Spraying:

Why should you spray? Here's one farm that did.

Farm ABC had serious problems with E. Coli, and were losing birds at a fairly rapid rate.

In House A, they had 20,300 birds at 4 weeks of age. The birds were dying from E. Coli at the rate of 7.5 per 1,000 (150 birds per day).

After spraying, mortality dropped to 134 the next day, and 50 the following day. The grower culled the flock over the next two days, so it shot back up to 150, then 136 per day. However, at 5 weeks of age, mortality has maintained a level of 51 birds per day.

In House B, they had 20,300 birds at 4 weeks of age. The birds were dying from E. Coli at 4.5/1,000 (91 birds per day).

After spraying, mortality dropped to 83 the first day, and continuted to drop to 35, 40, 47, 40, and 34 for the next five days. At 5 weeks, mortality now runs at 1.25 - 1.5 per day.

As an added precaution, these houses were sprayed again at 36 days.

The reasons for spraying at any age is determined by the health condition of the birds. It has been found that spraying is very effective in controlling the effect of clostridium and the effects of E. Coli, if diagnosed in its early stage. It has been found that the program of starting CI 3-4 Poultry in the water at a day old greatly reduces the need for spraying at a later age.