Activities

(see additional information field)

Additional information

The project HealthyHens provides recommendations to help keep endoparasitic worms at an acceptable level: The aim is to limit the parasite burden and to reduce the impact of the worm eggs on the hens.

In hen houses worm eggs remain infective for at least a year; becoming infective within two to three weeks after contact with (newly placed) hens. To break the cycle of reinfection, thorough cleaning and disinfection of the hen house between batches should be a common practice. In case of worm problems antimicrobial substances that inactivate worm eggs and embryonated larvae should be used for disinfection.

In the outdoor run, range rotation as well as soil replacement or treatment with lime in the areas used most intensively can reduce worm egg survival. Outdoor conditions like direct sunlight, low temperatures (< 15°C) or dry conditions will reinforce this. And since worm eggs are also spread over a much larger surface outdoors, the likelihood of reinfection is also reduced. The outdoor range should therefore be created to be as attractive as possible to the hens so the birds will spread over the whole available surface.

Worm infections can be monitored by taking faecal samples (droppings), and veterinarians can provide advice on this. More information and practical tips can be found in the project´s recommendations (English, German, Italian, Dutch, Swedish and Danish)

www.coreorganic2.org/upload/coreorganic2/document/HealthyHensRecommenda…