Control of "Nose-Picking" Form of Cannibalism in Young Closely Confined Quail Fed Raw Meat.

Abstract

When young quail are kept crowded together, in considerable numbers, in very small brooder pens, they soon develop the “nose-picking” form of cannibalism. It may start at any age from about the second up to the sixth or seventh week. It seldom or never starts after the eighth week; or, if it has already started, it usually stops at about that time.One or more birds (usually the larger and stronger ones) start pecking the upper bills of other birds (usually the smaller and weaker ones). The nostril is the point of injury. The wound is small and superficial at first but it is enlarged and deepened from the repeated picking by the offending bird or birds, until, within 2 or 3 days, it is quite serious. This weeping and bleeding wound invites further injury. The bill at this point may be cut half through. The victim is in pain, droops around, eats and drinks very little and becomes weak. The weaker he grows the more the other birds attack him. Usually he is soon trampled and smothered to death by the other st...