Induced Molting of Layer Birds Essay -- Animals Papers

Induced Molting of Layer Birds Induced molting of layer birds is a practice done for economical benefits. These birds are put under great stress, which should not be allowed. Further studies of humane induced molting techniques should be done to replace those that are currently used and inhumane. In nature birds undergo natural molting. During a year birds will replace all of their feather to maintain a good plumage, this usually occurs at the beginning of winter when birds do not have chicks. They can concentrate their energies to stay warm and to grow new feathers. (Animal Protection Institute, 1998) However, there also is induced molting, which is done by human influence. The later is practiced by 60% - 70% of the layer industry, so that a second cycle of laying flocks is achieved. (Macri et al., 1998) Induced molting occurs when the bird’s organism is stressed by some source that alters their environment. The most common are: lack of food and water, decrease of light, and change in diet. Food withdrawal can be up to 10 days and of water up to 2 days. The change in diet usually is a low calcium, or low sodium and also feeding a diet high in dietary zinc. All of these methods can be done separately or in any combination with each other. (Alodan and Mashaly, 1998). At the end of every laying cycle, egg quality and production are decreased. This is when induced molting is imposed to give a â€Å"rest† to the birds. After the â€Å"rest† period egg quality and production are increased when compared to the pre-molting period. There are several improvements to the egg at the post-molt period; there is a "better egg size, shell quality, internal egg quality and rate of egg production." (Alodan and Mashaly, 1998) ... ...on Caused by Salmonella Enteritidis.† Tektran, United States Department of Agriculture, Agrucultural Research Service (12/18/1998). Last visited on 09/09/2001 at http://www.nal.usda.gov/ttic/tektran/data/000007/07/0000070701.html Poultry.org, a Farm Sanctuary Campaign. â€Å"Forced Molting of Laying Birds† Last visited on 09/09/2001 at http://www.poultry.org/molting.htm Ruszler, Paul L. â€Å"The Keys to Successful Induced Molting of Leghorn-type Hens† Extension Poultry Scientist, Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Virginia State Univerty. Publication Number 408-026, January 1997. Last visited on 09/09/2001 at http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/poultry/408-026/408-026.html#TOC Summer/Fall 1998 Poultry Press â€Å"Balancing Economics and Evil† Induced Molting. Last visited on 09/22/2001 at http://www.upc-online.org/summer98/molting_econ_and_evil.html#top