Poultry welfare tips for the AI season

The sudden change in environment and routine can create increased frustration and stress in free-range birds.

There are, thankfully, some steps you can take to help minimise these problems.

For example, biosecure winter gardens or verandas are great ways of providing birds with natural light and fresh air. Also, additional litter space can reduce stocking density in the house and provide more enrichment areas.

Here are some more tips from the RSPCA’s poultry welfare experts:

Promoting foraging

The free-range area provides birds with a choice of substrates to forage in - so if they have to be kept indoors, additional enrichment inside the shed can help them perform this important natural behaviour and redirect any aggressive feather pecking:

• Alfalfa or lucerne bales or pecking blocks offer birds novel enrichment if not already used
• For laying hens and turkeys, scattering pellet feed or insoluble/soluble grit on the litter can also provide interest and stimulate natural foraging behaviour
• Hanging enrichments encourage interaction as birds are attracted to the movement.
• Remember to check enrichments and litter have been stored under cover and, where appropriate, disinfected before introduction.

Maintaining good litter quality

Maintaining litter quality is the single most important factor to reduce the risk of feather pecking.

It allows birds to express dustbathing and other natural behaviours, which helps maintain feather condition and remove parasites.

• Maintaining good litter is critical in allowing the birds to dustbathe inside the shed, which means keeping litter dry and friable (loose and crumbly) with a good depth.
• Ensuring ventilation is appropriate helps keep the litter dry and reduces the risk of respiratory diseases.
• Removing areas of capped or wet litter and topping up the litter regularly
• Additional dustbathing areas could be added, for example, a tyre filled with wood shavings.