Flock Management

Flocks are the foundation of your poultry farming operations in PoultryPro. This guide covers everything you need to know about managing your flocks effectively.

What is a Flock?

A flock represents a group of birds that:

• Were acquired at the same time
• Are of the same breed or type
• Are managed as a single unit
• Have their own production and health records

Creating a Flock

To create a new flock:

1. Navigate to Flocks in the main menu
2. Click Add New Flock
3. Fill in the required information:

Basic Information

• Flock Name: Use a descriptive name (e.g., "Jan 2026 Kuroiler Layers")
• Farm: Select which farm this flock belongs to
• Breed: Choose from predefined breeds or add custom
• Purpose: Layers, Broilers, or Breeders

Flock Details

• Initial Bird Count: Number of birds at start
• Start Date: When the flock was established
• Expected End Date: For broilers, the target harvest date

Tracking Bird Count

PoultryPro automatically tracks your current bird count based on:

• Initial count
• Mortality records
• Sales records
• Transfers between flocks

Recording Mortality

To record bird deaths:

1. Go to Flocks → Select your flock
2. Click Health tab
3. Click Record Mortality
4. Enter:
   • Number of birds
   • Date
   • Cause (if known)
   • Notes

The system automatically updates the current bird count.

Flock Lifecycle

Active Flocks

Active flocks are currently producing and require daily management:

• Record production daily
• Monitor mortality
• Track feed consumption
• Log health interventions

Completed Flocks

When a flock cycle ends (sold, harvested, or fully depleted):

1. Go to the flock details page
2. Click Complete Flock
3. Enter final details:
   • Total birds sold/harvested
   • Final sale value
   • Completion date

Completed flocks remain in the system for historical reporting.

Flock Performance Metrics

PoultryPro calculates key performance indicators for each flock:

For Layer Flocks

• Egg Production Rate: Eggs collected ÷ Bird count × 100
• Feed Conversion Ratio: Feed consumed ÷ Eggs produced
• Mortality Rate: Deaths ÷ Initial count × 100
• Cost Per Egg: Total costs ÷ Total eggs produced

For Broiler Flocks

• Average Weight: Total weight ÷ Bird count
• Feed Conversion Ratio: Feed consumed ÷ Weight gained
• Mortality Rate: Deaths ÷ Initial count × 100
• Cost Per Kg: Total costs ÷ Total weight

Multiple Flocks Management

Best Practices

1. Stagger Batches: Start new flocks at different times to maintain consistent production
2. Isolate New Arrivals: Keep new birds separate for quarantine period
3. Track by Age: Group flocks by similar age for easier management
4. Clear Naming: Use consistent naming conventions

Cost Allocation

When managing multiple flocks, allocate shared costs proportionally:

• Direct costs (feed consumed by specific flock) → Assign directly
• Shared costs (utilities, labor) → Split by bird count or other metric

Common Issues

Issue: Incorrect Bird Count

Cause: Forgot to record mortality or sales

Solution:

1. Review recent activity
2. Add missing mortality/sales records
3. System will recalculate automatically

Issue: Can't Complete Flock

Cause: Still has active birds

Solution: Record final sales/mortality to bring count to zero before completing

Next Steps

• Production Tracking - Record daily egg collection
• Health Monitoring - Log vaccinations and treatments
• Financial Tracking - Track flock profitability