Behaviour disorders

Common measures against feather pecking and cannibalism

Prophylactic measures, that are based on symptom control, are the most common used measures against feather pecking: The hens are kept at a weak illumination to reduce their activity level. The beaks are trimmed or grazed. This intervention is associated with pain and stress for the animals depending on the chosen time and method, because the beak as an important tactile organ is innervated. Chicken with trimmed beaks are lifelong limited in their ability to select feed and to groom. Feather pecking can not entirely be prevented by beak trimming, solely its consequences are attenuated.