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HAY - MAN U RE - 5T RAW
CANNIBALISTIC FOWLS
defy experts
Normally chickens feed on grains,
vegetation and meat, but under cer
tain conditions they may become meat
oaters to the oxtont of cannibalism.
The first symptom of cannibalism
appears in the baby chicks when they
begin to pick toes* Later foather
picking appears. The soft blood
filled quills seem to be especially
appetizing to the cannibals. Small
feathers on the back and wings and
around the vent and tail seem to be
the most accessible.
Once blood has been drawn from a
bird, the pen mates literally see
blood and they go to work on the
victim until it is picked to d^ath.
This condition is not confined to
chickens as pheasants and game birds
raised in captivity are notorious
feather pickers. Turkeys and ducks
may also bccomd cannibalistic.
Experts say that "Tho causes of
cannibalism are uncertain and very
complex, and probably involve the
nutrition of the bird, its genetic
background and its management."
It is likely that a deficiency in
any of several nutrients may cause
the bird to have a depraved appe
tite and may lead to cannabilism.
It has b'ccn thought that feed with
a high corn ratio nay cause canni
balism and that oats were a limit
ing factor. However, at the Univer
sity of California a severe outbreak
of 'cannibalism occurred in chicks
from breeder .hens on an experimental
diet composed largely of polished
rice and fishmeal. Preliminary
studies indicated that corn aggrava
ted and oats prevented the condition.
A crucial experiment was then set
up with sufficient numbers to prove
or disprove those preliminary ob
servations. Precisely at this time
the chicks ceased to be cannibalis
tic, although there was no change in
the feed, the management, or the
birds. The whole investigation
yielded nothing definite in the way
of results. It is not known why
cannibalism started nor why it ended.
The most logical nutritional pre
ventative, according to V/ilbor 0
Wilson, assistant Poultry Husband
man, of the California Experiment
Station, is the feeding of the most
complete diet that is possible, so
that if there are nutritional fac
tors required to prevent cannibalism
it would make their chance inclusion
most possible.
There are more specific nutritional
recommendations: Among them the feed
Pont, on page 9