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 loose 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
In 2019, Mississippi’s agricultural industry faced the prospect of dipping below $7 billion for the first time in eight years, but federal payments pushed its value up enough to post a slight gain over 2018.
The estimated value of Mississippi agriculture in 2019 is $7.39 billion, a 0.2% gain from last year’s $7.37 billion. Included in the total is an estimated $628 million in government payments, the largest amount of federal assistance Mississippi producers have seen since 2006
Overcoming every challenge that comes its way, Mississippi’s poultry industry maintained its 25-year streak in 2019 as the state’s No. 1 agricultural commodity.
In a state where temperatures exceed 90 degrees more than 100 days a year, heat control in poultry houses is a very important consideration for Mississippi's biggest agricultural industry.
Poultry producers got off to a robust start in 2018, which helped the industry end the year strong.
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- More than a million backyard chicken flocks provide Americans with eggs, meat or companionship, a trend Mississippians embrace, but hobby farmers must learn proper care to keep them healthy.
