POULTRY CANNIBALISM

POULTRY CANNIBALISM

Poultry cannibalism is a serious issue, one that not many farmers want to deal with. The easiest way to control it is to prevent it from occurring. However, this is not always possible. Let us go over the causes of cannibalism in poultry.

Causes of Poultry Cannibalism

Cannibalism is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The exact cause is unknown, but many management conditions and genetics can make a flock more prone to cannibalism. Some causes of poultry cannibalism are listed below.

1. Overcrowding

The overpopulation of poultry birds in a limited space can cause competitive behaviour, leading to cannibalism. Birds can and do become stressed due to the lack of space in a coop.

2. Food and water shortage

Like overcrowding, the competition for resources can cause poultry to become stressed and exhibit cannibalistic behaviour. If the flock does not have adequate food and water, they will compete over the limited supplies, leading to pecking. Further, if the birds are always hungry, they will look for other ways to satisfy their nutritional needs (cannibalism).

Make sure you have the right equipment to provide the correct food and water supply to your birds.

3. Imbalanced diet

Chickens sometimes eat an imbalanced diet that gives them high energy and low fibre. If this happens, they will exhibit aggressive pecking and cannibalistic behaviour. A shortage of proteins and other nutrients such as methionine and salt will make chickens hungry for feathers and blood.

4. Excessive heat

Like humans and many other animals, high temperatures will cause chickens to feel annoyed and exhibit irritable behaviour. These emotions can cause the fowl to start aggressive pecking on others

5. Bright lights

Excessively bright lights or exposure to too much sunlight can cause chickens to become irritable, leading to hostility and cannibalistic behaviour. Hostile behaviour among members of the flock can lead to pecking and cannibalism.

6. Parasites and Illness

Internal and external parasites can cause chickens to peck at themselves or each other. Healthy chickens will also peck at sick or injured birds, both out of curiosity and self-preservation. Too much feather pecking can lead to cannibalistic behaviour.

7. Abrupt changes in environment or management practices

Chickens are creatures of habit and do not enjoy abrupt changes in their environment. They may even exhibit cannibalistic behaviour if they experience abrupt changes. If you plan to move your birds to a new location, move some of their feeders and waterers. If you do this, they have something familiar in an unfamiliar environment. If the animals are not familiar with their environment, it can lead to pecking and cannibalism.

8. Introducing new birds to the flock

Anytime you remove or add birds to a flock, the changing environment can stress the birds more especially the original birds and may be forced to react against the new ones this pecking on them.