EFFECT OF BEAK TRIMMING, NUMBER IN BATTERY CAGE CELL AND LEAF HANGING ON PERFORMANCE AND FEATHER CONDITION SCORE OF LAYER CHICKENS

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of beak trimming, leaf hanging and number in cage cell on performance and feather condition score of 44 weeks old laying chickens reared in battery cages. Two hundred and sixteen laying chickens were assigned to twelve treatments in a 3 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement in a complete randomized design. The factors were number in cell (3, 2 or 1 bird per cage cell), beak trimming (trimmed or not trimmed) and leaf hanging (with leaf or no leaf). Each treatment was replicated thrice with 6 birds per replicate. Egg production, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were measured. Feather condition and mortality were also measured. The results of the study showed that beak trimming did not affect the feed conversion ratio of laying chickens. Egg production was higher for hens that were not beak trimmed. Leaf hanging decreased the feed intake. Egg production was affected by number in cell with placing 1 bird per cell having better than having 3 birds in a cell. Beak trimming affected feather condition score with laying chickens with trimmed beaks having better feather condition score than those not trimmed. Beak trimming, leaf hanging and number in cell did not influence mortality due to cannibalism. From the result of this study, it can be concluded that beak trimming reduced egg production but improved feather condition score of laying chicken. Beak trimming should be done prior to birds start laying to prevent cannibalism as indicated by feather condition score.