Animal Management Year 2
, Bird TPR P
Clinical Parameters
, Housing Systems (Layers) Laying Hens: Stonegate, Noble Foods, The
Poultry Layers: produce eggs
Broilers: produce meat
Furnished Cage (48%):
• Barn separated into many small cages
• Large, closed buildings
Broilers: Two Sisters, Cranberry & Sun Val
Turkey: Bernard Mathews & Faccenda
Duck: Cherry Valley & Watercress Lane
Commercial Companies = have their own vets. • Temp, Light & Ventilation all tightly controlled
Independent Farms = use independent vets. Turkey Housing Genetics
Barn (1%): Usually bronze breed Layers: 6 genetics comp
Why is Poultry Industry Unique? • Similar to Furnished Cage but loose in barn (No cages) (Dark Feathers). most the layer birds in th
• Intense livestock housing for different markets.
• Requires high level of financial capital Free Range (51%): Standard Indoors: (95%) • Hyline
• Low labour requirement • Access to outside via holes • Large sheds • Lohmann
• Chickens efficiently convert feed • Barn for shelter • 25k birds in one shed • Novogen
Mareks Disease:
• Access to vegetation herpes type virus
Layers (Egg Producers) Pole Barn: Broilers: 4 genetics com
Major egg packers control the markets. causing limb
Organic: • Upper barn is open to broilers for the UK.
Either: paralysis (Fatal)
• Smaller flocks than free range allow in sunlight & • Ross (Avaigen)
• Contract Production vaccinate.
• Lower stocking density fresh air • Cobb
• Company Owned Farms
Housing Systems (Broilers) Free Range: Turkeys: British United &
Pullet Rearing = these farms produce chicks just • Turkeys have access Ducks: Cherry Valley
reaching sexual maturity. To be used in breeding. Standard Indoors (94%):
• Large, closed buildings to outside area Geese: Gressingham
Duck Vs Geese • Temp & Lighting tightly controlled
• Ventilation controlled Broilers (Meat Producers
Geese: Annual Molt, feed on land & both Poultry Lighting (100hz) Meat processors control t
sexes same colour. • 25k-50k birds (High stocking density)
• Required for all poultry • Majority contract prod
Ducks: Molt twice per year, feed on water • Extended day length trigger laying
& sexes different colours. Improved Indoor:
• Low light levels = calm birds Major companies own far
• Reduced stocking density
• Need enough dark for rest broilers just for them. The
• Environmental Enrichment
Housing Systems (Ducks) • Light should mimic natural • Feed used
• Natural Daylight
Indoor: several thousand in • Natural daylight best • Vaccines given
Ducks: 2 large
large building. Must have Dark Time = 6 hours (Broiler) • Chick breed used
companies Free Range:
water trough large enough to Dark Time = 8 hours (Layers) [Weight & Health check n
dunk heads.
produce meat • Access to outside for part of their lives
& 3 companies
produce eggs. Organic: Turkeys
Free Range: access to outside Conventio
area. 2.5k ducks per HA. • Access to outside for 2/3 of their life Large integrators control intensive market. were bann
• Enrichment outside • Produced for Christmas market
, Poultry
Broiler Chicken: Slaughtered at 32-40 days Thermal Comfort Zone: conditions in which a bird is likely to be able to main
Duck: Females slaughtered at 68 days & males at 84. temperature and not have to work excessively hard to do so by shivering or p
Turkey: Females slaughtered at 110 days & Males 130.
Caged Housing Anatomy of Egg Laying Hens
Factors Affecting Performance Normal chicken body Egg Grading • 22-26 hrs between each egg
• Cage layer fatigue
• Water quality temperature: 41.5 degrees. Small = 53g
• No freedom
• Temperature Medium = 53-56g 1) Yolk released by ovary
• Cant perform usual behaviours
• Stocking density Large = 63-73g 2) Enters oviduct & fertilisatio
• Frustration
• Stockmanship Very Large = 73g + 3) Albumen forms around the
• Injurious pecking
• Disease held together by a thin mem
• Mislaying Eggs
• Genetics Geese: Greylag 4) Shell added by shell gland i
Duck: Mallard & Routine Procedures: beak 5) Laid via cloaca
Laying Conditions (Laws) Muscovy.
• 17-25 degrees trimming, wing clipping (once
• 40-60% Humidity per year), claw trimming, spurs Egg Production
• 10 Lux lighting trimmed & leather saddles. Incubation = 21 day incuba
• Ammonia below 20ppm Keel Damage (Layers) eggs.
• Carbon Dioxide below 300ppm A painful condition in layer hens. Hot Blade Trimming
• Causes them to drink or eat more • Can form neuromas Pores: in shell of the egg a
Broiler Conditions (Laws) • Reduces their productivity • Scar Tissue of water vapour and gaseo
• Below 33 degrees & 70% humidity • Reduces their mobility Yolk: 33% Lipids & 17% Pro
• 20 Lux minimum Infrared Trimming Albumen: 10% protein
• 6 hours of dark per day Causes: collisions with perches et. • No open wound
• Ammonia below 20ppm Solutions: ensure flight paths are unobstructed. • Reduces stress
• Carbon Dioxide below 300ppm Add ramps and make perches soft. • Reduces feather pecking
Injurious Pecking
Gentle Feather Pecking: pecking at the tips of feathers.
Severe Feather Pecking: pecking and pulling at feathers of flock mates.
Cannibalism: pecking at the skin & tissue of others. Beak Trimming
Vent Pecking: localised cannibalism. Why Injurious Pecking? Blunts tips of beaks to make
It is redirected foraging behaviour them less damaging.
Issues due to lack of forage. • Before 10 days old
• Painful • Poor litter availability • Blade, chemical or lazer
• Increased food & water intake • Made worse by stress • Acute or Chronic pain Beak Trimming Effec
• Increased mortality & Decreased production • Certain breeds more prone • Can change behaviours growth, distress, less
, Bird TPR P
Clinical Parameters
, Housing Systems (Layers) Laying Hens: Stonegate, Noble Foods, The
Poultry Layers: produce eggs
Broilers: produce meat
Furnished Cage (48%):
• Barn separated into many small cages
• Large, closed buildings
Broilers: Two Sisters, Cranberry & Sun Val
Turkey: Bernard Mathews & Faccenda
Duck: Cherry Valley & Watercress Lane
Commercial Companies = have their own vets. • Temp, Light & Ventilation all tightly controlled
Independent Farms = use independent vets. Turkey Housing Genetics
Barn (1%): Usually bronze breed Layers: 6 genetics comp
Why is Poultry Industry Unique? • Similar to Furnished Cage but loose in barn (No cages) (Dark Feathers). most the layer birds in th
• Intense livestock housing for different markets.
• Requires high level of financial capital Free Range (51%): Standard Indoors: (95%) • Hyline
• Low labour requirement • Access to outside via holes • Large sheds • Lohmann
• Chickens efficiently convert feed • Barn for shelter • 25k birds in one shed • Novogen
Mareks Disease:
• Access to vegetation herpes type virus
Layers (Egg Producers) Pole Barn: Broilers: 4 genetics com
Major egg packers control the markets. causing limb
Organic: • Upper barn is open to broilers for the UK.
Either: paralysis (Fatal)
• Smaller flocks than free range allow in sunlight & • Ross (Avaigen)
• Contract Production vaccinate.
• Lower stocking density fresh air • Cobb
• Company Owned Farms
Housing Systems (Broilers) Free Range: Turkeys: British United &
Pullet Rearing = these farms produce chicks just • Turkeys have access Ducks: Cherry Valley
reaching sexual maturity. To be used in breeding. Standard Indoors (94%):
• Large, closed buildings to outside area Geese: Gressingham
Duck Vs Geese • Temp & Lighting tightly controlled
• Ventilation controlled Broilers (Meat Producers
Geese: Annual Molt, feed on land & both Poultry Lighting (100hz) Meat processors control t
sexes same colour. • 25k-50k birds (High stocking density)
• Required for all poultry • Majority contract prod
Ducks: Molt twice per year, feed on water • Extended day length trigger laying
& sexes different colours. Improved Indoor:
• Low light levels = calm birds Major companies own far
• Reduced stocking density
• Need enough dark for rest broilers just for them. The
• Environmental Enrichment
Housing Systems (Ducks) • Light should mimic natural • Feed used
• Natural Daylight
Indoor: several thousand in • Natural daylight best • Vaccines given
Ducks: 2 large
large building. Must have Dark Time = 6 hours (Broiler) • Chick breed used
companies Free Range:
water trough large enough to Dark Time = 8 hours (Layers) [Weight & Health check n
dunk heads.
produce meat • Access to outside for part of their lives
& 3 companies
produce eggs. Organic: Turkeys
Free Range: access to outside Conventio
area. 2.5k ducks per HA. • Access to outside for 2/3 of their life Large integrators control intensive market. were bann
• Enrichment outside • Produced for Christmas market
, Poultry
Broiler Chicken: Slaughtered at 32-40 days Thermal Comfort Zone: conditions in which a bird is likely to be able to main
Duck: Females slaughtered at 68 days & males at 84. temperature and not have to work excessively hard to do so by shivering or p
Turkey: Females slaughtered at 110 days & Males 130.
Caged Housing Anatomy of Egg Laying Hens
Factors Affecting Performance Normal chicken body Egg Grading • 22-26 hrs between each egg
• Cage layer fatigue
• Water quality temperature: 41.5 degrees. Small = 53g
• No freedom
• Temperature Medium = 53-56g 1) Yolk released by ovary
• Cant perform usual behaviours
• Stocking density Large = 63-73g 2) Enters oviduct & fertilisatio
• Frustration
• Stockmanship Very Large = 73g + 3) Albumen forms around the
• Injurious pecking
• Disease held together by a thin mem
• Mislaying Eggs
• Genetics Geese: Greylag 4) Shell added by shell gland i
Duck: Mallard & Routine Procedures: beak 5) Laid via cloaca
Laying Conditions (Laws) Muscovy.
• 17-25 degrees trimming, wing clipping (once
• 40-60% Humidity per year), claw trimming, spurs Egg Production
• 10 Lux lighting trimmed & leather saddles. Incubation = 21 day incuba
• Ammonia below 20ppm Keel Damage (Layers) eggs.
• Carbon Dioxide below 300ppm A painful condition in layer hens. Hot Blade Trimming
• Causes them to drink or eat more • Can form neuromas Pores: in shell of the egg a
Broiler Conditions (Laws) • Reduces their productivity • Scar Tissue of water vapour and gaseo
• Below 33 degrees & 70% humidity • Reduces their mobility Yolk: 33% Lipids & 17% Pro
• 20 Lux minimum Infrared Trimming Albumen: 10% protein
• 6 hours of dark per day Causes: collisions with perches et. • No open wound
• Ammonia below 20ppm Solutions: ensure flight paths are unobstructed. • Reduces stress
• Carbon Dioxide below 300ppm Add ramps and make perches soft. • Reduces feather pecking
Injurious Pecking
Gentle Feather Pecking: pecking at the tips of feathers.
Severe Feather Pecking: pecking and pulling at feathers of flock mates.
Cannibalism: pecking at the skin & tissue of others. Beak Trimming
Vent Pecking: localised cannibalism. Why Injurious Pecking? Blunts tips of beaks to make
It is redirected foraging behaviour them less damaging.
Issues due to lack of forage. • Before 10 days old
• Painful • Poor litter availability • Blade, chemical or lazer
• Increased food & water intake • Made worse by stress • Acute or Chronic pain Beak Trimming Effec
• Increased mortality & Decreased production • Certain breeds more prone • Can change behaviours growth, distress, less
