Cannibalism Of Laying Hens

Bapak Agus

Palembang-South Sumatra

My cock layer, at the moment he is 60 weeks a few days ago 1 tail died with the intestines out of the rectum, is it because of cannibals? What are the causes and how to prevent and treat it? Thank you.

Answer:

Dear. Mr. Agus, thank you for the question. Cannibals are habitual chickens that peck each other and even eat their own eggs. Cannibalism is usually characterized by injuries to the body of chickens and often found there are paralyzed chickens. The causes of cannibalism include:

1. The temperature of the cage is too hot
2. Too bright cage
3. High cage density
4. Insufficient or uneven number of ration places and drinking places
5. The ration contains too high calories (metabolic energy)
6. External parasites cause chickens to peck their feathers. The blood that comes out from the pecking will attract other chickens to peck too
7. Injury (such as a sharp object in the cage)
8. Genetic factors

However, based on the findings that you convey, there are other possible diseases, namely Uterine Prolapse. On laying hens, often found diseases in which the oviduct (oviduct) chickens that contract to release eggs, are held back by abdominal fat (abdominal fat) and finally the reproductive tract comes out, this disease is known as Uterine Prolapse. The disease is characterized by the exit of the oviduct from the inside of the cloaca. Prolapse it often occurs in chickens that are laying eggs. This disorder occurs during the egg-laying period and cannot recover on its own.

Factors causing the onset of prolapse uterus among others :

1. Weakness / muscle damage in the cloaca area due to the age of the chicken (old chicken), inflammation of the oviduct and anus.
2. Lighting intensity that is too high or changes in lighting programs that are done suddenly.
3. Chicken is too fat / abdominal fat deposits are too thick.

Current Cases of uterine prolapse this can be prevented by :

1. Maintain the body weight of the chicken remains ideal (according to the standard). Laying hens that experience growth barriers during the starter or grower will have a body frame with a smaller size (below normal). As a result, when the time layer such chickens tend to be more susceptible prolapse. Chickens with too large a weight size can also trigger prolapse. This chicken will have excess fat deposits on its stomach so that it can interfere with the elasticity of the oviduct, that is, when removing the eggs the oviduct cannot re-enter because it is held back by body fat.
2. Set the lighting program as needed. Do not provide lighting with excessive length of time and intensity. Lighting for the future layer should be given for 16 hours, ie 12 hours of sunlight and 4 hours of lamp light with an intensity of 40 lux.
3. Provide rations with nutritional content that matches the needs of chickens, especially mineral needs.
4. Pay attention to the density of the cage. A dense Cage will cause stress in chickens and increase their pecking activity.
5. Maintain a comfortable cage temperature of 25-28°C.

Because it is likely on the farm father has been the case prolapse, what we can suggest is:

1. Culling or reject chickens that have experienced cases prolapse that's because it's no longer productive.
2. Jif the age of the chicken is still in the productive category, the selection of chickens with a weight exceeding the standard. Review the ration formulation or reduce the amount of ration administration.