As winter rolls in and birds move indoors, biosecurity becomes the unsung hero of every poultry operation. Cold weather, damp feed areas and cosy sheds do not just appeal to your flock. They are also an open invitation for uninvited guests like rodents.
With the national housing order in place and Avian Influenza (AI) still a major concern, now is the time for poultry producers to step up their defences. While bird flu might make the headlines, it is often the smallest intruders, such as rats and mice slipping through gaps in feed stores, that put your hard work at risk.
Why Rodents Threaten More Than Just Feed
Rodents are not only messy thieves raiding your grain. They are highly efficient disease carriers that can jeopardise flock health and farm reputation in one swift move. Once they are inside, they contaminate feed and water, damage insulation, and gnaw their way through expensive equipment.
Worse still, rodents can spread pathogens like Salmonella and Avian Influenza across the unit. Mice are especially troublesome because of their stealth. You might not even see them until the problem is well established, by which point you are dealing with an entire community of whiskered invaders.
At Lodi UK, we have seen how quickly a few unnoticed rodents can spiral into a costly infestation. That is why our technical adviser, Dave Reece, urges farmers to make rodent management a top priority this winter. Prevention always beats cure, and keeping rodents out starts with solid biosecurity.
The Biosecurity Basics (Done the Lodi Way)
Think of biosecurity as your farm’s invisible shield. Every shed, wall and doorway should help block potential disease pathways. It is about creating an environment where pathogens cannot thrive and rodents cannot settle.
Start by walking your site with a critical eye. Are there gaps in the walls? Feed bins too close to the sheds? Equipment stacked up against the side of buildings? These are open invitations for pests to sneak inside.
When sheds are empty, take the opportunity to proof every potential entry point using rodent-resistant materials. This could mean sealing small gaps, installing mesh, or applying Lodi’s Anti-Rodent Sealant to vulnerable joins. Every blocked hole is a win for flock health.
Cleanliness is equally important. Clear away debris, spilled feed and clutter that could give rodents cover. The cleaner the environment, the less likely it is to attract unwanted visitors.
And if you do spot signs of activity such as droppings, chew marks or that familiar musky smell, act fast. The earlier you intervene, the easier it is to regain control.
Building an Immunity Boost with Defender
Beyond rodent control, your flock’s immunity depends heavily on how clean and pathogen-free your environment is. That is where the Defender range really shines.
Our Defender products are designed to help poultry producers strengthen the last line of defence: the health of the birds themselves. Every product in the range has one goal, which is to remove lingering disease pressure and create a clean, safe space where birds can thrive.
After the manual cleaning is complete and before birds return, a final disinfection stage is essential. Traditional surface spraying only reaches what you can see, leaving hidden corners untreated. But pathogens do not hide where it is convenient. They lurk in cracks, rafters and crevices.
The Defender OPP Smoke tackles this head on. Using Ortho-Phenyl-Phenol (OPP) technology, it generates a fine, even disinfectant smoke that travels into every hard-to-reach space. It has proven efficacy against bacteria, viruses and fungi, providing a complete clean even in large, complex sheds.
Self-contained in 250g tins, Defender OPP Smoke is simple to use. Light the non-sparking wick and leave to let it work. No need for special equipment, no patchy results and no areas left untreated. It is the perfect finishing touch before restocking, ensuring your birds enter a fresh, biosecure environment.
As Dave Reece explains, “OPP smoke should be used as close to re-entry of birds as possible, as a final step in the cleaning protocol, to remove any remaining pathogens.” In other words, it is your biosecurity insurance policy and a simple step that gives your flock the best start possible.
A Healthier Environment Equals Stronger Birds
When biosecurity lapses, your poultry pay the price. Disease outbreaks reduce productivity, increase mortality and can have long-term consequences for welfare and business continuity. When it is done right, biosecurity boosts immunity, improves growth rates and reduces the need for reactive treatments.
Pairing Hygiene with Rodent Control
The cleanest shed in the world is still vulnerable if rodents can get in. That is why effective proofing and ongoing monitoring should always go hand in hand with your cleaning programme.
Lodi UK offers a range of professional rodent control products, from the trusted Racan range to our professional Lodi Gems baits which include Jade, Ruby and Sapphire. Each one is tailored to specific farm needs.
For those looking for a sustainable, non-SGAR option, Harmonix Rodent Paste remains a standout choice for agricultural use. It allows control in sensitive outdoor areas without compromising compliance.
The combination of proper proofing, effective baiting and deep disinfection creates the perfect trio of farm hygiene, forming a strong barrier against both disease and infestation.
A Reminder for the Season Ahead
Winter can be tough on farmers and their birds. Between housing orders, fluctuating temperatures and increased rodent activity, it is easy for problems to build up. By making biosecurity and rodent management a shared focus, producers can keep their flocks protected and performance steady through the colder months.
At Lodi UK, we are proud to support British poultry producers with products that do more than just work. They make sense. From the Defender hygiene range to our leading pest control lines, every innovation is designed to safeguard livestock, livelihoods and long-term sustainability.
This season, do not let your biosecurity take a back seat. Tighten up the proofing, double-check your cleaning protocols and give your flock the clean, disease-free start they deserve.
A healthy environment is not just good biosecurity. It is good business.
