As summer approaches and temperatures increase, the threat of red mite increases. Costing European poultry producers €360 million each year, red mite is not an issue to be swept ‘beneath the slats’. In this blog I share my insight into how to stop red mite impacting flock performance through prevention, monitoring and treatment strategies.
We believe the use of certified sustainable soya in animal feed is the most appropriate option to minimise negative impacts on the environment now, while allowing time for sustainable supply chains for alternative protein sources to develop.
In our previous blog 'How to Keep Your Birds Healthy through a Bird Flu Outbreak', we listed a number of ways in which you can keep your birds healthy during the Avian Influenza housing order. One area we recommended focusing on was flock enrichment, hens must be kept active in order to help reduce stress levels and avoid destructive and aggressive behaviour.
As we hit the midway point of ‘hen lockdown’ as a result of avian influenza, there are several things to consider and jobs to be done to keep hens happy and content, and ensure they are prepared for when pop holes can reopen.
From the 14th December, free-range layers will need to be housed to comply with new government measures which have been put in place to reduce the spread of avian influenza.
UK egg consumption has increased in recent years, with an average UK consumer now eating 2.2 eggs per week, while free-range egg sales have doubled since 2004, now representing 67% of retail egg sales. This steady growth has made diversification into free-range egg production an attractive option. Here’s what those thinking about getting into poultry should consider.
Wynnstay have introduced the revolutionary CracklessEgg™technology to help their poultry feed customers save hundreds or even thousands of pounds in wasted, cracked eggs on their poultry farms.
The best electric fence is the one that is suited to your requirements. Our table outlines the 3 main types of electric fence structures as a starting point to help you identify which fence type best suits your needs.
The general concern about animal welfare, especially for laying hens, is continuously increasing in consumers and farmers. This attention leads to spending time and efforts to understand if our birds are stressed or not, through many different indicators both deriving from animal observation (behavior, performance, fearfulness) and laboratory analysis (Alm et al., 2016; Rodenburg et al., 2008).
A good time to buy – prices look relatively good value at present with grains, proteins and fibres all at year-low level.
