Chicken & Poultry Management Guide

1. Getting Started

Setting Up Your Farm

After signing in, create your poultry farm profile:

1. Go to Dashboard and click "Add Farm"
2. Enter your farm name (e.g., "Sunrise Layers", "Valley View Broilers")
3. Add location details - critical for heat stress monitoring
4. Set up biosecurity zones (Clean, Transition, Dirty areas)
5. Configure house numbers if managing multiple houses
6. Save your farm profile

Creating Flocks

Organize your birds by creating flocks. Separate flocks by house, age group, or production purpose:

1. Navigate to your farm dashboard
2. Click "Manage Flocks" or "Add Flock"
3. Enter flock name (e.g., "House 1 Layers", "Batch 2025-03 Broilers")
4. Select species: Chicken
5. Choose flock type: Layer, Broiler, or Breeder
6. Enter placement date and initial bird count
7. Assign to biosecurity zone and house number
8. For broilers: Set expected market date (typically 35-42 days)
9. For layers: Set expected laying start (typically 18-20 weeks)
10. Save your flock

Individual Bird Tracking (Optional)

Important: Individual bird tracking is optional for poultry. All 9 specialized tools (mortality, egg production, feed conversion, biosecurity zones, biosecurity audits, heat stress, etc.) work at the flock level, not individual bird level.

If you do want individual tracking, you have three options:

1. Add Single Animal - Manually add birds one at a time (good for small flocks)
2. Quick Add Multiple - Create many birds at once with auto-generated tag IDs (good for medium flocks)
3. Import from CSV - Upload a spreadsheet with all bird details (good for large flocks with existing data)

To add animals, go to Animals section and click the "Add Animals" dropdown to choose your preferred method.

2. Mortality Tracking & Disease Detection

Why Daily Mortality Tracking Matters

Early disease detection is critical in large flocks. A sudden spike in mortality is often the first warning sign of disease outbreak. FarmSentry automatically alerts you when daily mortality exceeds the 2% threshold - the industry standard for requiring veterinary consultation.

Understanding Mortality Thresholds

• Normal daily mortality: 0.3-0.5% (3-5 birds per 1,000)
• Elevated concern: 1.0-1.9% (10-19 birds per 1,000)
• ALERT THRESHOLD: 2.0% or higher (20+ birds per 1,000) - Immediate action required
• Target annual mortality: Less than 5% for layers, less than 3% for broilers

How to Record Daily Mortality

1. Navigate to the Activities page from your dashboard
2. Click the "Animal Activities" button
3. Select "Poultry" from the species selector (if you have multiple species)
4. Click the "Mortality Log" tool button
5. Select the date (record daily)
6. Choose your flock
7. Enter mortality count - the system calculates mortality rate automatically
8. Enter current flock size (total living birds)
9. Select primary reason:
   • Disease: Respiratory, digestive, or infectious disease
   • Heat Stress: Environmental mortality (high temp + humidity)
   • Predator: Loss to predators (fox, hawk, etc.)
   • Injury: Physical trauma or cannibalism
   • Culled: Intentionally removed for poor performance
   • Unknown: Cause not determined
10. Select disposal method:
    • Composting (most common, biosecure)
    • Burial (check local regulations)
    • Incineration (high biosecurity)
    • Rendering (commercial pickup)
11. Check "Veterinary Consulted" if you called your vet
12. Add any notes about symptoms or circumstances
13. Save the mortality log

Understanding Alerts

When you enter a mortality count that exceeds 2% of your flock size, FarmSentry displays a HIGH MORTALITY ALERT banner:

What to do when alert triggers:

1. Contact your veterinarian immediately
2. Isolate affected house/flock if possible
3. Review recent changes (feed, weather, vaccinations)
4. Check biosecurity protocols - any breaches?
5. Collect dead birds for necropsy if cause unknown
6. Monitor closely for next 24-48 hours

3. Egg Production Management (Layers)

Understanding the Egg Grading System

FarmSentry uses the official USDA grading system for egg quality tracking:

• Grade AA: Clean, unbroken shell; air cell ≤1/8 inch; clear, firm white; well-centered yolk
• Grade A: Clean, unbroken shell; air cell ≤3/16 inch; clear white; fairly well-centered yolk
• Grade B: Slight stains permitted; air cell ≤3/8 inch; white may be weak or watery; yolk may be off-center
• Cracked/Dirty: Not suitable for sale - composted or used for non-food purposes

Expected Quality Distribution

• Grade AA: 70% (commercial quality target)
• Grade A: 25%
• Grade B: 5% or less
• Cracked/Dirty: Less than 3% (indicates housing or handling issues)

How to Record Egg Production

1. Navigate to the Activities page from your dashboard
2. Click the "Animal Activities" button
3. Select "Poultry" from the species selector (if you have multiple species)
4. Click the "Egg Production" tool button
5. Select production date
6. Choose your layer flock
7. Enter total eggs collected
8. Break down by grade:
   • Grade AA count - Premium quality
   • Grade A count - Standard quality
   • Grade B count - Lower quality
   • Cracked/Dirty count - Not marketable
9. Select collection time:
   • AM: Morning collection only
   • PM: Afternoon collection only
   • All Day: Multiple collections combined
10. Optionally enter:
    • Total weight (kg) - Batch weight if available
    • Average egg weight (g) - For quality tracking
11. The system automatically calculates:
    • Production percentage: (eggs collected / flock size) × 100
    • Quality percentages: Grade AA%, Grade A%, Grade B%
    • Production rating: Excellent (85%+), Good (75-84%), Below Target (<75%)
12. Add notes about any issues (soft shells, unusual colors, etc.)
13. Save the production record

Understanding Production Percentage

• Peak production: 85-95% (one egg per bird per day, with some off-layers)
• Good production: 75-84% (acceptable for mature flocks)
• Below target: Under 75% (investigate: disease, stress, nutrition, age)
• Production curve:
  • 18-20 weeks: Laying starts (5-10%)
  • 24-28 weeks: Reaches peak (85-95%)
  • 28-72 weeks: Gradual decline (1% per month)
  • 72+ weeks: Consider molting or replacement

4. Feed Conversion Optimization

Why FCR Matters

Feed constitutes 60-70% of production costs. Monitoring Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) is the single most important metric for profitability. Poor FCR means you're wasting money on every bird or dozen eggs produced.

FCR Calculations: Layers vs Broilers

How to Record Feed Conversion

1. Navigate to the Activities page from your dashboard
2. Click the "Animal Activities" button
3. Select "Poultry" from the species selector (if you have multiple species)
4. Click the "Feed Conversion" tool button
5. Select your flock
6. Choose bird type: Layer or Broiler
7. Set batch period:
   • Start date: Beginning of tracking period
   • End date: Today or end of tracking period
   • Typical periods: 7 days (weekly), 28 days (monthly)
8. Enter total feed consumed (kg) for the period
9. For Layers:
   • Enter total eggs produced during period
   • System calculates kg feed per dozen eggs
10. For Broilers:
    • Enter starting average weight (kg)
    • Enter ending average weight (kg)
    • System calculates weight gained and FCR
11. Enter mortality during period (adjusts calculations)
12. System automatically assigns performance rating:
    • Excellent - Well below industry average
    • Good - At or better than industry average
    • Needs Improvement - Above acceptable range
13. Add notes about feed changes, weather, health issues
14. Save the FCR record

What Affects FCR

• Feed quality: Poor quality feed = poor FCR, check for mold or contamination
• Disease: Sick birds eat less and gain weight slower
• Heat stress: 8-9% reduction in feed intake during heat stress
• Water access: Inadequate water = reduced feed intake
• Genetics: Modern breeds have better FCR than older breeds
• Stocking density: Overcrowding increases stress and reduces FCR

5. Biosecurity Compliance

Why Biosecurity Matters

Biosecurity protocols prevent disease introduction and spread. USDA's National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) requires biosecurity compliance for market access. Failed audits can result in quarantine, lost sales, and mandatory depopulation.

The Three Biosecurity Zones

How to Set Up Biosecurity Zones

1. Navigate to the Activities page from your dashboard
2. Click the "Animal Activities" button
3. Select "Poultry" from the species selector (if you have multiple species)
4. Click the "Biosecurity Zones" tool button
5. Click "Create New Zone"
6. Enter zone name (e.g., "House 1-3 Clean Zone", "Mortality Composting Dirty Zone")
7. Select zone type: Clean, Transition, or Dirty
8. Add houses included in this zone (e.g., "House 1", "House 2")
9. Select entry requirements:
   • Shower required
   • Boot wash station
   • Hand sanitizer
   • Coveralls required
   • Hair net required
   • Gloves required
   • Face mask required
   • Vehicle disinfection
   • 72-hour off-farm clearance
   • Equipment sanitization
10. Optionally enter:
    • Last audit date
    • Audit score (0-100, where ≥70 is passing)
    • Next audit due date
11. Check "Zone Active" to enable
12. Add notes about specific protocols or recent changes
13. Save the zone

How to Record Biosecurity Audits

1. Navigate to the Activities page from your dashboard
2. Click the "Animal Activities" button
3. Select "Poultry" from the species selector (if you have multiple species)
4. Click the "Biosecurity Audits" tool button
5. Select the zone being audited
6. Enter audit date
7. Enter auditor name (your name or external auditor)
8. Select audit type:
   • USDA NPIP: Official USDA National Poultry Improvement Plan audit
   • Internal: Self-audit or farm manager inspection
   • Customer: Buyer-required biosecurity verification
   • Certification: Third-party certification audit (e.g., GlobalGAP)
9. Enter overall score (0-100)
10. System automatically determines:
    • Passed: Score ≥ 70
    • Conditional: Score 60-69 (must correct within 30 days)
    • Failed: Score < 60
11. Optionally select certification status:
    • Certified: Fully compliant, certification issued
    • Conditional: Minor issues, must re-audit
    • Failed: Major deficiencies, not compliant
12. Enter findings: What was found during audit (up to 2,000 characters)
13. Enter corrective actions: Steps taken or planned to address findings
14. Set next audit due date (typically 6-12 months)
15. Add any additional notes
16. Save the audit record

Audit Scoring Guide

• 90-100 (Excellent): All requirements met, exemplary practices
• 80-89 (Good): Minor issues, overall compliant
• 70-79 (Passing): Meets minimum requirements
• 60-69 (Conditional): Deficiencies require correction
• Below 60 (Failed): Major non-compliance, immediate action required

6. Heat Stress Management

Why Heat Stress Matters

Heat stress causes significant production losses: 8-9% reduction in feed intake and 17% reduction in weight gain (2024 research). In layers, heat stress reduces egg size and increases mortality. Early detection and mitigation are critical.

Temperature-Humidity Index (THI)

THI combines temperature and humidity to assess heat stress risk. High humidity prevents evaporative cooling, making hot days more dangerous.

How to Record Heat Stress Logs

1. Navigate to the Activities page from your dashboard
2. Click the "Animal Activities" button
3. Select "Poultry" from the species selector (if you have multiple species)
4. Click the "Heat Stress" tool button
5. Select log date (record during hottest part of day, 2-4 PM)
6. Choose your flock
7. Enter temperature (Celsius) inside house
8. Enter humidity (%)
9. System automatically calculates THI and displays stress level
10. Select current ventilation level:
    • Minimum: Standard conditions (THI < 72)
    • Standard: Warm conditions (THI 72-79)
    • Tunnel: High heat stress (THI 79-89)
    • Emergency: Severe heat stress (THI > 89)
11. Optionally enter air velocity (m/s) if measured
12. Observe and record behaviors:
    • Panting observed: Yes/No (open-mouth breathing)
    • Wings spread observed: Yes/No (birds holding wings away from body)
13. Enter mortality count if any heat-related deaths occurred
14. Optionally enter:
    • Feed intake (kg): Compare to baseline to quantify reduction
    • Water consumption (L): Should increase 2-3x during heat stress
15. Select mitigation actions taken:
    • Increased ventilation
    • Misting systems activated
    • Cool water provided
    • Feeding restricted to morning
    • Electrolytes added to water
    • Lights dimmed
16. Add notes about effectiveness of mitigation actions
17. Save the heat stress log

Heat Stress Mitigation Strategies

7. Coccidiosis Prevention

Managing Coccidiosis Risk

Coccidiosis is a parasitic disease that damages the intestinal tract, reducing nutrient absorption. It is one of the most economically damaging diseases in poultry.

• Risk factors: Wet litter, high density, poor ventilation
• Symptoms: Bloody droppings, ruffled feathers, huddled birds, weight loss
• Prevention: Dry litter management, coccidiostats in feed, vaccination

8. Broiler Weight Tracking

Consistent weighing ensures you meet market targets and identify growth issues early. Weigh a representative sample (50-100 birds) weekly.

9. Molting Management (Layers)

Induced molting rejuvenates the reproductive tract for a second laying cycle. FarmSentry helps track the fasting and recovery phases to ensure welfare and performance.

10. Best Practices & Tips

• Water Quality: Test water annually. Clean lines between flocks.
• Light Management: Maintain 16 hours of light for layers.
• Record Keeping: Daily records are your best management tool.