Commercial Poultry
Over 1,000 farms in Manitoba have chickens, turkeys, and other poultry. Most flocks are very small with the birds kept for home use. Manitoba is self-sufficient in poultry and egg production and almost all of the eggs and meat consumed by Manitobans are produced on the 400 commercial poultry farms in the province.
On-farm Food Safety
Commercial poultry and egg producers participate in on-farm food safety programs to document that they are taking the steps needed to produce a safe, quality product. They are regularly inspected for record keeping, biosecurity and food handling practices.
One of the important steps when shipping birds to market is proper feed withdrawal. Monitoring and implementing a good feed withdrawal program will produce cleaner end product with a longer shelf life.
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Small Flock Poultry
Over 1,000 farms in Manitoba have chickens, turkeys and other poultry. Most flocks are very small with the birds kept for home use. Manitoba is self-sufficient in poultry and egg production and almost all of the eggs and meat consumed by Manitobans are produced on the 400 commercial poultry farms in the province. This information is focused on the feeding, management and health of small backyard flocks.
Feeds and Nutrition
Supplying the right feed is one of the keys to a healthy, productive small flock of chickens. The nutrients and feed ingredients must be matched to the age and type of bird being raised.
Supplying the right feed is one of the keys to a healthy, productive small flock of chickens. The nutrients and feed ingredients must be matched to the age and type of bird being raised.
Management
The health and well-being of a small poultry flock depends on maintain good air quality, temperature, litter and litter conditions.
Animal Health and Biosecurity
Small flocks are susceptible to a number of diseases. Other poultry flocks, especially other birds from other backyard flocks, are common sources of these diseases. For some diseases like avian influenza, wild waterfowl are a concern. Practicing good biosecurity is an important method of protecting your birds.
