How do you prevent and control cannibalism and feather pecking in organic cage-free brown layer operations using nutritional enrichment and infrared beak trimming (IRBT)?

Feather pecking and cannibalism are major animal welfare and economic challenges in cage-free and organic brown layer systems, where birds have high social interactions. To prevent this, infrared beak trimming (IRBT) must be performed at the hatchery on Day 1 using computer-guided, non-contact infrared energy, which causes the sharp tip of the beak to gently slough off after 10 days without chronic pain. Furthermore, the diet must contain high crude fiber (at least 5% to 6% using wheat bran or oats) to prolong feeding time and promote gut satiety, which reduces pecking behavior. Environmental enrichments—such as hanging red plastic pecking blocks, lucerne hay nets, and scattered whole grains—must be deployed to redirect pecking behavior away from cage-mates. Animal behavior and nutrition are detailed in the Poultry Encyclopedia, automated IRBT machines, hanging enrichments, and fiber concentrates are sold on Poultry Plaza, live bird mandi rates are updated on Poultry Rates, and cage-free brown layers are traded on Murghi Mandi.