The Poultry Breeding Flocks and Hatcheries Order 1993

PART I SAMPLES TO BE TAKEN FROM BREEDING FLOCKS OF DOMESTIC FOWL FOR BACTERIOLOGICAL TESTING

1.  The number of sites from which separate faeces samples are to be taken in order to make a composite sample shall be as follows:

Number of birds kept in a building, or on a holding on which birds have free access to more than one building, number of birds in each group of buildings on such holding	Number of faeces samples to be taken in the building or group of buildings on the holding
1—24	A number equal to the total number of birds up to a maximum of 20 birds
25—29	20
30—39	25
40—49	30
50—59	35
60—89	40
90—199	50
200—499	55
500 or more	60

2.  The samples to be taken shall comprise—

(a) one chick box liner, up to a maximum of 10, for every 500 chicks delivered from each hatchery to any rearing premises on any day, such samples to be taken on the day of the arrival of the chicks there;

(b) the carcases of all chicks, up to a maximum of 60, from each hatchery, which are dead on arrival at any rearing premises, such samples to be taken on the day of the arrival of the chicks there;

(c) a composite faeces sample taken from birds at 4 weeks of age and at two weeks prior to them entering the laying phase, the number of separate samples being taken in accordance with the table in paragraph 1 above;

(d) in the case of birds whose eggs are hatched at a hatchery with a total incubator capacity of less than 1,000 eggs a composite faeces sample taken from birds at the time they enter the laying phase and at intervals of 2 weeks thereafter in accordance with the table in paragraph 1 above.

3.  Samples referred to in subparagraph (d) above shall be taken under the supervision of an officer of the Minister at 56 day intervals.