THE REALITIES ABOUT POULTRY The Modern Farm - The Realities About Poultry_Seco | Page 113

Vices in Chickens
(a) Cannibalism: It is a natural part of poultry behaviour for birds to establish a social hierarchy by
pecking one another. Sometimes, an injured or weak bird or a stranger bird may be excessively
attacked by all the other birds. A bird exhibiting a bleeding area is particularly likely to attract an
attack. It may be pecked to death if it is not rescued.
Such cannibalism is often aggravated by overcrowding. It is therefore important to provide
adequate space to the flock. Nutritional deficiencies have also been implicated in cannibalism,
along with boredom and irritation from external parasites. Lights that are too bright may make
birds nervous or highlight a bleeding or red area, leading to more frequent pecking.
Cannibalism may be prevented to some extent by providing birds with a distraction, such as a
cabbage or carrot hung from the ceiling. If the problem becomes out of control, the only
solution is de-beaking, which involves cutting off a part of the beak to prevent birds from
causing injury to one another.
(b) Egg eating: Egg eating usually begins when birds eat already broken eggs. Once a few birds
acquire the habit, it spreads rapidly through the flock.
Factors which lead to egg breakage encourage egg eating, such as inadequate nesting facilities,
failure to collect eggs frequently, insufficient nesting material and inadequate diet resulting in
soft and thin shelled eggs. Correcting these problems will reduce the number of broken eggs.
However, it is difficult to break the habit of birds and it is best to cull those that begin to eat
eggs. De-beaking may be the last resort.
Disease Control in Flocks
Non-Medical Disease Control
The most economical and effective means of preventing non-viral diseases is improved management
and nutrition, of which the most important aspects are hygiene, housing, flock structure, and young
chick care and feeding.
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