MANAGEMENT
Considerations for effective vermin control Vermin are considered to be wild animals that are believed to be harmful to crops and livestock or carry disease. Therefore, the definition of vermin is not specific to certain species but rather the circumstances. In poultry production, rodents and insects, including rats, mice, and beetles, are generally classified as vermin and are the most common pests. The Norway rat can produce up to 100 offspring per year, while the roof rat can produce around 90 per year. Both have a territorial range of less than 100 meters. Mice and rats primarily cause environmental damage but can carry and transmit pathogens including Salmonella and Pasteurella multocida (fowl cholera).
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While mice are very curious, rats are very suspicious. This is something to keep in mind for control strategies. Both rats and mice are mainly active during the dark hours. If seen during the daytime, there is most likely an infestation of mice or rats.
The damage done by vermin can be categorized into 2 major groups: 1) direct damage to the environment, feed, food, equipment, and/or infrastructure and 2) disease carriers and disease multipliers.
Mice and rats
Andrea Derkx Senior Veterinarian, Cobb-Vantress
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Rodent control program Rodent control is part of any biosecurity system. Rodents can be carried in boxes, feed, bedding, and other materials that are brought onto the farm from suppliers. Therefore, it is not just the poultry farms but also feed plants, hatcheries, storage facilities, and processing plants that must have a rodent control program in place. Three methods are involved in rodent control: mechanical, biological, and chemical. Mechanical control
The most common mouse, Mus musculus, has a territorial range of less than 50 meters. The life span of the mouse is 9 to 12 months and sexually matures in 6 weeks. Each mouse has about 3 to 6 offspring per cycle with a maximum of 10 cycles per year.
- management -
• This should start with the design and construction of the farm. There should be a perimeter fence with a metal sheet on the bottom that is at least 40 centimeters vertical and has a 20-centimeter horizontal lip on top.
