Do for your birds what they can’t do for themselves

The job of a stockman is essentially hospitality.

Making your birds feel at home.

Or put another way, “…do for your birds what they can’t do for themselves.”

It’s like when you go to visit someone at their house.

Your ability to enjoy the experience is directly linked to your host’s level of accommodation.

In other words, the host’s ability to encourage you to use their home’s amenities as if you were at your own home helps you settle in and gain maximum benefit from the experience.

Some general housekeeping tips like:

• advance notice of where the toilet is
• where you’ll be seated for dinner
• acknowleging particular dietary requirements etc.

Respect for these small but significant points collectively impacts the quality of your experience.

They make your visit easy, enjoyable and fulfilling.

A good experience and you’re likely to return if invited again.

A bad experience and you’ll naturally want to avoid a repeat.

The same goes for your poultry flock.

FLAWSS

FLAWSS is a useful acronym for remembering the key contributors to environmental comfort for poultry flocks in the rearing environment.

Here’s what each of the letters of the acronym stand for:

So, in essence, there are 6 facets of hospitality your poultry stockmen (hosts for your poultry flock) need to provide, every moment of every day throughout the rearing cycle:

• Food: optimal nutritional input (quality and quantity) as fuel for conversion into meat or eggs
• Lighting: either artificial or natural for regulating activity
• Air: ventilation to assist in temperature regulation, respiratory health and more.
• Water: hydration for optimal metabolism.
• Space (aka stocking): helps birds access feed and water, helps regulate body temperature and minimises violent behavioural habits
• Sanitation: prevents disease

Do these things for your birds, and they will reward you by unlocking their genetic potential.