Cannibalism in poultry is a behavioral act that's a disorder among birds that involves them pecking each other to death. For instance, a chicken pecks another chicken which may result in tearing, tissue and organ consuming. It occurs among all breeds irrespective of age. The problem can easily start like a simple feathers pulling among birds and then spreads until it can not be controlled. It can occur among chickens, ducks, turkeys etc. This form of behavioral problem usually occurs among commercial poultry where by the habit develops and then spreads and persists among flocks as a learned behavior even when the behavior is initially rectified or corrected. This is because birds tend to imitate (act like the other) one another. The problem can be prevented or stopped with proper poultry management practices.
Signs of cannibalism
Even though it's difficult to tell the difference between pecking randomly and pecking that leads to cannibalism, you must pay more attention to your birds' pecking behavior and correct it as soon as possible when some of these signs appear,
- Simple feathers pulling among birds. For example, maturing feathers being pecked by chickens
- Chicks continuously picking toes.
Causes and control of cannibalism among birds
Some of the causes of cannibalism among birds may include;
Keeping sick or weak and small chicks together with other normal chicks, this can result in attacking and then killing of these weak small chicks by the normal ones as a result of escalating into cannibalism. This habit can be prevented by removing any weak and small chicks and kept away separately from the rest.
Over crowding your birds
This can encourage bad habits such as competition for resources that are available, feather pecking and territorial behavior which lead to cannibalism due to little or limited space. This can be controlled by increasing the size and space of the bird's house, providing adequate space ensures that every chick is accommodated right and hence less aggressive flocks which minimizes the chances of cannibalism.
Little or no water and food
Shortage of water and food can lead to feather picking while fighting for the little food and water available. This can be prevented by ensuring that the flocks have enough access to feeders and drinkers all equally.
When the birds' diet isn't balanced
Diets that are so high in energy with low fibre will make the birds extremely aggressive leading to cannibalism lack of nutrients like methionine can increase your bird's craving for feather picking. Deficiencies of protein and salts has also been linked to cannibalism. This can be prevented by providing the birds all the required food supplements at the right time of their age, provide your birds fresh bird greens as well. Since birds spend all day searching for food, provide them materials such as saw dust, grass where foraging behavior can be practiced to prevent cannibalism.
Presence of external parasites on birds
Parasites can attack a bird making it to injure it's self by pecking it's skin resulting in cannibalism. Make sure your birds are not infested with parasites, make sure you disinfect and clean your poultry house regularly.
Too much (excess) light
This increases the bird's activity which may result into hostility and aggressiveness towards each other. Keeping your birds in excessive light for over 15 hours a day can cause stress towards the birds.
Oddly coloured chicks
Mixing your chicks that do not have the same feather color with the rest of the majority may make them develop a habit of attacking the oddly coloured chicks or peck them due to curiosity which may lead to cannibalism. Try to not mix oddly coloured chicks within the rest of the majority of chicks with the same color.
Too much heat
Too much heat brings discomfort to the birds which may lead to cannibalism because they become prone to picking feathers. Always carefully adjust the temperature of the birds' pen to prevent/reduce cannibalism.
Changes in environment that come abruptly
For instance, when switching from smaller to bigger feeders and drinkers, the birds may not adopt to the bigger feeders and drinkers quickly which may lead to cannibalism because the birds may not know from where to feed from. This can be avoided by leaving some of the smaller drinkers and feeders around as they adopt to the bigger ones as well as practicing proper poultry management practices.
Allowing dead birds remain in the pen
Other birds will pick on the dead birds due to curiosity and once this happens, the habit can develop among the birds. This can be prevented by removing any dead birds among the flocks.
Other causes of cannibalism may include;
Introducing a new bird in a pen, birds that slowly grow feathers are prone to cannibalism, an injured bird, stress, idleness, during egg laying birds prolapse, birds that are nervous, low salts.
Other ways to prevent cannibalism may include;
Debeacking, for laying hens, provide them with more nest boxes, consider trimming the birds beak
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