It is a problem that can occur among birds of any age and of any breed. When birds are caged, the group size is smaller, so the pecking order is more stable and fewer pecking problems arise.Ĭannibalism is defined as the pecking, tearing, and consuming of skin, tissue, or organs of flock mates. Feather pecking is more common among floor-raised chickens in commercial barns and among chickens in large free-range systems. Laying hens tend to peck short feathers more frequently than long ones, and there is some evidence to suggest that hens laying brown-shelled eggs are more likely to engage in feather pecking than hens laying white-shelled eggs.įeather pecking can occur in any production system, including free-range systems. The physical texture and appearance of feathers have been shown to play a role in feather pecking and eating. Feather pecking can damage plumage and injure a bird’s skin, and sometimes this behavior leads to cannibalism. Feather pecking occurs when one bird pecks or pulls at the feathers of another. Mild pecking is normal in the establishment of this order. Within flocks, chickens and other types of poultry have a social hierarchy referred to as a pecking order.
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