Stewart met the farm manager and her husband (who looked after Phil’s first untrimmed flock - 4,500 birds, depopulated in May) and they both impressed upon him the extra workload and anxiety associated with looking after untrimmed flocks. In terms of workload the manager estimated the split between the two flocks that she looks after, untrimmed and control, as 70:30. It was pointed out that this level of labour input could not be replicated or sustained if both 16,000 flocks were untrimmed.
Gary Ford, Chief Poultry Adviser, who also attended the visit, commented ‘Stewart took on board the extra workload involved and the anxiety associated with looking after untrimmed birds. The uncertainty of looking after the flock and the worry that an outbreak of feather pecking could potentially be triggered by a number of causes – predators, hot air balloons, low flying aircraft and potentially a change in feed composition – were all explained. We are grateful to Stewart for showing interest in this issue which is of great concern and anxiety to our members.’