Small Flock Management
Poultry producers take pride in owning a well-managed, productive flock. However, most flocks suffer from management problems that prevent the birds from ever reaching their productive potential. The vast majority of problems encountered in the poultry house are not related to nutrition or disease, but from mismanagement by the poultryman.
The information contained in this section is designed to assist the poultry producer in avoiding management problems and preventing potentially serious problems in the flock. The emphasis in poultry production must always be placed upon the prevention of problems, rather than correcting them after they occur.
The discussions and publications that follow can be useful to both novice and experienced poultry producers for expanding their knowledge of poultry.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best breed of chickens to raise?
- How can I sex day-old chicks?
- How can I stop my hens from eating their eggs?
- Why did my laying hens stop laying eggs this winter?
- How do I properly care for my laying hens to get maximum egg production?
- How can I identify poor egg producing hens in my flock?
- My laying hens seem to lose their feathers in the late autumn months and often stop laying. What is wrong?
- How do I stop my chickens from pecking on each other?
- Why do my birds have an absence of feathers on parts of their bodies?
- What is best brooding temperatures?
- How do I treat chickens to rid them of mites, lice and ticks?
- When should hens be culled?
Other Information
- Breeds and Varieties of Chickens lists the breeds and varieties of all chicken, turkey, and waterfowl recognized by the American Poultry Association.
- Solutions for Poultry lists many solutions and remedies to treat problems in the poultry flock.
Publications
News
Farm supply stores are full of cute chicks in the spring, and the sight of the fluffy baby birds, combined with future dreams of fresh eggs, prompts many people to impulsively start a backyard flock.
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Keeping buffalo wings on menus is a supply chain issue that goes all the way back to procedures farm workers follow to protect the health of commercially grown chickens.
RAYMOND, Miss. -- Agricultural producers and industry professionals met with Mississippi State University personnel in the coastal region to discuss research and education priorities at the 2022 Producer Advisory Council meeting. The annual event aims to help clients improve their productivity. Attendees gathered in small commodity groups at each event to share their ideas with agents, researchers and specialists with the MSU Extension Service and the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station.
RALEIGH, Miss. – Beef and poultry producers across Mississippi will have an opportunity to get up to speed on the latest issues facing their industries and see new products and equipment on April 14.
Strong consumer demand for chicken is one part of the equation that added up to a nearly 40% increase in production value for Mississippi’s poultry industry in 2021. The commodity held on to the No. 1 spot among all the state’s agricultural commodities, totaling an estimated value of $2.65 billion. 2021 marks the 27th consecutive year poultry has topped Mississippi’s value of production list. Final figures will be released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in April. Higher prices also influenced this year’s value of production.
