individualbirdaredecisiveinthemaintenanceofthepecking
order.^4
Otherstudieshaveshownthataflockofuptoninetychickens
can maintain a stable social order, each bird knowing its
place;but80,000birdscrowdedtogetherinasingleshedis
obviously a different matter. Thebirds cannot establish a
socialorder,andasaresulttheyfightfrequentlywith each
other.Quiteapartfromtheinabilityoftheindividualbirdto
recognize so many other birds, the mere fact of extreme
crowdingprobablycontributestoirritabilityand excitability
inchickens, asitdoesin humanbeingsandotheranimals.
This is something that farmers have long known:
Feather-peckingandcannibalismeasilybecomeseriousvices
among birds kept under intensive conditions. They mean
lowerproductivityandlostprofits.Birdsbecomeboredand
peckatsomeoutstandingpartofanotherbird’splumage....
Whileidlenessandboredomarepredisposing causesofthe
vices, cramped, stuffy and overheated housing are
contributory causes.^5
Farmers must stop “vices” since they cost money; but,
althoughtheymayknowthatovercrowdingistherootcause,
theycannotdoanythingaboutthis,sinceinthecompetitive
stateoftheindustry, eliminatingovercrowdingcouldmean
eliminatingone’sprofitmarginatthesametime.Costsforthe
building,for theautomatic feedingequipment,for thefuel
used to heat and ventilate thebuilding, and for the labor
wouldremainthesame,butwithfewerbirdspershedtosell,
incomewouldbereduced.Sofarmersdirecttheireffortsto
reducing the consequences of the stress that costs them