Farm & Ranch

[AgriLife Today] Poultry program in Fort Worth June 28 focuses on reducing heat stress for flocks

Published

8 years ago

June 14, 2016

NTFR

By: Adam Russell

Writer: Adam Russell, 903-834-6191, [email protected]
Contact: Fred Hall, 817-884-1946, [email protected]

FORT WORTH – Summer heat can zap the production quality and quantity of poultry flocks, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert.

Flock owners can learn many best management practices for keeping hens cooler at a program scheduled from 6-7:30 p.m. June 28 at the AgriLife Extension office in Tarrant County, 200 Taylor St. in Fort Worth.

“Some of the things backyard flock owners do don’t help their chickens dissipate heat and in fact, make it worse,” said AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resource agent Fred Hall, Tarrant County.

Hall said little things, like maintaining good bedding, which helps insulate and moderate hens’ temperature, and ensuring chickens have access to plenty of cool water, can help a flock through hot Texas summers.

Ignoring heat-stressed chickens can mean fewer and lower quality eggs from layers and decreased weight gains from broilers, he said.

While there is no charge for the program or parking, attendees are asked to reserve their seat online at: http://agrilife.org/urbantarrantag/program-registration.

The deadline to register is 5 p.m. June 27. For more information and to preregister, contact the AgriLife Extension office in Tarrant County at 817-884-1946.

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Farm & Ranch

Hazards of Backyard Poultry

Published

4 days ago

April 21, 2024

NTFR

By Barry Whitworth, DVM

Having backyard poultry is a popular agriculture enterprise. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 0.8 percent of all households in the United States have chickens. People keep chickens for a variety of reasons with table eggs being one of the more common reasons.

Unfortunately, some of these poultry producers are not aware of the hazards that come with keeping poultry because many times they carry pathogens but appear healthy.
Chickens are carriers of several zoonotic diseases. These are diseases that can be passed from animals to humans. According to a recent survey in Pennsylvania, a majority of backyard poultry producers were aware of the dangers of avian influenza. However, this study also revealed that far fewer producers were aware of the risk of possible exposure to Salmonella and Campylobacter.

The lack of knowledge about the hazards of raising poultry likely contributes to the continued issues of Salmonella outbreaks associated with backyard poultry. In 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,072 illnesses of Salmonella linked to backyard poultry, and 272 of those patients required hospitalization. Oklahoma reported 43 individuals with the disease.

To read more, pick up a copy of the April issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.