Poultry top stories BROILERSTesco moves to lower stocking rates for fresh chickenSupermarket giant Tesco is joining Waitrose, M&S and Sainsbury’s in requiring its chicken producers to stock their birds at a 20% lower rate than the industry standard. The move, which… LAYERSGrants of up to £500,000 offered for better hen housingGrants of up to £500,000 for upgrading layer hen and pullet housing, and up to £100,000 for attaching verandas to existing sheds, are coming soon as Defra continues to reallocate… LAYERSWhy white hens could make a comebackWhite hens make up just 8% of the UK’s egg output. But with laying cycles of 100 weeks possible in some breeds and sustainability credentials that tick boxes for retailers… BROILERS4 ways to achieve a low feed conversion ratio in broilersEffective hygiene is the first step to ensure broilers convert their feed efficiently into weight gain. Without this, it is likely to be an uphill struggle to maintain their health,… LAYERSAdvice on free-range layer rations, stage by stageFrom early chick development to transition into laying, feeding birds the correct nutrition at every stage will help achieve the best possible performance and egg quality. Attention to detail is… POULTRYUK native poultry breeds under threat as avian flu takes gripAll of the UK’s rare breeds of chicken, duck, geese and turkey are under threat due to avian influenza, a new report from the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) has… POULTRYUS reports human case of bird flu caught from cattleAuthorities in Texas have reported the first case of avian influenza in a human, following close contact with dairy cows presumed to be infected with the H5N1 strain of the… Poultry news POULTRYScotland gears up to ban all cages in egg productionA possible ban on colony cage egg production in Scotland will put extra pressure on free-range supplies and result in imports from countries with lower welfare standards, the egg industry… LAYERSExtra vigilance needed as egg farms targeted by activistsFree-range egg producers are being warned to step up their vigilance following a spate of targeted incursions by animal rights activists who allege widespread mistreatment of laying hens. Undercover footage… LAYERSHigh path avian flu case confirmed in YorkshireA new case of avian influenza has been identified in a commercial poultry unit near Driffield, Yorkshire. Defra said in a statement: “Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed… LAYERSRSPCA Assured gives more time for hen welfare improvementsEgg producers are being given more time to introduce verandas outside their hen houses, and to provide more natural daylight, following a rethink by RSPCA Assured. Last November, the welfare… BroilersSee all BROILERSTesco moves to lower stocking rates for fresh chickenSupermarket giant Tesco is joining Waitrose, M&S and Sainsbury’s in requiring its chicken producers to stock their birds at a 20% lower rate than the industry standard. The move, which… BROILERS4 ways to achieve a low feed conversion ratio in broilersEffective hygiene is the first step to ensure broilers convert their feed efficiently into weight gain. Without this, it is likely to be an uphill struggle to maintain their health,… BROILERSDaily misting of broiler sheds lifts bird performanceMisting systems are becoming increasingly common in broiler houses as the industry gears up for hotter summers and greater welfare scrutiny. For many growers, they provide a useful backup for… POULTRY7 brooding management tips for healthy broiler chicksBrooding is all about building the foundation for a broiler’s life, according to Brendan Graaf, broiler specialist for Cobb-Vantress. “Chicks go through a lot of stress during the hatching process,… LAYERSHigh path avian flu case confirmed in YorkshireA new case of avian influenza has been identified in a commercial poultry unit near Driffield, Yorkshire. Defra said in a statement: “Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed… POULTRYPoultry producers win case for greater bird flu compensationPoultry farmers who have had their flocks slaughtered following an outbreak of avian influenza have been under-compensated and may have a right to further payments. That is the conclusion of… LayersSee all LAYERSGrants of up to £500,000 offered for better hen housingGrants of up to £500,000 for upgrading layer hen and pullet housing, and up to £100,000 for attaching verandas to existing sheds, are coming soon as Defra continues to reallocate… LAYERSWhy white hens could make a comebackWhite hens make up just 8% of the UK’s egg output. But with laying cycles of 100 weeks possible in some breeds and sustainability credentials that tick boxes for retailers… LAYERSAdvice on free-range layer rations, stage by stageFrom early chick development to transition into laying, feeding birds the correct nutrition at every stage will help achieve the best possible performance and egg quality. Attention to detail is… POULTRY4 tips for effective cleaning between free-range flocksA subdued supply of free-range eggs on the market is putting poultry producers under pressure to manage tighter turnarounds between flocks. At the same time, they are having to contend… POULTRYScotland gears up to ban all cages in egg productionA possible ban on colony cage egg production in Scotland will put extra pressure on free-range supplies and result in imports from countries with lower welfare standards, the egg industry… LAYERSExtra vigilance needed as egg farms targeted by activistsFree-range egg producers are being warned to step up their vigilance following a spate of targeted incursions by animal rights activists who allege widespread mistreatment of laying hens. Undercover footage… Other poultry LAYERSHigh path avian flu case confirmed in YorkshireA new case of avian influenza has been identified in a commercial poultry unit near Driffield, Yorkshire. Defra said in a statement: “Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed… POULTRYPoultry producers win case for greater bird flu compensationPoultry farmers who have had their flocks slaughtered following an outbreak of avian influenza have been under-compensated and may have a right to further payments. That is the conclusion of… OTHER POULTRYWhy turkeys need managing differently to broilersFactors affecting choice of breed, age at slaughter, and brooding, rearing and disease management all have unique considerations for turkey production. Regarding turkeys simply as big broilers could put a… POULTRYWhy avian flu vaccine rollout would cost £1.5k/shed a monthVaccinating UK poultry flocks for avian influenza has been described as “cost prohibitive” because an EU surveillance requirement for swabbing and testing would set producers back £1,000-£1,500/month for every shed… POULTRY7 tips for making a profit from farm-scale Christmas turkeysAbout 18% of the Christmas turkeys sold to UK consumers are produced on a small scale by farmers independent of the big players. It can generate a good income, often… OTHER POULTRYAvian influenza: First case of the season in Lincs turkeysAn outbreak of avian influenza has been confirmed in a flock of indoor turkeys in south Lincolnshire, marking the first case in a commercial unit since the start of the… Advertisements Poultry hot topics How an organic egg producer eliminated nuisance flies in sheds How poultry unit manages heat stress with misting systems 4 key actions to help manage poultry flocks in hot weather A guide on how to improve water quality on poultry units Advice on efficient and safe drinking water systems for poultry 5 bits of kit every poultry farmer should own
