Abstract
BackgroundFeather damage (FD) resulting from feather pecking remains a concern in non-cage housing systems for laying hens worldwide. This study aimed to identify bird-, housing-, and management-related factors associated with FD in non-cage housing systems as the egg production sector phases out the conventional cage system in Canada. A survey on housing and management practices was developed and distributed to 122 laying hen farms where 39 respondents provided information on non-cage flocks. Farmers visually assessed 50 birds throughout the barn for FD using a 0–2 scoring scale according to severity. Prevalence of FD was calculated as the percentage of birds with any form of FD (score > 0). Multivariable linear regression modeling was used to identify factors associated with FD prevalence.ResultsSix variables were included in the final model and accounted for 64% of the variation in FD between farms. FD prevalence was higher with increasing flock age (0.9% ± 0.29) and when birds were housed in all wire/slatted barns compared with all litter barns (37.6% ± 13.1). Additionally, FD prevalence tended to be higher in barns with manure removal only after depopulation (20.1% ± 10.70). Enrichment also tended to be associated with higher FD (19.1% ± 8.04), possibly indicating that it was provided after FD was observed as a control measure, or, was not efficient in reducing the development of FD.ConclusionsThese findings emphasize the role of litter provision and management (e.g., manure removal effects on air quality), and its potential impact on FD among laying hens in non-cage housing systems in Canada. Further longitudinal and/or intervention studies are needed to assess the potential of the identified factors to function as a management strategy to prevent or reduce FD in non-cage housed laying hens.
Highlights
Feather damage (FD) resulting from feather pecking remains a concern in non-cage housing systems for laying hens worldwide
General flock information Thirty-nine of the 65 flocks were housed in non-cage systems (65%), of which 17 flocks were housed in singletier floor systems (43.6%), and 22 flocks were housed in multi-tier aviary systems (56.4%)
Approximately one quarter of the birds within these flocks exhibited some form of FD, either moderate or severe, and factors most strongly associated with FD included increasing flock age, housing with all wire or slatted floors, manure removal only at the end of production, and provision of enrichment material
Summary
Feather damage (FD) resulting from feather pecking remains a concern in non-cage housing systems for laying hens worldwide. In light of changing market trends, Canadian egg farming is transitioning away from conventional cage housing of hens and into furnished cage and non-cage systems, such as single-tier floor systems and multi-tier aviaries [4]. Feathers are integument features unique to birds and are critical for survival in wild birds They are smooth, flexible structures largely composed of beta-keratin protein [8]. Replacement of feathers can be an immense metabolic stressor, including the replacement of up to 30% of a bird’s body mass [reviewed by [12]] and a basal metabolic rate which can double during molting in avian species [13]
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