By Matt Donald, pig & poultry producer, north Yorkshire
The current climate is good poultry production weather, warm dry days aid with getting ventilation going at a high rate and keeping litter quality maintained, which is vital in all types of poultry or egg production.
Litter quality can be something we struggle with depending when a flock is placed. Cold damp winter days are never good for getting a shed off to a good start, especially because in broiler breeder sheds we do not implement any heating. We have considered heat exchangers on the buildings, however due to us moving forwards each flock by one month, we don’t place regularly in winter and feel the cost effectiveness of these do not stack up yet.
For all poultry, dry litter is essential for welfare, within breeders it’s the males’ feet we need to protect, as swollen or infected toes results in males no longer mating and having to be removed. Equally on the females, we keep them until 60 weeks old and want them to look as well feathered as possible, making it more comfortable for a male to mount. Mating all their lives can reduce feathers on the bird so a good bathing area is vital to protect their plume.
We use some top up bales where necessary but try to avoid doing so, installing re-circulation fans last year for the first time in some buildings has helped to keep the litter better over winter and will be something we look more into placing in the sheds as it’s a cost-effective way to keep air moving through the cooler days.
Although crops are getting in desperate need of a drink in the north as I write this, it’s certainly far more pleasant conditions than the previous miserably wet Spring we had.