Poultry Health Care in the Organic System - Humane and Healthy Poultry Production - page 37

4. Do not starve or overfeed. This prevents growth problems.
5. Offer a diversity of feed and forage. This prevents nutritional imbalances.
6. Allow poultry only on ground with a minimum amount of manure. This minimizes parasite ex-
posure, coccidiosis, and diarrhea.
7. Avoid sudden feed changes. This helps prevent diarrhea, crop impaction, pasted vent, and picking.
8. Cull. This prevents “wimp” birds from threatening the health of other birds.
9. Handle and move birds gently. This prevents stress, injuries, and fearfulness. 1
The Role of Vaccinations in Organic Production
Vaccines have risks as well as benefits for the organic poultry producer. Generally, commercial
flocks over 5,000 are vaccinated for a number of common diseases, but smaller flocks, particu-
larly those raised on pasture, typically do not need vaccines unless a certain disease is common
in the area. 2 Vaccinating for Marek's disease, a contagious litter-borne disease caused by
herpes viruses, is commonly recommended for layers since they are kept so much longer than
broilers. 3 It seems likely, however, that this preemptive measure does not allow the bird's own
immune system to naturally generate its own defense. 4 This shortcoming may hold particularly
true in brooders that are sterilized between batches. Rearing birds in a clean, hygienic environ-
ment is good in many ways, but the young birds may not meet a wide enough range of infec-
tious agents and get the opportunity to develop a broad immunity or perhaps a fully functioning
immune system. This might leave young birds vulnerable to these infections later in life.
Burcombe Hatchery, a certified organic supplier in the UK, has tested clean for major diseases
in their breeding flock and strives to promote immunity with ( a ) low stocking densities; ( b )
early exposure to pathogens; and ( c ) competitive exclusion (letting the benign or beneficial mi-
crobes outcompete the pathogens). 5 These techniques promote a natural immunity that pro-
duces a robust bird and healthy environment for future birds.