Courtesy Stock . XCHANG/ Robert Mich
Keep your backyard pile complimentary from salmonella by lead biosecurity precautions .
The cage in volaille versus free - image poulet debate seems to rage on even in spark of the more than 500 million eggs recalled in late weeks .
Most in the egg industry still insist that recruit hen in battery cages is actually better for the biddy and the safety of the egg . Just this yr , the United Egg Producers , a precede U.S. ballock industry trade group announce that cage hen is well for intellectual nourishment safety .
The U.K. ballock industry takes the completely paired stance . In the retiring five years , nine studies have been discharge throughout the U.K. , all of which indicate that bollock operations with caged hen have higher incidences of salmonella . These studies were so convincing that the U.K. has enacted legislation making it illegal to cage hens anywhere in the U.K. begin in 2012 .
Even though U.S. study seem to negate those in the U.K. , the U.S. stance that caged eggs are good is starting to check . California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed province legislation to ostracise caged hens by 2015 , and many food sellers , such as Wal - Mart , Safeway , Burger King , Wendy ’s and Subway , have committed to decrease the telephone number of caged - biddy eggs buy .
Do I have to worry about salmonella in my backyard flock?
Does this allow the backyard husbandman who free - range hens off the hook ? Not barely . All the studies in the U.S. and the U.K. found many other influences that increased the relative incidence of salmonella besides keeping the Bronx cheer in cages . Darrell Trampel , DVM , a vet and poultry expert at Iowa State University , says there are recorded display case of salmonella in all size and type of flocks , including those that are raised organically and free - range . It ’s important , even in the backyard flock , to protect your family by taking steps to reduce your luck of salmonella transmission .
Backyard Biosecurity
Salmonella is transmitted among chickens through link with fecal matter from infected birds or other animals . It ’s often extend from stack to flock on the clothes and shoe of backyard visitors and the masses who care for the chickens . It ’s important to restrict visitors to your backyard flock to specify the poulet ’ potential for exposure . Coop walkway are a dandy way to raise pecuniary resource for local poultry group , but they also put your chickens at peril for salmonella and otherchicken disease . If you participate in a paseo where a lot of the great unwashed will be in impinging with your poulet or equipment , keep chicken diseasesby taking biosecurity measures , such as using disinfectant ft baths and restricting visitant contact with your peck .
Rodent Control
Salmonella is usually spread by mice and other rodents . It ’s authoritative to keep the chicken feed in a certain container . If hens feed outside , fetch nutrient in at night and put in it in rodent - proof area . Keep the coops in good term and well - ventilated with nasty construction to prevent mice from entering . Also eliminate Mary Jane and piled dust that attract rodents in the crybaby yard .
Clean Coops
Remove manure and damp bedding material as it hoard in the coop . Clean waterers weekly and feeders regularly . give ear the confluent and water high enough to forestall the chickens from shit or drudge dirt into the containers . Clean and disinfect any used equipment immediately upon purchase , even if you are n’t going to apply it for a while .
Vaccinate Your Flock
In the U.S. , vaccinum are sold in doses of thousands to accommodate the manufacturing plant farm , which can make it tough for the small - flock Fannie Merritt Farmer . Bud Wood , from Murray McMurray Hatchery , talks about the quandary front the modest poultry farmer .
“ To be fully plow for salmonella , the birdie call for to be vaccinated multiple time . We could immunize them once here at the hatchery , but the customer would call for to immunize them again twice more , ” he says . “ The biggest problem is we can only get the vaccine in 5,000- or 10,000 - loony toons units , and it ask to be used within hours of chess opening . ”
Watch for updates in this area , and encourage veterinarians and legislator to make small quantities of the salmonella vaccinum available to urban farmers .
Good Egg Hygiene
According to Gail Damerow , author of Storey ’s Guide to Raising Chickens , the first line of defense in keeping eggs safe to eat is to keep nest light and lined with fresh litter . Eggs should be call for often and stored like a shot after collection at 45 degrees F. Eggs that are seriously bemire , crack or leaking should be discarded .
To be completely safe , ballock should be completely cook with a solid vitellus and firm white . For more data about egg handling , call theEgg Safety CenterandFoodSafety.govwebsites .
