatment
- Cannibalism (or aggressive pecking)
- Environmental enrichment
- Minimising cannibalism using innovative beak trimming methods
- Research: Beak Trimming Handbook
- Research: Alternatives to beak trimming
- Research: Laser beak-trimming and cannibalism
- Poultry behaviour
- The principles of poultry husbandry
- Anatomy of the Chicken Learning Resource
