This petition is to prevent & stop & totally ban the barbaric practice refered to as "Dubbing"
In practice, an anesthetic is rarely used during dubbing and as a consequence, the RSPCA Australia is opposed to dubbing on poultry intended to be exhibited at shows, and describes the practice as a cause of pain and distress.
The comb and wattles function in thermoregulation; blood circulating from the comb and the wattles helps the bird lose heat during hot weather. The comb is also used in mate-assessment in some poultry species.
Dubbing would interfere with both these functions of the comb and wattles.
In commercial laying hens, those dubbed at hatching exhibit few effects on egg production but the older the birds are when dubbed, the greater the negative effects of dubbing.
In the UK, the Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) concludes "that removal of the comb offers no welfare advantages to offset the disturbance caused by the procedure and believe the practice should be phased out."
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) writes: "Removal of the comb offers few, if any, welfare advantages in comparison with the disturbance and pain likely to be caused and should be avoided."
The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (Schedule 3 Amendment) Order 1988 (SI 1988 No. 526) permits only a veterinary surgeon to remove the combs of a domestic fowl which has reached the age of 72 hours.
In New Zealand, the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee stated in 2002 they were "working towards a strategy to prevent this practice."
In 2010, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reviewed scientific evidence and concluded "that no mutilation with an effect on welfare as severe as those resulting from cutting off toes or dubbing the comb should be carried out unless justified by evidence for a substantial and unavoidable level of poor welfare in the birds themselves and other birds."
Updates
October 25, 2019
I have been reading through the comments and seeing so many people mention how unnecessary this pain is for the birds. It really hits home when you think about them just trying to regulate their body temperature in the summer heat. Still waiting to hear anything back from the authorities but I am busy drafting some more formal notes to send out tomorrow.
October 25, 2019
I was checking the feed this morning and I am just floored by how many people are finally looking at this because for a long time it felt like I was shouting into a void about these poor birds. It is just wild to think so many of you care about their thermoregulation and basic comfort as much as I do so thank you for actually paying attention to this.
Reached 100 supporters
October 25, 2019
56 Comments
I don't breed game birds, but do think this is an outdated barbaric practice, especially as it is mainly done for showing'
I wasn't aware of this practice until now, but I believe it should be banned. There is no health based reason to do this, it is completely unnecessary.
As docking dog’s tails for cosmetic purposes has been banned for well over a decade, the practice of dubbing should have been stopped years ago.
Completely unnecessary practice! I’ve witnessed dubbing in person, the birds scream, the birds bleed and bleed, and most importantly the birds suffer for no reason.
It astounds and disgusts me that this barbaric level of torture is still commonplace and legal in the uk in 2019! It’s horrifically unnecessary to subject these beautiful birds to this level of pain and cruelty.
So cruel :-(
Just completely wrong and unnecessary
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via . Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Copy link or share directly
This petition is to prevent & stop & totally ban the barbaric practice refered to as "Dubbing"
In practice, an anesthetic is rarely used during dubbing and as a consequence, the RSPCA Australia is opposed to dubbing on poultry intended to be exhibited at shows, and describes the practice as a cause of pain and distress.
The comb and wattles function in thermoregulation; blood circulating from the comb and the wattles helps the bird lose heat during hot weather. The comb is also used in mate-assessment in some poultry species.
Dubbing would interfere with both these functions of the comb and wattles.
In commercial laying hens, those dubbed at hatching exhibit few effects on egg production but the older the birds are when dubbed, the greater the negative effects of dubbing.
In the UK, the Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) concludes "that removal of the comb offers no welfare advantages to offset the disturbance caused by the procedure and believe the practice should be phased out."
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) writes: "Removal of the comb offers few, if any, welfare advantages in comparison with the disturbance and pain likely to be caused and should be avoided."
The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (Schedule 3 Amendment) Order 1988 (SI 1988 No. 526) permits only a veterinary surgeon to remove the combs of a domestic fowl which has reached the age of 72 hours.
In New Zealand, the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee stated in 2002 they were "working towards a strategy to prevent this practice."
In 2010, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reviewed scientific evidence and concluded "that no mutilation with an effect on welfare as severe as those resulting from cutting off toes or dubbing the comb should be carried out unless justified by evidence for a substantial and unavoidable level of poor welfare in the birds themselves and other birds."
Updates
October 25, 2019
I have been reading through the comments and seeing so many people mention how unnecessary this pain is for the birds. It really hits home when you think about them just trying to regulate their body temperature in the summer heat. Still waiting to hear anything back from the authorities but I am busy drafting some more formal notes to send out tomorrow.
October 25, 2019
I was checking the feed this morning and I am just floored by how many people are finally looking at this because for a long time it felt like I was shouting into a void about these poor birds. It is just wild to think so many of you care about their thermoregulation and basic comfort as much as I do so thank you for actually paying attention to this.
Reached 100 supporters
October 25, 2019
56 Comments
Why would anyone want to mutilate and disfigure their poultry purely for show? Absolutely barbaric.
I don't breed game birds, but do think this is an outdated barbaric practice, especially as it is mainly done for showing'
I wasn't aware of this practice until now, but I believe it should be banned. There is no health based reason to do this, it is completely unnecessary.
As docking dog’s tails for cosmetic purposes has been banned for well over a decade, the practice of dubbing should have been stopped years ago.
Completely unnecessary practice! I’ve witnessed dubbing in person, the birds scream, the birds bleed and bleed, and most importantly the birds suffer for no reason.
It astounds and disgusts me that this barbaric level of torture is still commonplace and legal in the uk in 2019! It’s horrifically unnecessary to subject these beautiful birds to this level of pain and cruelty.
So cruel :-(
Just completely wrong and unnecessary
Help this petition grow
Share it with friends to help reach 250 signatures.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via .
Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
Signing with Google or Facebook verifies your signature instantly — no email needed.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
Why would anyone want to mutilate and disfigure their poultry purely for show? Absolutely barbaric.