9 ways to help keep housed flocks healthy this winter

Housing orders will present new challenges for free-range flocks this winter as birds that are used to being outside for long periods are housed 24 hours a day.

Adjusting to their new routine and environment could make them prone to disease and other health risks.

See also: Q&A: Guidance on avian flu with England’s chief vet

Avian vet Suzy Brown advises producers to consult the Veterinary Health and Welfare Plans (VHWP) for detailed and site-specific advice on how to navigate the housing order.

“Some sites may even find it useful to have an external company visit and audit their setup as well as making recommendations for any necessary improvements,” says Mrs Brown, of Cheshire-based Avivets.

This is often a more detailed process as it considers factors outside the scope of the VHWP, but there are no hard-and-fast rules, she says.

“What is right for one farm might not be right for another. It’s a case of being in tune with the conditions and, if they are difficult for birds and for people, speak to a vet or housing or ventilation expert.”

Mrs Brown discusses the key challenges at housing and how they can be addressed.

1. Check for respiratory disease

Be vigilant for signs of the common poultry respiratory infections such as infectious bronchitis (IB) and mycoplasmosis because, when poultry are continually housed, disease transmission is easier.

Symptoms of IB include gasping, nasal discharge and coughing.

While respiratory disease challenges are more common in winter, stress is a major risk factor too.

“When free-range birds are permanently housed they can be more vulnerable to stress, so do everything else possible to prevent additional stress, such as maintaining good air quality in the shed and keeping things consistent,” says Mrs Brown.

If IB is an issue, the site’s vet will be able to advise on the best treatment and prevention programme.

2. Watch worm burdens

There can be a misconception that because birds are not going outside, they won’t be susceptible to worm infestation. But this isn’t always true.

“Producers should uphold vigilance against worms and speak to their vet if they’re unsure about the worming status of their housed flock,” advises Mrs Brown.

Birds will be in closer proximity than when they are able to range, and that will mean a much higher concentration of worms and worm eggs in the litter area.

This is not helped by more moderate temperatures and a stable environment created by shutting the popholes.

Increased worming may be required in some cases. “Monitor the situation rather than assume you don’t need to bother with worming,” says Mrs Brown.

3. Look out for red mites

Cooler winter temperatures in naturally ventilated buildings can reduce red mite activity, but even in small amounts this parasite is an excellent vector for disease and puts birds under significant stress.

When free-range poultry are fully housed, ambient temperatures in the shed can be slightly warmer and this will favour red mite reproduction.

While there are a variety of remedies and parasiticides, resistance and legislative restrictions have reduced the range of tools available for management.

“Producers should continue to monitor red mite populations throughout the period of the housing order and treat accordingly,” says Mrs Brown.

But if red mites are still a problem post-treatment, it has not been effective and numbers will quickly escalate and continue to cause stress, disease and production issues, she warns.

“There are a range of red mite options available, some better than others.

“It is tempting to choose the most cost-effective but, arguably, these can become the most expensive when not fully efficacious, factoring in the time taken to apply the product and the likelihood that red mite still poses a threat to the flock.”

Options for treatment include sprays and emulsions that can be applied direct to the equipment.

All equipment should be treated at the same time, to avoid mite populations moving to untreated areas.

“Often this is impractical from a time and accessibility point of view,” she admits.

In-feed and in-water supplements are also available.

“Producers report mixed success with these, but as long as a producer is confident they’re working and regularly checking equipment for signs of mite activity, they obviously do have a place in the market,” she says.

4. Pay attention to ventilation

With popholes permanently closed, poorly ventilated buildings can become stuffy.

Whether the ventilation system is manual or mechanical, Mrs Brown advises regular checks by the same person every day to detect differences.

“If you think the environment is cool, close the ventilation down, or if too warm open it up, but you also need to consider that if there is too much of a breeze the birds will feel the effects of the chill on their backs despite being well feathered,” she says.

Ventilation settings may need to be reviewed to account for the shed being fully closed.

It is imperative that all temperature and humidity recording equipment is working accurately and reliably, especially where this technology is needed to run the shed’s ventilation system, says Mrs Brown.

Older equipment won’t always perform as well as it did when it was new, and any broken or poorly functioning ventilation equipment should be replaced.

If producers are unsure whether the shed’s climate control systems are working properly, Mrs Brown recommends using a smoke test to review air movement and to identify areas that require attention or repair.

5. Deal with dust

Closed popholes can result in more particulate matter circulating in the atmosphere.

Airborne dust is the ideal host for disease to cling on to – high levels can increase mucus production and conjunctivitis in poultry by inflaming the respiratory tract and eye membranes.

Simple observation can help identify the source of the dust and improve indoor air quality.

“Make sure that visibility is OK. It doesn’t need to be crystal clear but you need to be able to see clearly,” says Mrs Brown.

“If you are finding it dusty or uninhabitable, then so will the birds.”

6. Stick to a routine

Poultry don’t like change, so anything that breaks their routine’s consistency can affect their health.

This means avoiding wildly fluctuating temperatures, as this will directly affect intestinal health, which in turn affects productivity.

“Don’t shock them by forgetting to close the ventilation; keep things as consistent as you can,” says Mrs Brown.

7. Never ignore health issues

With avian influenza circulating, keeping site visitors to a minimum is vital, but even producers in protection and surveillance zones can get birds post-mortemed if they have concerns about issues in their flocks.

“If poultry are behaving differently from normal, if there is an egg drop or you are noticing lots of subtle differences, it’s not just a case of sitting tight and hoping that it will get better,” says Mrs Brown.

“If there is feather pecking, head shaking and poor droppings, it will manifest if you don’t deal with it.”

8. Review vaccination strategy

Despite the change from ranging to housing, Mrs Brown advises continuing with the flock’s vaccination programme, but it may need to be revised.

A vaccination programme tailored to help protect against respiratory disease risks should be individualised and take into account risks on the farm and in the geographic area.

“Whatever programme you have, follow it to keep birds protected,” says Mrs Brown.

9. Keep stress at bay

Birds really enjoy having an enrichment that provides them with a reward – these types usually work best for countering stress, says Mrs Brown.

It is important that, once introduced, enrichment does not run out, so that birds are kept calm.

Nutraceutical products are available, both in-feed and in-water, that can appease a particularly sensitive flock.

Light intensity can also be manipulated to help keep birds calm, but this must be done very gradually.