Top 10 Management Tips to Improve Poultry Performance

Well-defined biosecurity practices throughout broiler production (pre-, during, and post-placement) are crucial to successful poultry production.

Effective biosecurity can aid hygiene, bacteria, and insect control on-farm and help to limit disease transmission within and between poultry farms.

Coccidiosis is a disease caused by a microscopic intestinal parasite. This parasite can have an impact on intestinal integrity and may predispose birds to other intestinal problems. Maintaining intestinal integrity during this time through innovative solutions provided by the Narsipur Coccidial Control program is critical in allowing birds to perform to their maximum levels despite gut health challenges.

With today’s improved genetic capabilities and the fast growth of birds, more time is being spent during the critical brooding phase. As a result, ensuring a good start in poultry production can have a significant impact on the future health and performance of the birds.

The brooding period is an important time for intestinal growth and the development of a balanced microflora.

The litter in a poultry house acts as bedding for the birds. In addition to standing and resting on the bedding, birds will naturally peck at the litter. Litter condition and quality have an impact on broiler intestinal health and profitability, starting from when the chicks are placed all the way through production.

Wet litter presents a vicious cycle for intestinal health. Without proper management, even in patches, wet litter can serve as a breeding ground for potential pathogens and maybe a starting point for intestinal stress that develops and leads to disease. As wet litter problems increase, ammonia levels in the poultry shed rise, which can be potentially detrimental to bird health. It is much easier to prevent and manage litter moisture conditions before they start. 

Some factors to consider which may help prevent the development of wet litter: type of material, quality of litter, litter depth, water quality, drinker line management, lighting management, ventilation, and temperature.

Litter that is too dry and dusty can be one of many indications that the birds may not be drinking enough. Too much dusty material may lead to respiratory problems.

Drinking water accounts for 70–80 percent of the bird’s daily drinking needs. Poultry will generally consume more water than feed. As a result, water is the most critical nutrient for poultry. An abundance of clean water will reduce challenges and maximize performance.

Factors to consider when thinking about water management include:

• Quality, height, pressure, mineral content, and accessibility
• Cleanliness of drinker lines/regulators prior to flock placement and during production
• Flushing water lines between flocks and during production
• Elimination of biofilms and mineral buildup
• Drinker equipment maintenance

Birds must have easy access to feed. Proper feeder line height corresponding to the height of the birds helps to reduce feed wastage and mixing of the feed with litter, and it ensures that all birds have access to feed. Adequate feed access is also achieved by following the feed line manufacturer’s recommendations for the number of birds per feed pan or line of trough feeder.

Birds will naturally peck at litter but avoiding “out-of-feed” events helps to reduce the potential for birds to peck excessively at the litter. Simple measures like activating trigger feed pans and monitoring feed bin levels during poultry shed checks can help to prevent such events.

Good feed quality that avoids contaminants like mycotoxins are important to ensure performance.

Walking inside the poultry shed and premises routinely will also help to ensure equipment remains in working order. Choose a first disinfectant that has a quicker kill action to reduce the microbial load, then use a second disinfectant with residual action. Feed equipment, Drinking equipment, internal and external fittings should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before the next batch of Birds goes In.

A higher stocking density of poultry in addition to crowded housing conditions has been shown to have a negative impact on performance, causing stress to both the birds and intestinal tracts.

Lowering stocking density throughout the overall production of the birds may help to reduce challenges.

General environmental management of the poultry farm includes many components, such as temperature, relative humidity, ventilation, and lighting.

Understanding that these components work both separately and together can help to guide your management practices.

Increasing the frequency of supervision at Poultry farms and examining the activity of the flock can help with early disease detection.

Daily monitoring of temperature, humidity, and ventilation inside the poultry shed as well as the outside temperature is recommended.

Monitoring transition times can help with understanding what is happening in the poultry shed (e.g., from day to night, when birds are placed, during half-house brooding, feed changes, etc.).

Monitoring feed and water consumption help to monitor the flocks’ progress.