Kvet Forum
Well-known member
What causes this?
It is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Although the exact etiology is unknown, many management conditions and genetics can predispose a flock to an outbreak. Some of these are:
- Insufficient access to resources, including feed, water, perch or nesting space.
- Dietary absences or deficiencies (example: salt deficiency).
- Bright lighting.
- Injured birds left in the flock.
- Large group size.
- Keeping different ages or colors together.
- Injuries that bleed as a result of protruding cage or pen wires, enclosures in poor repair or from fighting among newly mixed birds.
- Diseased or birds with low body weight.
- Photostimulation programs designed to produce early onset of lay.
- Barren environments that restrict or limit behavior, especially normal nesting and foraging behavior.
- Changing the diet to a less-preferred food.