Battery cage as a precaution of cannibalism
Time : 2002-06-06

Basic information

Cannibalism often occurs to the chicken as a result of stress caused by a poor management practice, and once the chicken becomes stressed, it begins picking the feathers, comb, toes or vent of another chicken and once an open wound or blood is visible on the chicken, the vicious habit of cannibalism can spread rapidly through the entire flock. Once this process begins cannibalism can be held in check. However, if the problem is allowed to get out of hand it can be very costly. Cannibalism will lower the bird's value due to torn and damaged flesh, poor feathering and can result in high death losses. Once this habit gets out of hand it is difficult to eliminate. Since there are numerous reasons for outbreaks of cannibalism, it is necessary that cannibalism control should be a part of your management program. Once a chicken has tasted fresh eggs and found it to be good, the chickens may break the eggs on purpose to eat them. Once they learn to do this, other chicken will follow suite and soon you may be very short of eggs

Battery cage as a precaution of cannibalism


Causes

1. Excessive heat

The chickens becomes extremely cannibalistic when they become uncomfortably hot. The temperature should be measured at the height of the chickens back directly under the heat source. Decreasing the brooding temperature is a common mistake that leads to problems like cannibalism

2. Excessive light

Excess bright light for a long periods of time will cause birds to become hostile towards one another. Do not use white light bulbs larger than 40 watts to brood fowl. If larger bulbs are required for heat, use red or infra red bulbs. When raising chickens from 12 weeks of age or older instead use 15 or 25 watt bulbs above feeding and watering areas. Ensure the light on the chickens are no more than 16 hours per day because Constant lights can be stressful to the birds

3. Absence of feed or water or a shortage of feeder and waterer space

When the chickens have to fight for food and water or they are always hungry they will increase pecking. Ensure that the chickens have free access to water and feed at all times. The pecking order determines which birds get to eat and when. When you have inadequate feeder space, chickens at the lower end of the pecking order may never be allowed to eat

4. Unbalanced diets

High energy and low fibre diets causes the chickens to grow extra active and aggressive. Feeds that lack protein and other nutrients, particularly Methionine, will also cause chicken to pick feathers. Ensure you feed a diet balanced appropriately for the age and types of chicken been raised

5. Mixing of different types, sizes, and colors of fowl

Mixing different ages, sizes of chickens with different traits promotes pecking by disrupting the flock's normal pecking order. Never brood different species of fowl together in the same pen. Don't brood feathered leg chicken, toe pecking in the first few weeks is often started due to curiosity of the different colors or traits

6. Abrupt changes in environment or management practices

It is advised to move the young chickens to a new location, it is best to move some of their feeders and waterers with them in order to help them adapt

7. Introducing new birds to the flock, anytime you add or remove birds from a flock you disrupt the pecking order of the flock. It is best to introduce any new birds into your pen by splitting the pen with a wire wall for at least a week to help the birds to get to know each other. Also, adding the birds to the perch at night can help. Always supervise new introductions to the flock and intervene if the pecking gets out of control and birds are getting hurt. It may take a week or more for flock to re-establish the new pecking order


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Prevention

1. Allow the birds to use up their energy in an enclosed outside run. This will help keep the chicken busy and allow them to peck greens, ground and insects instead of other chickens

2. Give the chickens a large handful of fresh greens like clover grass or weeds, each day. This increases the fibre in the chickens' diet. A high fibre diet will keep the chickens' gizzard full and keeps the chickens more contented

3. Placing coloured or shiny items for the chickens to pick at and occupy their time can draw attention away from other chickens. Hanging shine cans just above eye level can serve as a toy

4. Finally, beak trimming is used in problem flocks. Trim the beak by removing about 1/3 of the tip of the beak providing a square tip. This makes it difficult for the chickens to harm each other


Treatment

1. Ensure to correct any practices which may have led to cannibalism

2. Darkening the facilities by using red bulbs

3. Remove any badly injured chickens

4. Applying an "anti peck" ointment on any damaged chicken usually stops pecking

5. Lower the pen temperature a bit if possible


Our services

1. We offer free guide on poultry house construction to our customers

2. We offer pre sale services to help customers have rightful information on the business

3. Delivery of goods directly to customers’ farm after payment

4. Installation team come for installation after customers have received the goods

5. After sale service is done as we do follow-up to see the state at which the materials we supplied are


Frequently ask questions

Q: What size of land do I need to build a poultry house?

A: We give recommendation of land size based on customer’s intending capacity

Q: What is the best method to rear birds?

A: Battery cage remains the best and effective method of rearing birds

Q: How many years warranty do you give on your cages?

A: We give 10 years warranty on our imported battery cages

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