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| Cannibalized bird |
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| Turkey been cannibalized |
Cannibalism usually occurs when the birds are stressed by a poor management practice. Once becoming stressed, one bird begins picking the feathers, comb, toes or vent of another bird. Once an open wound or blood is visible on the bird, the vicious habit of cannibalism can spread rapidly through the entire flock. If you notice the problem soon after it begins, cannibalism can be held in check. However, if the problem is allowed to get out of hand it can be very costly.
CAUSES
1. Absence of feed or water or a shortage of feeder and waterer space:
If the birds have to fight for food and water, or if the birds are always hungry they will increase pecking.
2. Unbalanced diets:
Extremely high energy and low fiber diets cause the birds to be extra active and aggressive. Feed lacking protein and other nutrients, particularly sodium, certain vitamins and Methionine, will also cause birds to pick feathers.
3. Overcrowding:
Large breeds of chickens should be allowed:
• 1/4 sq. ft./bird for first 2 weeks
• 3/4 sq. ft./bird for 3-8 weeks
• 1.5 sq. ft./bird from 8 to 16 weeks of age
• 2 sq. ft./bird from 16 weeks on
Note:
Smaller chickens require half the space as large chickens.
With game birds, double the above recommendations. With pheasants, allow 25 to 30 sq. ft./bird after 12 weeks of age or use pick prevention devices like plastic peepers or blinders.
4. Excessive heat:
When the birds become uncomfortably hot they can become extremely cannibalistic. Be sure to adjust the brooding temperature as the young chicks get older. Brood young fowl at 33°C. for the first week and then decrease the temperature 2-3°C. per week, until you reach 23°C. or the outside temperature.
5. Excessive light:
Extremely bright light or excessively long periods of light will cause birds to become hostile toward one another. Never use white light bulbs larger than 40 watts to brood chicks. If larger bulbs are required for heat, use red or infra-red bulbs. When raising birds 12 weeks of age or older, use 15 or 25 watt bulbs above feeding and watering areas. Never light hens more than 16 hours per day. Constant light can be stressful to the birds.
6. Mixing of different types, sizes, and colors of birds:
Mixing different ages and sizes of birds or birds with different traits promote pecking by disrupting the flock's normal pecking order.
7. Abrupt changes in environment or management practices:
If you plan to move young birds to a new location, it is best to move some of their feeders and waterers with them in order to help them adapt. .
8. Brightly lit nests or shortage of nesting boxes:
Don't place bright lights near the nesting areas. Also, allow 1 nest for every 5 hens average. Vent pecking by layers is also a common problem
9. Allowing crippled, injured or dead birds to remain in a flock:
Birds will pick on crippled or dead birds in their pens because of the social order and curiosity. Once pecking starts it can quickly develop into a vicious habit.
10. Slow feathering birds are most prone to cannibalism:
Take extra precautions with slow feathering birds. Most cannibalism occurs during feather growth in young fowl.
11. Introducing new birds to the flock:
Anytime you add or remove birds from a flock you disrupt the pecking order of the flock. It is best to introduce any new birds into your pen by splitting the pen with a wire wall for at least a week to help the birds to get to know each other. Also, adding the birds to the perch at night can help. .
12. Prolapse Pecking:
Prolapse can occur in very young or fat laying flocks. Prolapse is when the uterus stretches and tears and takes longer to properly return into the body cavity after the egg is laid. This is most common in young flocks that start laying too soon (prior to 20 weeks of age or in fat layers. When the uterus is exposed for a period of time other birds will see it and pick at it out of curiosity. Once they pick at the uterus it bleeds and the picking quickly progresses to cannibalism. If you start seeing blood streaks on the shell surface your flock may be prone to prolapse.
Cannibalism will lower the bird's value due to torn and damaged flesh, poor feathering and can result in high death losses. Once this habit gets out of hand it is difficult to eliminate.
there are numerous reasons for outbreaks of cannibalism, it is important that cannibalism control be a part of your management program.
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