Feather pecking (FP) in laying hens remains an important economic and welfare issue. This
paper reviews the literature on causes of FP in laying hens. With the ban on conventional …

A deficient serotonergic system is associated with psychopathological behaviors in various
species, among which, feather pecking (FP) in chickens. Deficiency in the serotonergic …

This scientific opinion focuses on the welfare of laying hens, pullets and layer breeders on
farm. The most relevant husbandry systems used in Europe are described. For each system …

Severe feather pecking (SFP) in commercial laying hens is a maladaptive behavior which is
associated with anxiety traits. Many experimental studies have shown that stress in the …

Feather damage due to severe feather pecking (SFP) in laying hens is most severe during
the laying period. However, SFP can develop at an early age and is influenced by early …

In the near future EU-legislation will ban the use of conventional battery cages, while
national legislation in some countries in Western Europe will ban beak trimming as well. The …

Pigs and poultry are by far the most omnivorous of the domesticated farm animals and it is in
their nature to be highly explorative. In the barren production environments, this motivation …

Feather damaging behaviour (also referred to as feather picking or feather plucking) is a
behavioural disorder that is frequently encountered in captive parrots. This disorder has …

It has been suggested that feather pecking in poultry results when foraging behaviour is
redirected to feathers in the absence of adequate foraging incentives and that gentle feather …

Gut microbiota influences host behaviour and physiology, such as anxiety, stress,
serotonergic and immune systems. These behavioural and physiological characteristics are …