Episode
Ep 35 | Dave Hodson Jr, Rose Hill Poultry: Managing laying hens for optimal health and performance
- Podcast
- The Poultry Network Podcast
- Published
- Mar 13, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1825
- Processing state
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Summary
Poultry Network’s latest podcast hears from Rose Hill’s Dave Hodson Jr, who argues that strong layer performance starts with getting the basics right – and that vaccination only delivers if it is applied properly. Speaking on a technical episode focused on the laying sector, Mr Hodson drew on decades of experience working with commercial flocks and said producers should think less about vaccination as a routine task and more about whether every bird is genuinely receiving a live, effective dose. He said that in free-range egg production especially, disease pressure can build quickly if detail is missed. While older cage systems were designed to reduce challenges such as worms and coccidiosis, modern free-range systems have reintroduced many of those risks, alongside greater contact with wild birds and more variable range conditions. That makes good vaccination programmes important, but also means they cannot be looked at in isolation. Mr Hodson said flock health depends on controlling several areas at once, including respiratory disease, parasite burden, water quality and the condition of the range. A key point from the discussion was that vaccine handling and administration matter just as much as the product itself. Once a live vaccine is mixed, it begins to lose viability, meaning storage, mixing and delivery through the water system all need careful attention. He also highlighted tongue staining as a practical way of checking whether birds have actually taken in the vaccine, alongside serology and close monitoring of flock performance. Infectious bronchitis was one of the main examples discussed, with Mr Hodson warning that vaccination intervals still need to be right even when administration is good. Push protection too far, he suggested, and flocks can still be le…