Parasitic mites alter chicken behaviour and negatively impact animal welfare.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Murillo AC
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7237419 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Parasitic mites alter chicken behaviour and negatively impact animal welfare.
Murillo Amy C AC Abdoli Alireza A Blatchford Richard A RA Keogh Eamonn J EJ Gerry Alec C AC
Scientific reports 20200519 1
The northern fowl mite, Ornithonyssus sylviarum, is one of the most common and damaging ectoparasites of poultry. As an obligate blood feeding mite, the northern fowl mite can cause anaemia, slower growth, and decreased egg production of parasitized birds. However, the impact of mites or other ectoparasites on hen behaviour or welfare is not well studied. Here, we use activity sensors (three-axis accelerometers) affixed to individual birds to continuously record hen movement before, during, and ...[more]
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