The effects of methionine deficiency and egg production on feather loss in caged layers

Feather loss was scored on the neck and crop area of 402 individually-caged hens, 61 weeks old and receiving either methionine-deficient or adequate diets. Both feather loss and egg production were greater for the hens receiving adequate diets. Within treatments there was a close relationship between egg output and feather loss. The findings are consistent with feather loss being caused by abrasion against the cage floor or walls during pre-laying behaviour.