Download Small Poultry Flock Management

Small Poultry Flock
Management
Dr. Audrey McElroy
Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences
VA Small Flocks
Our small flock industry
 National Animal Health Monitoring System
“Part I: Reference of Health and Management
of Backyard/Small Production Flocks in the
United States, 2004”
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ceah/ncahs/nahms/poultry/poultry04/poultry04_report_backyard.pdf
Birds on the farm
Information sources
Percent of Flocks close to commercial farms
Area for IMPACT = BIOSECURITY
Major Components to Biosecurity
•Flock Management
•Isolation
•Traffic Control
•Cleaning/Sanitation
Biosecurity Measures
 Dedicated footwear and clothing for farm
 No sharing of equipment
 Proper disposal of mortality
 Rodent and insect control
Footwear precautions for persons entering
their farm
Biosecurity Measures
 Confine flocks to controlled environment
 Screen houses to protect flock from wild birds
 Avoid contact with migratory waterfowl and other
birds
Biosecurity Measures
 Restrict visitors
 Purchase day of hatch, tested flocks
 No trading or uninformed buying – quarantine new birds
 Separation of young and older birds (6 months)
USDA “Biosecurity for Birds” Website
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/birdbiosecurity/
USDA “Biosecurity for Birds” Website
 Exhibition/State Fair Kit
Biosecurity Videos for Small Flock Owners

USDA “Biosecurity for Birds” Website

Backyard Biosecurity: Practices to Keep Your Birds Healthy
– 15 minutes
• A DVD on practicing biosecurity and recognizing
infectious poultry diseases.
• mms://151.121.2.21/content/aphis/bbehigh.wmv

Keep Your Birds Healthy 3 Easy Steps:
• DVD on practicing biosecurity and recognizing infectious
poultry diseases designed for young people.
“The Word on Healthy Birds” Webinar

USDA “Biosecurity for Birds” Website

USDA - APHIS Teams Up With The Chicken Whisperer™. The
Chicken Whisperer™ will be the national spokesperson for the
USDA - APHIS Bio-Security for Birds Program!
Small Flock Hatching Eggs


NPIP (National Poultry Improvement Plan) Hatchery
Sources of Hatching Eggs:
•
Murray McMurray Hatchery
 1-800-456-3280
 www.mcmurrayhatchery.com
•
Stromberg’s
 1-800-720-1134
 www.strombergschickens.com
•
Privett Hatchery
 505-356-6425
 www.privetthatchery.com
General Information Sources
 University of Arkansas
•
•
•
“Poultry – Small Flock Information for County
Extension Personnel”
Links to information on all topics
http://www.aragriculture.org/poultry/small_flock_inform
ation.htm
General Information Sources

Tractor Supply Company
•

http://www.tractorsupply.com/content/knowhow/livestockcare
/livestock_care_raising_poultry_expert_advice
The Poultry Site
•
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/
Disease/Health Resources

Local Vets

VDACS Labs:
•
http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/about/
directory-ais.shtml#labs

Dr. Bill Pierson:
•
[email protected]
Vaccination Resources
http://www.healthybirds.umd.edu/Disease/Vaccination%20a
nd%20Medication%20Programs%20fro%20Small%20Poult
ry%20Flocks.pdf
Vaccination Resources
 University of Florida Extension
 http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps030
External Parasite Information
 “Poultry Pest Management”
• Alabama Cooperative Extension System
• http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-0483/
• Information:






Types of external parasites
Types of flies
Control methods
Dry manure management
Biological control
Insecticides for control
Internal Parasite Information
http://www.healthybirds.umd.edu/disease/deworming%20birds.pdf
Nutrition Resources

Alabama Cooperative
Extension System

http://www.aces.edu/pubs
/docs/A/ANR-1317/
Nutrition Resources
 University of Kentucky – Small and Backyard Flocks
 http://www.ca.uky.edu/smallflocks/Nutrition.html
• Nutritional requirements
• Nutrient deficiences
• Feed ingredients
• Pastures
• Feeding

General, Layers, Broilers, Turkeys, Waterfowl, Ratites,
Gamebirds, Organic Poultry
Most common feeding mistakes

Feeding the wrong feed
• Layer ration to young birds
• Mixing scratch grain with commercial rations
• Medication errors

Not feeding enough
 Inadequate levels of energy, protein or calcium
•
Very limited whole grains, scratch feeds and table scraps
Virginia Poultry Exhibition Requirements

http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/animals/pdf/2%20VAC%205
-90.pdf

“All poultry shown in public exhibition in the
Commonwealth of Virginia are required by law to originate
from U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean or equivalent flocks or
have had a negative pullorum-typhoid test within 90 days
of the movement to the public exhibition.”
State Fair Open Poultry Show
 http://www.statefair.com/pdf/competition/2011/201
1_OpenPoultry_CompGuide.pdf
 Testing for:
• Pullorum/Typhoid within 90 days
• Avian Influenza (coordinated with VDACS)
Questions to Ask for Small Flock Calls:

How old are the birds?

How much feed and water are the birds consuming daily
and has this changed?

Has there been in a change in feed used?

Is the feed moldy?

How much light do the birds receive? Has it changed?

What is the light source?
Questions to Ask for Small Flock Calls:

How active are the birds?

What are shell & interior quality of eggs like?

Are there any signs of disease?

Have there been any stresses?

Are there any signs of parasites?

Do the birds have access to different plants or other material?
Questions to Ask for Small Flock Calls:

Have any new birds been added to the flock? What was
the source of these birds?

Have any pesticides or herbicides been used in the area?

What is the feather condition of the birds?

What do fecal droppings look like?
Questions
Regulations
 Anyone in Virginia raising or distributing birds to a
live bird market and anyone who runs a live bird
market must be licensed by VDACS
•
•
Excludes backyard flocks, hobby/egg production
flocks, and heritage breeders
Excludes producers or growers who sell live birds
grown exclusively on their premises and not a
wholesaler, dealer, hauler, or auction market operator
engaged in transportation or sale of poultry with-in live
bird markets