Comparison of plumage condition of laying hens with intact and trimmed beaks kept on commercial farms

Feather pecking and cannibalism are wide spread problems in the egg production. To prevent or reduce damages due to these behavioural disorders, beak trimming is a common method applied. Due to the associated pain, there is an ongoing discussion on beak trimming prohibition in Germany, Great Britain and the Netherlands, while Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Austria (optional) already renounced on beak trimming. The aim of the present study was to evaluate to which extent the status of beak influences the plumage condition in laying hens. Ten flocks (five flocks with intact beaks, five flocks with trimmed beaks) on five commercial farms were examined regarding the plumage damage at the end of the rearing period. During the laying period, twelve flocks (six flocks with intact beaks, six flocks with trimmed beaks) on six commercial farms were visited regularly for scoring loss of plumage. An aggravation of the plumage damage was detected with the advancing age of layers. Overall, birds with untrimmed beaks showed significantly more plumage damage at the end of the rearing period as well as during the whole laying period than birds with trimmed beaks.