17/08/2017 1 Development of injurious pecking in laying hens: From family life (or lack of) to foraging Jo Edgar @jo_edgar_ What is injurious pecking? Injurious pecking includes, feather pecking, vent pecking and cannibalism Aggressive behaviour involves forceful pecks directed at the head or neck of the recipient Bilcik and Keeling, 2000, Green et al., 2000; Newberry et al., 2007; Kjaer and Vestergaard, 1999; Rodenburg et al., 2013; Lambton et al., 2007, 2010; Hughes and Buitenhuis, 2010
Transcript
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Development of injurious pecking in laying hens:From family life (or lack of) to foraging
Jo Edgar
@jo_edgar_
What is injurious pecking?
Injurious pecking includes, feather pecking, vent pecking and cannibalism
Aggressive behaviour involves forceful pecks directed at the head or neck of the recipient
Bilcik and Keeling, 2000, Green et al., 2000; Newberry et al., 2007; Kjaer and Vestergaard, 1999; Rodenburget al., 2013; Lambton et al., 2007, 2010; Hughes and Buitenhuis, 2010
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Why is injurious pecking a concern?
• Pain and fear
• Thermoregulation
• Feed consumption
• Increased risk of disease
• Increased risk of death
• Costly – e.g. estimated to costs UK free-range egg production industry over 12 million Euros per year•Widespread - 40–80% of EU flocks
Green et al., 2000; Potzsch et al., 2001; Lambton et al., 2010; 2015; Drake et al., 2010; Gunnarssonet al., 1999.; Gilani et al., 2014 ; Blokhuis et al., 2007
Timeliness
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The development of injurious behaviour
Huber-Eicher and Sebo, 2001; Lambton et al., 2008; Bestman, 2010; Piestun et al., 2008; Kauser et al.,
2011; Archer and Mench, 2017; Janczak et al., 2006; Lay and Wilson, 2002; de Haas et al., 2014; Knierim et al. 2008
• Parental effects
• Incubation
• Rearing
Early life effects on behaviour
Harlow (1965)
Coe et al., 2003; Heim and Nemoroff, 2011; Pryce et al., 2005; Pechtel, 2011; Chen et al., 2016; Lippmann et al., 2007; Baram et al., 2012; Roth et al., 2009; Harlow, 1965
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Motivations for injurious pecking
• Redirected foraging– Failure to learn
– Absence of suitable material
• Alternative hypotheses
– Social preening
– Dustbathing
– Hyperactivity
– Stereotypy
Rodenburg et al., 2004; 2008; Riber et al., 2007; Blokhuis, 1986 Blokhuis and van der Haar, 1989; Sanotra et al., 1995; Blokhuis and van der Haar, 1989; 1992; Huber-Eicher and Wechsler, 1998; Vestergaard and Lisborg, 1993; Riedstra and Groothius, 2002; De Haas et al, 2010; 2014; Kjaer, 2009; 2015;Kjaer and Vestergaard, 1999; Newberry et al, 2007
• Mother hen influences: – What chicks peck at
– Chick activity/resting
– How chicks react to stressors
• Resulting brooded chicks are:– Less fearful
– More behaviourally synchronised
– Less likely to perform feather pecking
Maternal care strongly influences chick behavioural development
Wauters et al., 2002; Shimmura et al., 2010; 2015; Perre et al., 2002; Falt, 1978; Rodenburg et al., 2008; Riber et al, 2007; Blokhuis and Arkes, 1984; Edgar et al., 2011; 2013; 2015 etc
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Directed pecking
Rodenburg et al., 2008; Riber, 2007; Blokhuis and Arkes, 1984
Behavioural synchronisation
Riber et al., 2007; Wauters et al., 2002; . Shimmura et al., 2010; Riber and Forkman, 2007
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Maternal simulation to reduce injurious behaviour
Gilani, Knowles & Nicol, 2012; Malleau et al., 2007; Jensen et al, 2006; Johnson and Kristensen , 2001; Riber et al., 2007; Rber and Guzman, 2016
Motivation for injurious pecking
• Redirected foraging– Failure to learn
– Absence of suitable material
• Social preening
• Dustbathing
• Hyperactivity
• Stereotypy
Rodenburg et al, 2004; 2008; Riber et al., 2007; Blokhuis, 1986; Blokhuis and van der Haar, 1989;Sanotra et al., 1995; Blokhuis and van der Haar, 1989; 1992; Huber-Eicher and Wechsler, 1998; Vestergaard and Lisborg, 1993; Riedstra and Groothius, 2002; De Haas et al., 2010, 2014; Kjaer, 2009; 2015;Kjaer and Vestergaard, 1999; Newberry et al, 2007
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Lack of opportunity to forage
e.g. Huber-Eicher and Wechsler, 1997; Huber-Eicher and Sebö, 2001; Bestman et al., 2009; Gilani et al., 2013; de Haas et al., 2014
Other risk factors for development of injurious pecking
• Light intensity• Diet form and composition•Feeder type and height•Temperature•Noise level•Group size•Social density•Stressful events and fear•Disease•Stock person experience•and more!
e.g. Hughes and Duncan, 1972; Kjaer and Vestergaard, 1999; Huber-Eicher and Sebö, 2001; Van Krimpen et al., 2005; Ellen et al., 2008; Drake et al., 2010; de Haas et al, 2014; Hansen and Braastad, 1994; Nicol et al., 1999; Green et al, 2000; Gilani et al., 2013 etc etc
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The development of injurious behaviour – directions for future studies
• Parental effects
• Incubation
• Rearing
Thank you for listening!
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COST GroupHouseNet Training school 2017
• “Prenatal and early life effects on damaging behaviour in hens and pigs”
• For PhD students and postdocs
• 6th – 8th Nov in Bilbao, Spain
• See www.grouphousenet.eu for more info and application form
