Research Project
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In collaboration with
Prof. Robby Andersson, Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences
Duration
November 2009 – February 2010
Participants
- Marion Staack
- Ute Knierim
In cooperation with
- Christiane Keppler
- Susanne Döring
Funding
Fachhochschule Osnabrück
Recommendations from science and praxis for the organically rearing of pullets
Projekttext
It is the aim of this project to present up-to-date recommendations and decision support for the rearing of pullets on organically managed farms. Strategies for the prevention of feather pecking and cannibalism are especially accounted for.
Feather pecking and cannibalism pose large problems for advisers as both abnormal behaviours are multifactorially determined. They often develop during rearing and there is no universal strategy for prevention.
Even in organically reared flocks beaks of pullets are in part trimmed prophylactically to limit feather pecking and cannibalism symptomatically. Regarding animal welfare this measure is not acceptable. For this project recommendations on adequate management-strategies, rearing and husbandry conditions will be brought together from literature and expert opinion to be used as a decision support for pullet-rearers, farmers and advisers with the aim of refraining from beak trimming in future.