|
Ringneck Pheasant has been fitted with Kuhl Perfect Peepers to reduce feather picking and cannibalism. |
|
Cannibalism usually occurs when birds are stressed by poor management practice. When a stressed bird picks the feathers, comb, toes, or vent of another bird, an open wound or blood is visible on the bird & the vicious habit of cannibalism can spread rapidly through the entire flock. Take immediate steps to make changes to keep cannibalism in check.
Cannibalism is usually caused by one or more of these conditions:
Overcrowding: Follow space requirements for raising gamebirds. With pheasants, allow 25 to 30 sq. ft./bird after 12 weeks of age or use anti-pick prevention devices.
Excessive heat: When birds are uncomfortably hot, they can become extremely cannibalistic. Be sure to adjust the brooding temperature as the young birds get older. Decrease the temperature by 5° F per week, until you reach 70° F or the outside temperature. The temperature should be measured at the height of the birds’ backs directly under the heat source. It isn’t necessary to heat the entire brooding facility to the recommended temperature.
Excessive light: Extremely bright light or excessively long periods of light will cause birds to become hostile toward one another. Never use white light bulbs larger than 40 watts to brood fowl. If larger bulbs are required for heat, use red or infrared bulbs. In birds 12 weeks of age or older, use 15 or 25 watt bulbs above feeding and watering areas. Don’t light birds more than 16 hours per day. Constant light can be stressful to the birds.
Absence of feed or water or shortage of feeder space or water space If the birds have to fight for food or water, or if the birds are always hungry, they will increase pecking. Be sure birds have free access to water and feed at all times.
Unbalanced diets: Extremely high energy and low fiber diets cause the birds to be extra active and aggressive. Feed lacking protein and other nutrients, particularly Methionine, will also cause birds to pick feathers. Make sure you feed a diet balanced appropriately for the age and types of birds you are raising.
Mixing different types, ages, or colors of birds: Mixing different ages of birds with different traits promotes pecking by disrupting the flock’s normal pecking order.
Abrupt changes in environment or management practices: If you plan to move young birds to a new location, it is best to move some of their feeders & waterers with them in order to help them adapt. When you change over to larger feeders & waterers, it is helpful to leave the smaller equipment in the pen for a few days to help during the change.
Additional preventive measures include:
Allow the birds to use up their energy in an enclosed outside run. This will keep the birds busy and allow them to peck for greens, the ground, and insects instead of each other.
Give the birds a large handful of fresh greens like clover grass or weeds, each day. This in creases the fiber in the birds’ diet. High fiber diets keep the birds’ crops full and make them more content.
Use of mechanical devises (blinders or bits) in aggressive birds like game birds is advisable.
Trim the beak by removing the tip of the top beak and about 1/3 of the lower beak providing a square tip. This makes it difficult for the birds to harm each other. Beak trimming should be done by someone experienced in proper trimming. If there are large numbers of birds to be debeaked, purchase a debeaker.
Try to correct any practices which may lead to cannibalism. Make cannibalism control part of your management program and you will save a great deal of time and money: darken the facilities by using red bulbs, remove all badly injured birds, applying an “anti- pick” ointment or pine tar on any damaged birds usually stops pecking, and lower the pen temperature a bit if possible.
|
|
The rubber V-shaped Ideal Spec enhances the ability to slide off netting. The increased wall thickness at holes reduces wear and creates a funnel shape to help guide the pin through the hole. |
|
|
Item |
100 |
1000 |
|
IDSP |
Ideal Spec Rubber Pheasant Blinders with pins |
$20.00 |
$130.00 |
|
E3TP |
Extra pins for Ideal Spec |
$6.00 |
$40.00 |
|
PPNP |
Perfect Peeper with HD pins for birds over 6 wks. old |
$20.00 |
$140.00 |
|
PPCC |
Perfect Peepers with C-clips |
$21.00 |
$142.00 |
|
EXNP |
Extra heavy duty nylon pins |
$6.00 |
$40.00 |
|
EXCC |
Extra C-clips |
$4.75 |
$35.00 |
|
PB2 |
Plastic bits for quail, chukars, & 3 to 6 wk–old pheasants. Measures 1/2” w x 1/4” h. Flexible bits do not require a tool. |
$4.75 |
$38.00 |
|
PB3 |
Plastic bits for pheasants 6 wks. Measures 3/4” w x 1/2” h. |
$5.00 |
$44.00 |