Eating feathers between chickens and ducks (also known as "pecking feathers" or "plucking feathers") is an abnormal behavior that may be caused by multiple factors. Here are some main reasons and their corresponding explanations: 1. Nutritional deficiency
Protein and vitamin deficiencies: If chicken and duck diets lack sufficient protein, vitamins (such as vitamins A, D, E, and B), or certain amino acids (such as sulfur-containing amino acids), it can lead to feather pecking behavior.
Mineral deficiency, especially cobalt deficiency, may lead to hair loss and trigger feather pecking. 2、 Improper feeding and management
Poor feeding environment: Excessive feeding density, poor ventilation in the enclosure, high concentrations of ammonia and carbon dioxide, strong or uneven light distribution can all cause stress on chickens and ducks, leading to feather pecking.
Improper feed management: Unreasonable feed ratios, irregular feeding times, and occasional satiety can also lead to nutritional imbalances in chickens and ducks, which in turn can cause feather pecking. 3、 Diseases and parasitic infections
Parasitic infections: Parasites such as feather lice, prickly mites, scabies, etc. can stimulate skin itching, causing chickens and ducks to peck at their feathers and skin, and in severe cases, they may chase each other.
Diseases such as coccidiosis, cloaca, prolapse, dysentery, etc. can cause the feathers around the anus to be contaminated by feces and adhere, leading to mass anal pecking and feather pecking. 4、 Stress factors
Environmental changes: Sudden changes in feed, high or low water temperature, sudden noise and human interference, and the intrusion of raptors or wild animals can all lead to feather pecking behavior in chickens and ducks.
Feeding method: Chickens and ducks raised indoors or in cages may be in a monotonous and boring psychological state for a long time due to insufficient exercise, and may also attack each other, leading to pecking habits. 5、 Variety and age factors
Variety differences: Some breeds of chickens and ducks are more prone to pecking feathers than others, such as egg breeds being more prone to pecking than meat breeds.
Age stage: Young adults and newly born chickens and ducks are more likely to engage in feather pecking behavior due to their active and aggressive secretion of sex hormones and progesterone in their bodies. Solution
1. Improve feeding environment: Ensure moderate feeding density, good ventilation, appropriate lighting, and proper temperature and humidity control.
2. Strengthen feeding management: Reasonably allocate feed, feed regularly and quantitatively, and clean up feces and foreign objects in a timely manner.
3. Prevention and treatment of diseases and parasites: Regularly check the health status of chickens and ducks, timely detect and treat diseases and parasitic infections.
4. Reduce stress factors: Avoid sudden changes in feed and environment, reduce noise and human interference.
5. Provide entertainment facilities: Set up entertainment facilities or hang green materials in the feeding cage to distract the attention of chickens and ducks and reduce the occurrence of pecking behavior.
The mutual feeding of feathers between chickens and ducks is a complex problem that requires comprehensive consideration of multiple factors and corresponding measures to be taken to solve.