Extreme crowding in laying hens during a recurrent smothering outbreak.
Journal
The Veterinary record
ISSN: 2042-7670
Titre abrégé: Vet Rec
Pays: England
ID NLM: 0031164
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Jun 2021
Jun 2021
Historique:
revised:
21
01
2021
received:
30
06
2020
accepted:
15
02
2021
pubmed:
20
4
2021
medline:
3
8
2021
entrez:
19
4
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Piling, a behaviour where hens crowd together, is referred to as smothering if mortalities result. Smothering is a considerable concern for the egg industry, yet is vastly understudied. During an outbreak of recurrent smothering, continuous video footage captured a commercial, free-range flock over 35 days. We describe the piling behaviour observed and potential associations with productivity and flock health indicators. Forty-eight piles were filmed, with a maximum density of 187.93 birds/m This study describes the most extreme level of piling reported in literature and offers new insights into this problem behaviour and its consequences.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Piling, a behaviour where hens crowd together, is referred to as smothering if mortalities result. Smothering is a considerable concern for the egg industry, yet is vastly understudied.
METHODS
METHODS
During an outbreak of recurrent smothering, continuous video footage captured a commercial, free-range flock over 35 days. We describe the piling behaviour observed and potential associations with productivity and flock health indicators.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Forty-eight piles were filmed, with a maximum density of 187.93 birds/m
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
This study describes the most extreme level of piling reported in literature and offers new insights into this problem behaviour and its consequences.
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
e245Subventions
Organisme : BBSRC
ID : BB/T001747/1
Informations de copyright
© 2021 The Authors. Veterinary Record published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Veterinary Association.
Références
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