What are the prevention and control methods for feather-pecking vice in layer roosters?

Layer roosters are generally raised for about 3 months before being sent to market, mostly kept on the floor, and feather-pecking and flesh-pecking are serious problems that often cause certain economic losses. The following methods can be used for prevention and control.

1. Beak trimming is carried out at around 9 days of age; two days before beak trimming, start adding vitamin K3, electrolytic multivitamins and antibiotics.

2. Adjust the feed formula: reduce the amount of plant-based protein feed, increase the proportion of animal-based protein feed such as fish meal and meat-and-bone meal, appropriately increase the proportion of high-fiber feed such as wheat bran, and add vitamins and minerals.

3. Strengthen feeding management: prevent the chickens from being too densely stocked, with no more than 13 adult chickens per sq m; reduce light intensity; provide sufficient drinking water in a timely manner; strengthen ventilation; and supply nutritionally complete feed.

4. Prevent the occurrence of parasitic and infectious diseases. When a flock is infested by lice and mites, the chickens become restless and often peck themselves or each other. After layer roosters develop colibacillosis, coccidiosis, Newcastle disease, etc., nutrient deficiencies can occur, the cloaca may be exposed, and feather-pecking, vent-pecking and other behaviors may be induced.

5. Remove sharp objects in the house. Sharp objects in the house can easily cause injuries to the chickens' bodies, leading to injured chickens being pecked, so attention should be paid to repairing cages and equipment and removing sharp objects.

6. Treatment of chickens with feather-pecking vice: (1) Give 1% salt water continuously for 3 days. (2) Feed Zhizhuo Ling or Zhuogang Ling continuously for 5 to 7 days. (3) For cases caused by stress factors, chlorpromazine, diazepam, etc. can be mixed into feed or drinking water and used continuously for 5 days.