Poultry Signals

"You are a far more important factor than you think." Not all poultry farmers maximise the full potential of their birds. Your birds continually send out signals: about their health, how well they know their surroundings and whether they feel happy and comfortable.  Do you recognise the signals your chooks are giving?  And do you know what to do if, for example, there are too many floor laid eggs or if the birds are spilling too much feed?  Do you know the difference between abnormal, runny droppings and healthy caecal droppings?  And how do you recognise thirsty birds when the flock has just been set up?

If you recognise the signs that point to potential problems, then make sure you are amred with the information to take the appropriate steps to get your flock back on track.  And the things you should take into account if switching from caged to free ranging birds.  A lot can be achieved using ventilation, lighting and different routines but to do so, you must know all the ins and outs of your own farm and be able to assess the impact these changes will have on your animals.