Small Flock

Feather Pecking and Cannibalism in your backyard flock.

A detailed description of diseases; including symptoms, type of pathogen, and method of spread.

​You are the best protection for your animals. All poultry growers and owners of livestock, birds and other animals are encouraged to look for signs of illness in their animals, report sick animals, and practice biosecurity.

Free range traditionally means poultry are not fenced in or the fence boundaries are so large that it does not affect the birds movement. Ranging requires a fair amount of land. Allowing poultry to roam freely can make managing your birds more difficult.

The main purpose of housing poultry is protection. For many species, having outside runs in addition to housing provides additional space needed for optimal performance.

Within housing structures, birds should be provided with adequate spacing for movement and exercise. The amount of necessary spacing will vary on the species of bird, size of flock, and temperature.

Confinement and yarding is when fencing is used to confine poultry to a smaller area than what they would normally range. This can also include housing to prohibit birds from venturing outside.

There are special requirements for raising birds for different production purposes. The basic requirements are the same with minor changes made for raising layers, meat birds, waterfowl, or ratites.

A footbath is a very simple form of biosecurity that helps prevent the potential spread of disease. Organisms have the potential to survive for several days or weeks in the dirt stuck to the bottom of your shoes. Footbaths can eliminate these organisms.