1. Small Poultry Flock Management
Dr. Audrey McElroy
Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences

2. VA Small Flocks

3. 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”

5. Birds on the farm

6. Information sources

7. Percent of Flocks close to commercial farms

8. Area for IMPACT = BIOSECURITY

9. Major Components to Biosecurity
Flock Management
Isolation
Traffic Control
Cleaning/Sanitation

10. Biosecurity Measures Dedicated footwear and clothing for farm
No sharing of equipment
Proper disposal of mortality
Rodent and insect control

11. Footwear precautions for persons entering their farm

12. Biosecurity Measures Confine flocks to controlled environment
Screen houses to protect flock from wild birds
Avoid contact with migratory waterfowl and other birds

13. 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)

14. USDA “Biosecurity for Birds” Website

15. USDA “Biosecurity for Birds” Website
Exhibition/State Fair Kit

16. 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:// /content/aphis/bbehigh.wmv
Keep Your Birds Healthy 3 Easy Steps:
DVD on practicing biosecurity and recognizing infectious poultry diseases designed for young people.

17. “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!

18. Small Flock Hatching Eggs
NPIP (National Poultry Improvement Plan) Hatchery
Sources of Hatching Eggs:
Murray McMurray Hatchery
Stromberg’s
Privett Hatchery

19. General Information Sources
University of Arkansas
“Poultry – Small Flock Information for County Extension Personnel”
Links to information on all topics

20. General Information Sources
Tractor Supply Company
The Poultry Site

21. Disease/Health Resources
Local Vets
VDACS Labs:
Dr. Bill Pierson:

22. Vaccination Resources

23. Vaccination Resources
University of Florida Extension

24. External Parasite Information
“Poultry Pest Management”
Alabama Cooperative Extension System
Information:
Types of external parasites
Types of flies
Control methods
Dry manure management
Biological control
Insecticides for control

25. Internal Parasite Information

26. Nutrition Resources Alabama Cooperative Extension System

27. Nutrition Resources University of Kentucky – Small and Backyard Flocks
Nutritional requirements
Nutrient deficiences
Feed ingredients
Pastures
Feeding
General, Layers, Broilers, Turkeys, Waterfowl, Ratites, Gamebirds, Organic Poultry

28. 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

29. Virginia Poultry Exhibition Requirements
“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.”

30. State Fair Open Poultry Show
Testing for:
Pullorum/Typhoid within 90 days
Avian Influenza (coordinated with VDACS)

31. 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?

32. 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?

33. 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?

34. Questions

35. 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