Important vices of poultry in chicken farm
Time : 2014-11-19

Basic information

The vices of poultry is a faulty bad behavior which is acquired by the chickens, which affects the health, well-being, behavior and performance of oneself as well as other animals of the group. These vices may incur a huge loss to the poultry farmer, especially in intensive systems, which are more common today.  Once developed it quickly spreads throughout the flock and then the eradication becomes a substantial problem. Some of the vices have their origin in poor management, housing while some are nutritional

These vices can develop in poultry at any time if not carefully monitored right from the beginning. Some of the important vices in extensively reared birds are cannibalism, egg eating, egg hiding and pica etc. Birds which develop abnormal behavior should be timely taken care off. Regular debeaking of birds is an essential management practice. It provides adequate nutrient supplementation. Treatment of injuries should be done gently. With these some common interventions the arising economic loss can be curtailed significantly at poultry farm and the enterprise can be made more sustainable and profitable for the farmers

Vices are bad habits of animal

It may be due to hereditary, behavioral, environmental and nutritional problem. Research on this issue is going on. This is natural tendency of birds. Even by fulfilling all requirements vices have been observed in different commercial farms. Once hens get in the habit of picking at each other, it is difficult to stop them and heavy losses may result to different poultry flocks which exhibits various following kinds of vices

Overcrowding in the poultry house gives less opportunity for exercise and the less active birds pick up vices. Cannibalism tends to be more common in some breed of birds and may have genetic pre-disposition. Haemorrhages in the external genitalia due to laying of large eggs by new hens attracts other birds and once the birds develop taste for blood and meat they develop the habit of cannibalism

Protein deficiency in the diet or provision of less diet or excess of corn in the diet are said to be important factors. Deficiency of arginine and methionine are supposed to be more responsible for development of cannibalistic activity, some say that the deficiency of salt and minerals may be responsible for this condition. Loss of feathers from the body or haemorrhage from the skin due to parasitic infestation may predispose to cannibalism. Wounds inflicted by fighting between the birds may also serve as a stimulus for cannibalistic activity

Important vices of poultry in chicken farm


Features

Some of the important vices are

Cannibalism

Egg eating

Egg hiding

Pica


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1. Cannibalism

Cannibalism is a condition in which birds of a flock attack their pen mate and eat its flesh, which may impose deep wounds and heavy mortality. Vent pecking is common in laying birds. Once the birds adopt this vice it spreads rapidly through the flock. Poultry farmer must remain vigilant to prevent cannibalism as it has got no direct treatment, the presences of wounded or dead birds which are showing wound but otherwise appear healthy are indicative of cannibalism 


Reasons of cannibalism

1. Overcrowding in the poultry house which gives less opportunity for exercise and the less active birds pick up vices.

2. Cannibalism tends to be more common in some breed of birds and may have genetic predisposition

3. Haemorrhages in the external genitalia due to laying of large eggs by new hens attracts other birds and once the birds develop taste for blood and meat they develop the habit of cannibalism

4. Protein deficiency in the diet or provision of less diet or excess of corn in the diet are said to be important factors

5. Deficiency of arginine and methionine are supposed to be more responsible for development of cannibalistic activity

6. Some say that the deficiency of salt and minerals may be responsible for this condition

7. Loss of feathers from the body or haemorrhage from the skin due to parasitic infestation may predispose to cannibalism

8. Wounds inflicted by fighting between the birds may also serve as a stimulus for cannibalistic activity


Prevention

1. One of the most recent and cheapest ways to avoid cannibalism is debeaking which can be done right from the day old chicks to any age

2. Debeaking can be done either manually or mechanically. Mechanical way of debeaking has an advantage that it does not require second cutting of beak which is sometimes required in case of manual debeaking. One-third of the upper beak and tip of the lower beak is to be cut

3. To stop bleeding, hot iron rod is touched at the site of cut. Debeaking must be performed by a competent and trained person, otherwise there may be excessive bleeding and the bird may die due to starvation. These days debeaking has become mandatory in almost all poultry farms

4. Birds involved in cannibalism must be isolated

5. Wounded birds should also be segregated and given proper treatment

6. Margosa oil is found effective for wound healing in poultry

7. Immediate debeaking of the birds

8. Overcrowding of the birds, must be immediately corrected

9. Feed must be available in sufficient quantity at all the times

10. Laying nests must be built at peaceful, isolated places, because the congested external genitalia of layers, following laying, attracts other birds for cannibalism

11. Provision of red bulbs near laying nests may help during the period of the problem

12. Addition of raw meat in the feed has been found to be helpful. If raw meat is not available increase in the amount of fish meal will serve the purpose

13. Quantity of vitamin, mineral mixture and salt may be marginally increased in poultry ration

14. Increased amount of methionine in the diet is said to prevent this habit in layers


2. Egg eating

Sometimes birds develop the tendency to eat their own eggs and it becomes quite difficult to prevent this vice, It may start due to the presence of cracked eggs or accidental breaking of eggs and once the birds develop taste for it they start breaking their own eggs and factors responsible for breaking of egg or cracking of egg are thin or soft egg shell or lack of sufficient bedding material in the laying area. Presence of eggs for longer period in the pens may also encourage the birds to start egg eating


Prevention

1. Isolate the birds which have developed this habit

2. In consultation with the expert, the quantity of lime stone and protein should be increased in the diet

3. Egg eating chickens should be kept in a cage in which egg rolls away, beyond the reach of the bird after laying of the eggs due to slope

4. Debeaking also reduces this tendency

5. Darkness in the laying area may prevent his habit

6. Egg collection interval should be reduced


3. Egg hiding

Egg hiding is a maternal instinct of jungle fowl and is not encountered in domestic fowl. But sometimes this habit may develop in the domestic fowl which are allowed freedom of movement. They hide the eggs in the field and bushes


Prevention

1. Restrict freedom of movement of the birds

2. Laying area should be built inside poultry house and made comfortable by providing sawdust and straw


4. Pica

1. Birds start eating materials which are not fit for consumption, such as feathers, litter material and threads

2. It is less commonly found in modern poultry farm

3. Phosphorus deficiency, parasitic infestation, new litter material etc. May predispose the birds to pica

4. Good management care and balanced diet are recommended for the prevention of pica


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Frequently ask questions

Q: What are the necessary means to avoid this poultry vices?

A: This poultry vices can be avoided through proper space management thereby ensuring that the birds are not over-crowded and lacking feed in the poultry house

Q: What are the most common factors that lead to poultry vices?

A: Protein deficiency in the diet or provision of less diet or excess of corn in the diet are said to be important factors

Q: How do you know when the chickens start introducing bad behaviours?

A: When the birds start eating materials which are not fit for consumption, such as feathers, litter material and threads

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