The influence of strain and environmental factors upon feather pecking and cannibalism in fowls

Synopsis

The relationship between strain, seven environmental factors and pecking damage was investigated. Strain of bird, housing system, light intensity and position effect had major influences, diet and group size had minor, while population density and brooding temperature had no appreciable effect on pecking damage. Relationships between pecking damage and social hierarchy, fear responses and body weight were also demonstrated. It is suggested that although particular “causative factors” may sometimes be of overriding importance, the problem should generally be viewed in terms of the interaction between an individual bird and its environment.