Extreme crowding in laying hens during a recurrent smothering outbreak. (19th April 2021)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Extreme crowding in laying hens during a recurrent smothering outbreak. (19th April 2021)
- Main Title:
- Extreme crowding in laying hens during a recurrent smothering outbreak
- Authors:
- Herbert, George T.
Redfearn, William D.
Brass, Elizabeth
Dalton, Hillary A.
Gill, Roger
Brass, David
Smith, Cameron
Rayner, Ann C.
Asher, Lucy - Abstract:
- Abstract: Background: Piling, a behaviour where hens crowd together, is referred to as smothering if mortalities result. Smothering is a considerable concern for the egg industry, yet is vastly understudied. Methods: During an outbreak of recurrent smothering, continuous video footage captured a commercial, free‐range flock over 35 days. We describe the piling behaviour observed and potential associations with productivity and flock health indicators. Results: Forty‐eight piles were filmed, with a maximum density of 187.93 birds/m 2 and up to 1204 birds in one pile. Piling occurred in the same house location on 33 of 34 observation days, the first evidence of regularity in piling behaviour. Despite extreme bird densities, we did not find associations between piling extremity and productivity but did find associations with water:feed ratio and temperature range. Conclusion: This study describes the most extreme level of piling reported in literature and offers new insights into this problem behaviour and its consequences.
- Is Part Of:
- Veterinary record. Volume 188:Number 12(2021)
- Journal:
- Veterinary record
- Issue:
- Volume 188:Number 12(2021)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 188, Issue 12 (2021)
- Year:
- 2021
- Volume:
- 188
- Issue:
- 12
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2021-0188-0012-0000
- Page Start:
- no
- Page End:
- no
- Publication Date:
- 2021-04-19
- Subjects:
- Veterinary medicine -- Periodicals
Médecine vétérinaire -- Périodiques
Veterinary medicine
Veterinary Medicine
Periodicals
Periodical
Electronic journals
636.089 - Journal URLs:
- http://veterinaryrecord.bvapublications.com/ ↗
http://www.bmj.com/archive ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1002/vetr.245 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 0042-4900
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - 9230.000000
British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 24667.xml