Why your birds peck each other’s feathers
Dear Dr Messo,
My name is Hellen, a poultry farmer from Limuru. I have noticed my chicken which are hardly a year old like to engage in feather pecking. Secondly, please advise me on which brand of vitamins may be good for my flocks.
Dear Hellen, thank you for raising this issue. I will attempt to shed more light on factors that contribute to pecking in birds and how to deal with it.
A good start in poultry business is a half the battle won for the entire life of the flock. A good start is also a clean start, and it means a proper cleaning and disinfection of the units even before arrival of the flock.
A good start also requires provision of good bedding, good brooding conditions and plenty of clean portable water. Cold stress often disturbs the gut health and may lower immunity of the birds to many diseases. Feeding is equally crucial in general management of a flock and any disregard to quality and quantity can be a source of stress to individual birds or a whole flock.
Gentle pecking of feathers where the recipient is calm and not reacting is a normal social behaviour of birds and should never worry anyone. However, if the pecking is more violent, and the victim sometimes responds by making squawking noise, this must be investigated.
Here are stressful conditions that may cause it:
External parasites
Presence of external parasites like mites “Ghutu” or internal worms like Ascarids. Keep the chicken house clean using spray of disinfectants and using dudu dust on birds. De-worm your birds using appropriate Levamisole products available from your veterinarian.
Treat any signs of diarrhoea especially those associated with bloody stool. Birds are attracted to wounds and can rip off the entire intestines out.
Poor ventilation especially in situations where it is extremely humid with ammonia smell. Hyperventilate the units and get rid of the foul smell from the units.
Overcrowding
Overcrowding, inadequate feeders, drinkers can cause stress and trigger aggressive behaviour in birds. Provide enough space at 2sqfeet/bird and enough equipment.
Poor beak treatment. It is good to debeak your birds at 10 days and again at 6-8 weeks of age using a professional technician with the right tool. The top and lower mandibles must both be cut perpendicularly and uniformly.
Very bright light
Excessively bright light can excite birds into frenzy aggressive behaviour. Dim your lights as much as possible. We suffer more from this phenomenon because of our equatorial location with extreme weather conditions. Can use shade netting to control excessive sunlight.
Feed quality
Poor feed quality low in amino acids and fibre. Check with your feed miller on the balance of essential minerals and amino acids in your feed. Supplement with available multivitamins and salt in your drinking water.
Finally, the choice of multivitamins is varied, I have done well with AminTotal, Amyllite, Vitapoultry, Table Poultry etc. As far as egg production is concerned, if they are pecking, egg production will drop until the trends are reversed.
[Dr Watson Messo Head Vet Kenchic [email protected]]
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