7 - Poultry welfare assessment on the farm: Focusing on the individual

Abstract

This chapter reviews practical items for the on-farm assessment of the welfare of individual birds in a poultry flock. While welfare assessment of the flock as a whole is also critical on the farm, in this chapter, we focus on the individual bird. An individual bird’s welfare depends on its ability to cope with the social structure, environment, management practices, and health status of the flock. Sickness and injury can impair the individual’s ability to cope. It is our responsibility to identify compromised birds promptly and take actions to improve their welfare. Training and experience are keys to identifying and assessing the welfare of sick and injured birds, especially within a large flock. This chapter covers topics such as the behavior of compromised birds, the identification of sick or injured individuals, decision-making regarding whether to treat or euthanize, and the humaneness and practical considerations for on-farm euthanasia methods.