How to get the BEST from your Hens

Bulletin #5

Common problems affecting Laying Hen Production

1. Flock Health Management

The emphasis here is the old adage “Prevention is better than cure” the prevention aspect of flock health management starts with a well-planned and implemented Biosecurity program.

2. Biosecurity critical success factors

1. Hen house cleaned and disinfected at least two weeks before the pullets arrive
2. Hen house repaired to prevent the entry of wild birds
3. Hen house foot bath, clean footwear and coverall station in place
4. Feed bins and hoppers, water lines and founts cleaned and disinfected with approved chemicals.
5. Bait stations replenished and rodent control measures in place
6. Surrounding areas cleared of all debris and grassed areas cut
7. Bathroom and toilet facilities for farm workers in place and functional
8. Property properly fenced to keep out stray animals
9. Signs warning unauthorized entry prohibited in place and fully visible
10. Dead bird disposal compost area in place
11. Motor vehicles (feed trucks, pullet delivery truck etc) undercarriage disinfected
12. Mosquito and fly breeding sites eliminated and regular fogging using approved insecticides implemented.

The purchase of pullets from a reputable source provides some level confidence that the birds would have been subject to the requisite vaccines to ensure immunity to New Castle disease, Infectious Bronchitis, Infectious Bursal Disease (Gumboro) and fowl pox all of which affect both egg production and egg quality negatively. A number of slides are presented to show the impact of these diseases on the function of the oviduct and other organs that are important for the health and well-being of the hen. Other topics discussed in this section includes:

1. Disease recognition
2. Inter-relationship among factors causing disease
3. Diseases affecting internal and external egg quality