Behaviour disorders

Cannibalism

Cannibalism is recognised as the specific, aggressive pecking against body parts of fellow birds. The most common kind is the cannibalism against the cloaca. Moist, shiny surfaces are favoured by the chicken (foraging behaviour). If laying nests are not shaded, then the cloaca, that bulges out during egg deposition, is well visible and pecked by cannibalistic chicken. Already injured birds are further followed and pecked. For this reason the wounded chicken often dies within a short time if it is not separated in time.