Natural foraging and pecking behaviour
Birds are motivated to explore and peck at their environment. In a system that offers little to direct that behaviour towards, it tends to be redirected — often onto other birds.
Damaging pecking has more than one cause
Damaging feather pecking is generally multifactorial. Lighting, stocking density, litter quality and access, diet and nutrition, ventilation, temperature, range access and stress can all contribute, and they interact.
That is why no enrichment product prevents damaging pecking on its own. Where it is already underway in a flock, the causes need to be identified with a poultry adviser or veterinarian — adding an object to the shed is not an investigation.
The role of occupation material
Enrichment is planned into a shed as part of a welfare program, before damage appears, so birds have an appropriate outlet for pecking behaviour from the start.
PECKStone is the material we supply. Vilofoss describes it as a mineral block in feed quality, developed to promote the natural behaviour of poultry and support natural beak wear. It is made in different hardness grades — ask us which are supplied in Australia.
The product we supply
PECKStone as part of poultry enrichment
A mineral block that gives birds something appropriate to peck at and work on. It is one part of a flock-welfare program, not a standalone answer to damaging feather pecking.
Poultry enrichment
PECKStone
A mineral pecking block that gives poultry an appropriate material to peck at and work on, as part of flock enrichment.
View PECKStone →
Rates, directions and approved uses
Ask us for the current documents
Tell us the product and your production system, and we will send the current Australian documentation that applies to what we supply — directions, rates, approved uses and safety information.
Products must be used in accordance with current Australian labels, directions and product documentation. Information on this website is general and does not replace veterinary, nutrition or other professional advice appropriate to an individual operation.
Talk to us about poultry enrichment.
Ask us about the products relevant to this challenge, the Australian documentation, or supply in your region.