We examined effects of being moved and mixed with strangers on the incidence of aggression and cannibalism in caged White Leghorn hens with intact beaks. We predicted that mixing of strangers would increase rates of aggression and cannibalism. Hens were reared in 16 stable groups of four birds together since hatch. At 18 months of …
Two experiments were conducted to study the effects of beak trimmer blade temperature (BT) and age at precision beak trimming (PBT) on the performance of two commercial strains of egg layers: Babcock B300 and Hy-Line W36. The birds were housed in cages during the rearing and laying periods. In experiment 1, only feed consumption was …
Commercial equipment used by the turkey industry at hatch sterilizes the germinal tissue of the claw with microwave energy and the beak tissue with infrared energy. This effectively trims the claws and beaks of the birds. Two strains of Leghorn chicks (1,200 each strain) were utilized to test this technique on chickens. Half were subjected …
Bird behaviour, production, physiological measurements of stress, and pain as indicated by neural transmission in, and anatomy of the trimmed beak have been used as criteria to determine if beak trimming compromises bird well being. In addition, the welfare of those hens that are pecked by beak-intact hens has been evaluated. The welfare of a …
Beak trimming is a management practise that has long been employed by the poultry industry to reduce the deleterious effects of cannibalism and feather pecking amoung flockmates of chickens. Most studies of beak trimming have concentrated on the production and economic performance aspects of this practise. Because of the current animal welfare debate, behavioural and …
A report by Professor W. Bessei on the animal welfare aspects.