Beak condition and cage density determine abundance and spatial distribution of northern fowl mites, Ornithonyssus sylviarum, and chicken body lice, Menacanthus stramineus, on caged laying hens

B A Mullens; B L Chen; J P Owen

doi:10.3382/ps.2010-00955

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Beak condition and cage density determine abundance and spatial distribution of northern fowl mites, Ornithonyssus sylviarum, and chicken body lice, Menacanthus stramineus, on caged laying hens

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Beak condition and cage density determine abundance and spatial distribution of northern fowl mites, Ornithonyssus sylviarum, and chicken body lice, Menacanthus stramineus, on caged laying hens

B A Mullens, B L Chen and J P Owen

Poultry science, Vol.89(12), pp.2565-2572

12/2010

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.2010-00955

Handle:

https://hdl.handle.net/2376/117455

PMID: 21076093

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Abstract

Beak - anatomy & histology

Humans

Skin - parasitology

Housing, Animal - standards

Lice Infestations - veterinary

Mite Infestations - veterinary

Poultry Diseases - parasitology

Animals

Mites - physiology

Chickens - parasitology

Population Density

Beak - physiology

Animal Welfare - standards

Female

Oviposition

Pesticides - economics

Mite Infestations - prevention & control

Adult White Leghorn hens (Hy-Line strain W-36) were inoculated with either northern fowl mites or chicken body lice, and the ectoparasite populations were monitored over periods of 9 to 16 wk. Two beak conditions (beak trimmed or beak intact) and 2 housing densities (1 or 2 hens per 25 × 31 cm suspended wire cage) were tested. Populations of both ectoparasites were at least 10 times lower on beak-intact hens compared with populations on beak-trimmed hens. Cage density did not influence mite numbers, but higher numbers of lice (2 to 3 times) developed on hens held at the higher cage density. Louse distribution on the body and louse population age structure were also influenced by host beak condition. Beak-intact hens had a higher proportion of lice under the wings, whereas beak-trimmed hens had the majority of lice on the lower abdomen. Louse populations on beak-trimmed hens also comprised relatively more immature stages than populations found on beak-intact hens. The effects are likely related to decreased grooming efficiency by beak-trimmed hens and, in the case of lice, the higher host density. The high mite and louse populations on most commercial caged laying hens are probably a direct result of beak trimming. However, selection of more docile breeds that can be held without trimming may allow the hens themselves to reduce ectoparasites below economically damaging levels. This could benefit producers, animal welfare advocates, and human health by reducing 1) costs of beak trimming, 2) pesticide treatment costs (including human and bird chemical exposure concerns), and 3) objections to beak trimming from the animal welfare community.

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Title: Beak condition and cage density determine abundance and spatial distribution of northern fowl mites, Ornithonyssus sylviarum, and chicken body lice, Menacanthus stramineus, on caged laying hens
Creators: B A Mullens - Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA. mullens@mail.ucr.edu
B L Chen
J P Owen
Publication Details: Poultry science, Vol.89(12), pp.2565-2572
Academic Unit: Entomology, Department of
Publisher: England
Identifiers: 99900547931001842
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article