Poultry Husbandry Training Module Adapted from “Guide for the care and use of agricultural animals in research and teaching”, 3rd ed, Federation of Animal Science Societies, 2010

Housing types Conventional housing Furnished Cages Littered floor systems Multi-Tier systems Free range

Housing concerns Multi-tier (aviary) Conventional Housing systems Keel bone injuries cannibalism Conventional Housing systems Battery cages (layer industry) Poor foot health and keel bone deviations Susceptible to Osteoporosis Feather picking, cannibalism I think it is important to clarify that “conventional housing” refers to battery cages and is only used in the layer industry. Welfare is a major concern for battery cage systems, specifically lack of space to perform natural behaviors, lack of nest box (birds have a very strong behavioral drive to seek out a nesting spot to lay and the inability to do this causes significant frustration and stress), feather pecking and cannibalism. Aviary (multi-tier systems) issues include broken bones (especially the keel bone) and increased cannibalism (more so than free range systems).

Housing concerns In Free range birds Increased risk of bacterial disease, parasites, and cannibalism Environmental factors such as weather and predators

Feeding Meat-type bird breeders are allocated a limited amount of feed to allow them to grow at a controlled body weight gain This reduces skeletal problems Increases activity and improves livability Adequate space for feeding is required for each bird to eliminate competition To ensure uniform access to feed “skip a day” feeding programs are commonly used. In these programs the birds are fed larger amounts every other day (e.g. 4 days per week). Separate sex feeding (SSF) is also common. Different diets are fed to males and females to match their nutritional needs (e.g. females require much higher levels of calcium). Wire grills prevent males from feeding from the female troughs (their combs are too big to fit through) and the male feeders are raised high enough off the floor that the females can’t reach them.

Feeding “skip a day” feeding programs insure uniform access; birds are fed larger amounts every other day (e.g. 4 days per week). Separate sex feeding Different diets fed to males and females to match nutritional needs (females require more calcium). Wire grills prevent males from feeding from the female troughs (their combs are too big to fit through) and the male feeders are raised high enough off the floor that the females can’t reach them.

Water-drinker space Egg-Laying Chickens (Max. No. Bird/device) 0-6 wks Females: 18-22 Males:14-17 6-18 wks Females: 14-19 Males:9-14 >18 wks Females:10-15 Males:8-11 Meat-type chickens (Space/bird²) Commercial Broilers 0-4 wks, 0.2 in 4-8 wks, 0.5 in Broiler Breeders 0-8 wks, 0.5 in 9-16 wks, 0.6 in 16-23 wks, 1.0 >23 wks, 2.0

Husbandry-Temperature For Chicks 90 to 95°F initially, decreasing 4.5°F weekly to 68°F For Poults 95 to 100°F initially, decreasing 5°F weekly to 75°F For Ducklings 80 to 85°F initially, decreasing 6°F weekly to 54°F Humidity is also very important. Chicks and poults should be started at 60% humidity (temperature should be adjusted appropriately if humidity falls significantly above or below this).

Husbandry - humidity Chicks and poults should be started at 60% humidity (temperature should be adjusted appropriately if humidity falls significantly above or below this).

Husbandry Cages for birds should allow birds to stand comfortably without hitting their heads on the top of the cage. Poultry may be kept on either solid floors with litter or in cages or pens with raised wire flooring of appropriate gauge and mesh dimension. In Multi-Tier housing littered areas allows for dust bathing but does not reduce the incidence of cannibalism and feather pecking. Multi-tier housing does not decrease feather pecking or cannibalism. There were huge issues with this when Europe banned battery cages and producers transitioned to aviaries. Breeding companies have improved this over time by selecting for behavior in aviary systems but it is still an issue.

Husbandry Housing Systems facilitate cleaning to keep the ammonia levels balanced inside the houses, they should be kept below 25 ppm and not exceed 50 ppm of atmospheric ammonia. Managed with ventilation and moisture control Perching space for all hens and a nest and dust bath area, with minimum available space per hen of 750 cm² per bird In loose housing systems ammonia control is achieved through ventilation and moisture control (wet litter=ammonia production). Bedding is only changed in between flocks, and it is becoming more common to reuse bedding for multiple production cycles (in broilers). A section should be added on lighting. It is very important for the management of egg laying (both table eggs and broiler breeders). In general, chicks should be started on 22 hours of light or an intermittent lighting program (alternating 4s hour light, 2 hours dark) for the first week, slowly decreasing to 10 hours of light by 10 weeks of age. This should be maintained until the pullets are sexually mature and ready for light stimulation (~18 weeks for Leghorns, 20 weeks for broiler breeders). At this point day length should be increased to 12 hours. Day length should slowly increase to reach 16 hours of light by 30 weeks of age. This day length should be maintained for the remainder of the production cycle and NEVER DECREASED. Lower light intensity can be used to reduce feather pecking.

Lighting Lighting is important for the management of egg laying (both table eggs and broiler breeders). Chicks should be started on 22 hours of light or an intermittent lighting program (alternating 4 hours light, 2 hours dark) for the first week, decreasing to 10 hours of light by 10 weeks of age. Maintain until the pullets are sexually mature and ready for light stimulation (~18 weeks for Leghorns, 20 weeks for broiler breeders). Day length should then be increased to 12 hours slowly reaching 16 hours of light by 30 weeks of age. This day length should be maintained for the remainder of the production cycle and NEVER DECREASED. Lower light intensity can be used to reduce feather pecking.

Standard Practices Beak Trimming Toe Trimming Pinioning - rare Infrared method at factory Hot blade at 7 to 10 days Toe Trimming Pinioning - rare Induced Molting – fasting or non-fasting The hens are feed restricted and fed a high fiber, low sodium diet for ~17 days. This is done in conjunction with increased housing temperature and reduced day length (6-8 hours of light). More detail is needed here as these are major welfare concerns. Pinioning is rarely done (if at all) in commercial settings. Beak trimming is most commonly done via infrared treatment at the hatchery, but hot blade trimming can be done at 7-10 days of age. Neuroma formation and chronic pain is a major concern. Molting can be induced via fasting or non-fasting protocols (non-fasting is recommended). The hens are feed restricted and fed a high fiber, low sodium diet for ~17 days. This is done in conjunction with increased housing temperature and reduced day length (6-8 hours of light).

Chickens Excessive fighting and mounting may occur in groups of mature males in floor pens. Chickens kept for meat production can be kept safely in large groups of several hundred or thousands without aggression as long as sufficient food and water space is provided. Housing laying hens in large groups prevents the establishment of a “pecking order” and can lead to increased incidence of feather pecking and cannibalism Egg-laying and meat type male to female ratio is 1 to about 13 Male to female ratio is 1:13 for both types of chickens (egg and meat types). Housing laying hens in large groups prevents the establishment of a “pecking order” and can lead to increased incidence of feather pecking and cannibalism

Turkeys Tom Turkeys are prone to excessive aggression as they age Breeder toms are housed separately from breeder hens using artificial insemination to produce fertile hatching eggs

Ducks Ducks, being very social, do not perform well in isolation. Therefore individually caged ducks require some means of interaction such as wire partitions. The male to female ratio should not exceed 1:5 Open water needed to immerse heads I am not very familiar with water fowl, but I believe that they require access to sufficient water to immerse their head (i.e. nipple drinkers are not appropriate).

Quiz Question #1 Which is NOT a type of housing for Poultry? a. Free Range b. Crates c. Furnished Cages d. Littered floor systems

Quiz Question #2 Poults are kept at what temperature for the first week? A. 95-100° B. 80-85° C. 75-80° D. 90-95°

Quiz Question #3 What are appropriate ammonia levels in housing facilities? A. Below 50 ppm B. Below 75 ppm C. Below 25 ppm D. All of the above

Quiz Question #4 Turkeys are bred via artificial insemination? True False

Quiz Question #5 Ducks perform well in isolation? True False