FARMS: CHICKEN IN POULTRY AND CANNIBALISM

Setting up a poultry farm is such a beautiful farm practice as every farmer looks forward to their growth and production of eggs and meat.

There are many factors that can cut short a great yield in poultry farming. From poor feeding, disease attacks, malnutrition, dirty environment and over crowding. All these should be avoided in any poultry farm. The birds need good food and water as well as a condusive environment.

For this post we will be looking at CANNIBALISM in a poultry farm. The causes and control.

CANNIBALISM IN POULTRY FARM
Cannibalism in poultry birds is a costly and vicious habit that poultry birds develop by pecking on themselves due to the presence or absence of certain factors. Hence the farmer cannot afford to ignore because it is usually fatal and lots of birds are lost.

Cannibalism occurs when the birds are overly stressed. One bird begins picking the feathers, comb, toes or vent of another bird. As soon as an open wound or blood is seen on the bird, this habit of cannibalism can spread rapidly throughout the entire flock. If the problem is noticed earlier, cannibalism can be checked. If this problem is allowed to get out of hand it can be very costly for the birds and the farmer. Once this habit gets out of hand it becomes difficult to eliminate in the farm.

It is important that cannibalism control be imputed as part of the management program of any farm. Here are numerous reasons that can causen cannibalism in poultry farm.

OVERCROWDING
This is because the competition for food and water is high and they need their space to roam.

EXCESSIVE HEAT
The birds exerts more heat as they grow older. The excess heat makes them more cannibalistic in nature.

TOO MUCH LIGHT
Excessive bright light for long hours makes the birds hostile to themselves. If they need more heat, a red or blue coloured bulb is prefered to a white bulb. Their light should not be more than 16 hours in a day.

ABSENCE OR SHORTAGE OF FEED OR WATER
When the birds are in competition for food and water, cannibalism is inevitable. Poorly spaced feeding racks can be a factor as well. The birds fight for space to feed and when one is injured, there is a problem.

UNBALANCED FEED DIET
Birds become aggressive towards one another when their feed is lacking protein and other nutrients like methionine. The excess carbohydrate makes them hyper active to start picking feathers. The right or balanced diet for their age and type of bird should be given to them at all times.

ALLOWING THE SICK, INJURED OR DEAD BIRD IN THE POULTRY
If there are birds that are injured, sick, even crippled or dead. They should be isolated or removed from the rest. This can cause the start of cannibalism in the poultry.

MIXING OF DIFFERENT SIZES AND TYPES OF BIRDS
This is not a good idea to mix birds with different sizes orbtypes together. Birds with different colours are not good either. Cannibalism can start because they are seen differently.

There are other factors that can cause cannibalism in birds. But when these few are corrected, the rate is reduced. The bicks of the birds can be cut as a preventive measure. Their spacing, feeding and proper management plan will allow an effective poultry growth.

Reference:
https://extension.psu.edu/poultry-cannibalism-prevention-and-treatment

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