40. It is a requirement of the Welfare of Livestock Regulations 1994 to provide adequate feed and water. The Regulations state that hens must be fed in sufficient quantity to maintain them in good health and to satisfy their nutritional needs. Hens must also have access to an adequate supply of fresh drinking water at all times. All present systems can provide these fundamental requirements when operated to proper standards.
41. Most studies on nutrition have been linked to production. It has been suggested that lack of animal protein in the diet predisposes the flock to injurious pecking leading to cannibalism and death; plumage quality is also adversely affected. This effect has recently been confirmed by experiment although the precise protein fraction that is apparently lacking has not been identified. It is important, therefore, that any possibility of a nutritional effect on injurious behaviour must be clarified if progress is to be made in reducing the problem by other means. We are aware that certain other fractions of diets (e.g. wheat) normally fed to laying hens may alter injurious behaviour. Hens in the natural environment will eat soluble and insoluble grit although it is not clear whether there is frustration if this is absent.
42. We recommend further research work to identify and quantify the factors in animal protein responsible for reducing injurious behaviour in laying hens.
43. The feeding to poultry of products derived from chicken meat and bones should be avoided. This will minimise the possibility of disease transmission through the feed.