SUMMARY Feather pecking (FP) by laying hens is a significant welfare issue in the poultry industry. Pecking at and pulling out feathers of conspecifics can seriously reduce the well-being of birds and causes economic losses for the farmer. Records of FP in laying hen flocks from the last 20 years show a prevalence of between 24% and 94%. Several research groups worldwide have hypothesised about the causes of FP. From a nutritional point of view, re-directed behaviour and feather eating seem to be the most plausible causes. The gut microbiome seems to be involved in FP due to its influence on hormonal pathways and as it is influenced by the diet, which might include feathers ingested by the hens. Bird experiences during the rearing period are related to FP in later life by possible effects on the physiological development of the pullets. Most likely, pullets experience a sensitive period within the first few weeks post-hatch during which FP can develop due to various factors such as hormonal influences, nutrition and (the lack of) environmental enrichment. Nutrition could influence FP in two ways. Imbalances in certain nutrients, such as amino acids may have a direct effect on physiological mechanisms that trigger FP. Furthermore, ingredients such as roughages, fibres and non-nutritive ingredients may have an effect on exploratory and foraging or feeding behaviour. Literature (mainly in adult layers) shows that nutritional interventions increased eating time by 23–45% and/or the mean retention time of feed in the gut by 2.9–6.0 min/g fibre, and reduced or delayed FP. Using nutritional strategies (i.e. provision of specific AA profiles and/or high fibrous ingredients) during the sensitive period during rearing could prevent ultimately the development of FP, by altering the pullets’ (gut) physiology and/or her time allocation. Research focussing on critical periods during rearing should be initiated.

中文翻译：

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减少或防止蛋鸡啄羽的营养方法：是否有可能在饲养过程中进行干预？

小结 蛋鸡啄羽 (FP) 是家禽业的一个重大福利问题。啄、拔同种的羽毛会严重降低鸟类的健康，给养殖户造成经济损失。过去 20 年蛋鸡群中 FP 的记录显示，其流行率为 24% 至 94%。世界各地的几个研究小组对 FP 的原因提出了假设。从营养的角度来看，重新定向的行为和吃羽毛似乎是最合理的原因。肠道微生物组似乎与 FP 相关，因为它会影响荷尔蒙途径，并且受到饮食的影响，其中可能包括母鸡摄入的羽毛。通过对小母鸡生理发育的可能影响，饲养期间的鸡只经历与晚年的 FP 相关。最有可能的是，小母鸡在孵化后的最初几周内会经历一个敏感期，在此期间，由于激素影响、营养和（缺乏）环境丰富等各种因素，FP 可能会发育。营养可以通过两种方式影响 FP。某些营养素（如氨基酸）的不平衡可能对触发 FP 的生理机制产生直接影响。此外，粗饲料、纤维和非营养成分等成分可能会对探索和觅食或摄食行为产生影响。文献（主要在成年蛋鸡中）表明，营养干预使进食时间增加了 23-45% 和/或饲料在肠道中的平均保留时间增加了 2.9-6.0 分钟/克纤维，并减少或延迟了 FP。使用营养策略（即 在饲养的敏感时期提供特定的 AA 谱和/或高纤维成分）可以通过改变小母鸡（肠道）生理机能和/或她的时间分配，最终阻止 FP 的发展。应启动以饲养关键时期为重点的研究。