Additional recommendations for breeding chickens
81. Breeding birds for meat chickens have been selected for many traits including hatchability, fast growth and egg production. Consequently, their husbandry requirements are complex, demanding committed and competent stockmanship and a high standard of housing and equipment. Control of the environment is essential.
Feed and water
82. As in many aspects of husbandry, to promote optimum welfare the amount of feed offered to breeding chickens is a fine balance between offering too much feed (because birds fed to demand would become obese with increased mortality and reduction in numbers of hatching eggs) and causing suffering due to hunger and starvation. The weight of present evidence is that the overall welfare of the current genotype(s) of breeding bird is better if feed is restricted. However, it is particularly important that the effects on the individual bird are carefully monitored by skilled staff.
83. Whilst most breeding flocks will have their growth rate controlled using quantitative food restriction, consideration should be given to exploring alternative methods of restricting feed through quantitative feed restriction.
84. Birds quantitatively feed restricted show increased drinking, and displacement behaviour such as environmental pecking, e.g. pecking at the empty feeder and the wall or 'spot' pecking (see paragraph 93). Higher water intakes can impact negatively on litter quality. Increasing the fibre content of the feed increases the time taken for birds to consume their food and reduces their water intake thereby improving litter condition.
85. A combination of additional fibre and increasing levels of appetite suppressants may allow a feeding regime more closely to reflect ad lib feeding. This can lead to a much lower feed motivation compared to traditionally quantitatively fed birds in addition to reducing environmental pecking, reduced water intake and improved litter condition. This has no negative impact on subsequent egg production, weight or quality by the breeding birds.
86. Feeding equipment should be capable of delivering small quantities rapidly, accurately and evenly to all birds in the house and the amount of trough space allocated should allow access to feed for all birds intended to be fed. If feed is scattered, it should be distributed over a sufficient area to allow access for all birds to be fed and it should have good physical qualities e.g. hard pellets.
87. In no circumstances should breeding birds be induced to moult by withholding feed and water.
88. Birds should not be fed on the day of transportation as they travel more comfortably with an empty crop. Increased feed should be given to breeding birds on the day before travel and water should be made available up to the time of catching.
89. For breeding birds, it may be necessary to manage the supply of water in relation to the feeding system and programme to reduce excessive drinking and to maintain litter quality. When access to water is time limited it is vital that there is generous provision of drinkers with an adequate flow to enable all birds to drink without undue competition when the water supply is turned back on.
Aggression & Environmental enrichment
90. Provision of unopened bales of shavings or good quality straw can be used to enrich the environment of the birds. This should improve their welfare by reducing aggression in the rearing period.
91. Scatter feeding reduces displacement behaviour and increases foraging and twice daily feeding increases walking which should improve leg health in the breeding birds.
92. Littered nests are preferred by breeding females and if litter substrate is placed in a nest whatever the base type (metal, wood, rubber mat), this may reduce the numbers of floor eggs laid.
Parent breeding chickens
93. During the first 6 weeks of life feed levels should be adequate to ensure good skeletal development. The level of feed intake throughout rearing should be managed to achieve a steady growth, and the desired weight and condition at point-of-lay. Particular attention should be paid to ensure that all birds get an even share of the feed.
94. Feed should be offered to the birds at least daily throughout the production cycle with the exception of the day before depopulation, when a more generous allocation should be fed in anticipation of fasting the birds before slaughter.
95. In addition to routine daily checks, the body weight and condition of the birds should be systematically monitored on a weekly basis. Prompt, appropriate adjustments should be made to feed allocation according to what is found.
96. As the amount of feed offered to the birds is less than their ad-libitum intake, its nutritional quality must be carefully monitored and controlled. The flock-keeper must be particularly vigilant after changes in feed batches.
97. During lay, cockerels and hens have different nutritional requirements and may be fed differently within the same house. The equipment used to prevent cockerels taking feed intended for hens should be carefully adjusted to ensure that access for hens is maintained and cockerels are not injured. However, some systems and stages in the flock cycle require both males and females to be fed similar amounts of feed together and so it may be desirable to remove cockerel excluders from female feeding systems.
Elite (pedigree) birds
98. Primary breeding companies should identify the best means of minimising the number of elite birds subject to detailed selection performance testing and the age and weight to which they grow on an ad libitum feed regimen. Once the selection procedures are complete, weekly weight gain should be used to check that the birds follow the correct body weight profile to ensure good health and production.
99. Because of the constraints to which they are subjected, the management of elite birds during the period of feed restriction (from 6 weeks to point-of-lay) must avoid any other welfare challenge and provide even feed distribution, effective environmental control and avoid disease challenge.
Mutilations
Beak trimming
100. It is unnecessary to beak trim female breeding chicks routinely and only the tip of the beak should be removed from male breeding chicks. This is best done before 10 days of age, preferably at day old using the infra-red laser method. Beak trimming of older birds should only be carried out when advised by a veterinary surgeon.
Buildings and accommodation
101. Breeding birds should be reared in houses in which temperature, humidity, ventilation rates, light levels and photoperiods are carefully regulated. A well designed house will incorporate insulation and heaters, ventilation fans and vents, effective lightproofing, and a lighting system providing controllable light levels with uniform distribution.
102. To enrich the environment, insoluble grit should be offered (either spread on the litter or supplied in separate containers, in a measured amount) from about 6 weeks of age. This will also help the gizzard to break down any litter or feathers which may have been consumed, and encourage scratching. Foraging behaviour has the added advantage of improving litter quality. Suitable perches in the rearing house may provide a form of enrichment to aid the birds in performing another of their natural behaviours. Perches will also aid the birds' adaptation from litter to raised, perforated floors when they move to the laying phase.
103. Recommended minimum light intensities and photoperiods for breeding birds are:
up to 10 days - minimum of 60 lux at day old, reducing to 10 lux and an uninterrupted day length minimum of 8 hours by 10 days of age.
up to point of lay - minimum of 10 lux. Uninterrupted day length minimum of 8 hours.
laying - minimum of 20 lux. Uninterrupted day length increasing from 8 hours to a maximum of 18 hours.
104. All the above should be measured at bird eye height. If aggression occurs, the lights should be dimmed for a few days. After the first few days of life, there should be a set period of at least 6 continuous hours of darkness in any one 24-hour period.
105. Careful attention should be paid to the hen/cockerel ratio to ensure hens do not suffer physical injury from the presence of too many cockerels in the breeder house.
Stocking density, freedom of movement
106. Stocking density for breeding birds should not exceed 25 kg/m 2 calculated by dividing the total weight of all the birds (males and females) in the house by total area available to the birds. The calculation of stocking density should be on the basis of all stock within the house, including males.
Litter
107. Care should be taken to maintain good litter conditions in breeder houses. Failure to do so can lead to leg problems, footpad lesions, respiratory and environmental problems. Additional litter should be provided as required. Particular attention should be paid to maintaining ventilation levels and air movement patterns to avoid draughts at litter level.
108. In winter it can be difficult to maintain the correct temperature in breeder houses. As a result, air and litter quality can deteriorate resulting in respiratory, leg and foot pad problems. In these circumstances, supplementary heating should be available.
Catching, handling and transport
109. When breeding birds are unloaded, care should be taken when lifting them out of a crate or when tipping them out of an open-topped container. Breeding birds should have immediate access to water on arrival, especially where slats are fitted.
Breeding Procedures
Genotype selection
110. Producers should consider whether a change in genotype of the parent stock would improve welfare and productivity. The use of a dwarf heavy broiler genotype which can be ad lib fed during the rearing period can have better subsequent egg production and liveability than non-dwarf types. Producers should consider genotype ( e.g. dwarf strains) carefully with regard to improving welfare and productivity of both the parent stock and broiler progeny.