Feather loss and pecking one another in chickens

Pecking at one another is determined to be due to genetics, environmental factors and management of stocking densities as overcrowding, excessive heat, high light intensity and prolonged stimulation, lack of feed, drinking water or feeding space, unbalanced diets, keeping chickens of different ages in confinement, lack of light or lack of litters in laying hens lead to pecking at one another

1. Etiology
Pecking at one another is determined to be due to genetics, environmental factors and management of stocking densities as overcrowding, excessive heat, high light intensity and prolonged stimulation, lack of feed, drinking water or feeding space, unbalanced diets, keeping chickens of different ages in confinement, lack of light or lack of litters in laying hens lead to pecking at one another.

High density an inappropriate light

2. Symptoms
Poultry abnormally molt, feathers on wings, back, base of tail, neck, chest and abdomen are often the first to fall out to leave many patches of bare skin with different shapes. Chickens run after each other around the coop, at first only a few chickens of the flock peck at one another, especially some chickens are bled. The bleeding occurs resulting in stimulation of the others, if is not timely intervened, pecking at one another will occur in all chickens of the flock leading to drop in egg production and decreased economic value.

Symptoms of pecking one another and feather loss in chickens

3. Prevention
Based on the etiology of the disease, the Marphavet experts recommend a preventive measures as follows:
- Firstly, controlling rations with a reasonable and balanced diet
- Supplementing minerals to poultry, especially during egg laying
- Space of feeding and drinking water thoughs must be sufficiently provided, ensuring clean and appropriate temperatures
- Providing reasonable lighting especially for laying poultry
- Cutting beaks of poultry especially laying poultry (Note: Method of cutting should be properly and sterilely performed)
- Periodically, one of the following preparations can be administered orally via feed or drinking water:
39-VITA-AMIN, SORBITOL COMPLEX, DOXY 5%, PREMIX, LACTOMAR in order to supplement minerals and vitamins that are insufficient in the diets
4. Treatment
- Bleeding and wounds may attract poultry, therefore injured poultry should be early detected and isolated. Methylen blue is applicated topically to the wound to prevent infection and further pecking one another
- One of the following regimens can be used:
+ 39-VITA-AMIN 1g/2-3 liters of drinking water is consecutively or periodically administered.
+ HERBAL MARPHASOL 1-2g/liters of drinking water is consecutively administered for 3-5 days.
+ MARFLOMIX 1kg/450 kg B.W is consecutively or periodically administered
+ TYVALMIX at dose of 1kg Tylvalmix/ 4-5 tons of premix feed equivelent to 1g/ 25-30kg B.W /day.
+ SORBITOL-MAR 1g/1-1,5 liters of drinking water /day or 100g/50kg B.W is consecutively or periodically administered
+ B COMPLEX 1g/3 of drinking water or 1-2 kg of premix feed is consecutively or periodically administered
+ DOXY 2% PREMIX 1g/3-5kg of premix feed consecutively or periodically administered for prevention of infectious diseases
+ BIOTIN B2B5 50g/15kg of premix feed is consecutively or periodically administered
+ ELECTROLYTE GLUCO-K-C 100g/40kg B.W /day equivalent to 2g/ liters of drinking water is consecutively or periodically administered