Detailed Explanation of the Causes of Chicken Pecking at the Trough and the Control Methods

I. Causes

1. Excessive stocking density. When the stocking density is too high and there are not enough water troughs and feed troughs, the flock competes for water and feed, causing some chickens to suffer nutritional deficiencies in their bodies, making them prone to pecking vice.

2. Improper regulation of the chicken house environment. If the air inside the chicken house is foul and harmful gases exceed the standard, the flock will become restless and irritable and develop pecking vice; uneven temperature, with sudden cold and heat, will cause great stress to the flock and lead to pecking vice.

3. Unreasonable dietary nutrition. If the animal protein content in the diet is insufficient, or the amino acids are imbalanced, the flock cannot effectively utilize the protein in the diet, which can cause pecking vice; deficiency of calcium and phosphorus, and deficiency of vitamin B2, B3, B6 and B12 can all cause pecking vice.

II. Control Methods

1. Maintain a reasonable stocking density. Different breeds require different stocking densities, and the density requirements also differ at different ages; at the same time, sufficient water troughs and feed troughs should be provided.

2. Maintain a good chicken house environment. The chicken house should be kept well ventilated, promptly removing harmful gases and replenishing fresh air, especially in winter, when ventilation is often neglected in order to keep warm. Some chicken houses have no heating facilities and rely on the chickens' own body heat. In hot seasons, if the ground is not sprinkled with water, high temperature and low humidity will result, seriously affecting the survival and growth of the flock. Therefore, the flock should be given a suitable temperature and humidity environment to ensure their health and good production performance. Lighting in the chicken house includes natural lighting and artificial lighting; both lighting duration and intensity should be carried out according to feeding standards, avoiding direct sunlight and avoiding uneven lighting in the house.

3. The dietary nutrient ratio should be reasonable and complete. The quality of all kinds of raw materials needed to mix the diet should be excellent. The quality of fish meal is key, and lysine and methionine should be added. Attention should be paid to meeting the requirements for B vitamins. Maintain a reasonable calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. When processing the diet, the proportion of each raw material must be absolutely accurate, and mixing must be thorough.

4. Beak trimming. Beak trimming is an effective method to prevent pecking vice. The first beak trimming of the flock is carried out at 7 to 10 days of age, and beak re-trimming is carried out at 7 to 8 weeks of age or 10 to 12 weeks of age. When using a beak trimmer, the temperature should be controlled at 500°C, trimming 1/2 of the upper beak and 1/3 of the lower beak, and the time must not exceed 2 seconds. Pay attention to stopping bleeding, use the blade to flatten around the cut surface of the beak to prevent regrowth of the outer edge of the beak. After beak trimming, give VK3 and erythromycin for 3 days to prevent bleeding and secondary infection.

Pecking vice in laying hens is a common bad habit. Enough attention should be paid to it in feeding management. When pecking vice occurs, a targeted analysis should be made and measures taken promptly to solve it, otherwise it will bring relatively large losses.