A new approach to recording plumage deterioration.
1. Recording methods for the scoring of plumage wear are reviewed. 2. A new technique, distinguishing between feather tracts, the surface to which damage occurs and the degree of degradation to the feathers themselves is elaborated: a 5 step scale for degradation is applied to all appropriate fractions of 6 feather regions. After correcting for the normal feather weight in the respective areas, all 6 area values are summed to constitute an overall index of body plumage wear (IBPW).
Herremans
M
M
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Laboratorium voor Fysiologie der Huisdieren, Heverlee, Belgium.
Decuypere
E
E
D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005241:Feathers / Q000473:pathology*