How to get the BEST from your Hens

Bulletin #9

Common problems affecting Laying Hen Production

Behavioural Problems

Laying hen behaviour has been studied by animal behaviour scientist and our experience in Jamaica supports their findings. In general hens respond to nutritional, health, poor management and environmental stressors by deviating from their normal behaviour patterns and exhibiting varying levels of anti-social behaviour, these include the following:

1. Egg Eating

1. Inadequate nesting space
2. Infrequent Egg Collection
3. Insufficient nesting material

2. Cannibalism & feather pulling

1. Blowouts
2. overcrowding
3. Poor beak trimming
4. High light intensity

3. Pile ups

1. Poor feed distribution
2. Coccidiosis
3. Sudden noise
4. Poor light management