{ "metadata": { "graphId": "flockline.evidence-graph", "title": "Flockline Evidence Graph", "version": "0.1.0", "status": "foundation", "canonicalUrl": "https://flockline.com/learn/evidence/", "publishedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "lastUpdatedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "description": "The public record of sources, methods, evaluations, limitations, and changes behind Flockline educational guidance.", "license": "Flockline public transparency data; source publications retain their original rights." }, "nodes": [ { "id": "topic.disease", "nodeType": "topic", "title": "Disease", "slug": "disease", "version": "1.0.0", "status": "published", "publishedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "updatedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "category": "disease", "description": "Conditions, pathogens, warning signs, differential considerations, and escalation.", "knownSummary": "Some observable signs can indicate that prompt veterinary or animal-health escalation is appropriate.", "unknownSummary": "Symptoms alone often cannot identify a cause; diagnosis may require examination, laboratory testing, or necropsy.", "evidenceStrength": "not_assessed", "flocklineConfidence": "not_assessed" }, { "id": "topic.nutrition", "nodeType": "topic", "title": "Nutrition", "slug": "nutrition", "version": "1.0.0", "status": "published", "publishedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "updatedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "category": "nutrition", "description": "Feed, water, nutrients, life-stage needs, and nutrition-related observations.", "knownSummary": "Nutritional needs vary by age, production stage, environment, and health status.", "unknownSummary": "The graph does not yet contain enough reviewed sources to publish topic-level strength or confidence.", "evidenceStrength": "not_assessed", "flocklineConfidence": "not_assessed" }, { "id": "topic.behaviour", "nodeType": "topic", "title": "Behaviour", "slug": "behaviour", "version": "1.0.0", "status": "published", "publishedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "updatedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "category": "behaviour", "description": "Normal and changed behaviour, social dynamics, activity, and owner observations.", "knownSummary": "Changes in activity, eating, drinking, posture, and social behaviour can be useful observations.", "unknownSummary": "A behavioural change is not, by itself, a diagnosis.", "evidenceStrength": "not_assessed", "flocklineConfidence": "not_assessed" }, { "id": "topic.welfare", "nodeType": "topic", "title": "Welfare", "slug": "welfare", "version": "1.0.0", "status": "published", "publishedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "updatedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "category": "welfare", "description": "Comfort, mobility, injury prevention, environmental needs, and quality of life.", "knownSummary": "Welfare assessment requires multiple observations across the bird and its environment.", "unknownSummary": "The graph does not yet publish a unified welfare scoring method for backyard flocks.", "evidenceStrength": "not_assessed", "flocklineConfidence": "not_assessed" }, { "id": "topic.biosecurity", "nodeType": "topic", "title": "Biosecurity", "slug": "biosecurity", "version": "1.0.0", "status": "published", "publishedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "updatedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "category": "biosecurity", "description": "Practices intended to reduce the introduction and spread of infectious disease.", "knownSummary": "Government, veterinary, extension, and research sources consistently recommend isolation, hygiene, and monitoring principles.", "unknownSummary": "A systematic review found limited direct evidence about feasibility and effectiveness in backyard settings, so context matters.", "evidenceStrength": "not_assessed", "flocklineConfidence": "not_assessed" }, { "id": "topic.reproduction", "nodeType": "topic", "title": "Reproduction", "slug": "reproduction", "version": "1.0.0", "status": "published", "publishedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "updatedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "category": "reproduction", "description": "Laying, reproductive behaviour, egg-related observations, and reproductive health.", "knownSummary": "Reproductive signs can overlap with systemic illness and require careful observation.", "unknownSummary": "The graph does not yet contain a reviewed evidence set for reproductive conditions.", "evidenceStrength": "not_assessed", "flocklineConfidence": "not_assessed" }, { "id": "topic.housing", "nodeType": "topic", "title": "Housing", "slug": "housing", "version": "1.0.0", "status": "published", "publishedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "updatedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "category": "housing", "description": "Coop design, space, ventilation, sanitation, weather protection, and predators.", "knownSummary": "Housing affects exposure, sanitation, injury risk, and the ability to observe birds.", "unknownSummary": "Recommendations depend on climate, flock size, bird type, and local regulation.", "evidenceStrength": "not_assessed", "flocklineConfidence": "not_assessed" }, { "id": "study.conan-2012-biosecurity-review", "nodeType": "study", "title": "Biosecurity measures for backyard poultry in developing countries: a systematic review", "slug": "conan-2012-biosecurity-review", "version": "1.0.0", "status": "published", "publishedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "updatedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "sourceClass": "peer_reviewed", "topics": ["biosecurity", "disease"], "authors": ["A. Conan", "F. L. Goutard", "S. Sorn", "S. Vong"], "publication": "BMC Veterinary Research", "year": 2012, "studyType": "Systematic review", "species": ["Backyard poultry"], "sampleSize": { "value": 62, "unit": "documents", "note": "Peer-reviewed and non-referred documents included in the review." }, "evidenceQuality": "not_assessed", "evidenceQualityNote": "Flockline has not yet adopted and applied its formal evidence-quality rubric.", "summary": "The review found that isolation and containment were widely recommended, while direct evidence for feasibility and effectiveness in family-poultry settings was limited.", "limitations": "The review focused on developing-country settings and much of the source material concerned HPAI/H5N1.", "doi": "10.1186/1746-6148-8-240", "pubmedUrl": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23216706/", "externalUrl": "https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-6148-8-240", "fullTextUrl": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3538710/" }, { "id": "study.cadmus-2019-mortality", "nodeType": "study", "title": "Causes of mortality in backyard poultry in eight states in the United States", "slug": "cadmus-2019-mortality", "version": "1.0.0", "status": "published", "publishedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "updatedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "sourceClass": "peer_reviewed", "topics": ["disease", "welfare"], "authors": ["K. J. Cadmus", "A. Mete", "M. Harris", "D. Anderson", "S. Davison", "Y. Sato", "J. Helm", "L. Boger", "J. Odani", "M. D. Ficken", "K. L. Pabilonia"], "publication": "Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation", "year": 2019, "studyType": "Multi-state retrospective diagnostic-laboratory study", "species": ["Backyard poultry"], "sampleSize": { "value": 2687, "unit": "birds", "note": "2,509 autopsy reports covering 2,687 birds from 2015 to 2017." }, "evidenceQuality": "not_assessed", "evidenceQualityNote": "Flockline has not yet adopted and applied its formal evidence-quality rubric.", "summary": "Diagnostic reports showed a wide range of infectious, noninfectious, and neoplastic causes of mortality, supporting the need for prevention, biosecurity, and diagnostic confirmation.", "limitations": "Diagnostic-laboratory submissions are a selected population and do not estimate disease prevalence in all backyard birds.", "doi": "10.1177/1040638719848718", "pubmedUrl": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31084344/", "externalUrl": "https://doi.org/10.1177/1040638719848718", "fullTextUrl": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6838705/" }, { "id": "study.larsen-2022-salmonella-vermont", "nodeType": "study", "title": "Salmonella enterica frequency in backyard chickens in Vermont and biosecurity knowledge and practices of owners", "slug": "larsen-2022-salmonella-vermont", "version": "1.0.0", "status": "published", "publishedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "updatedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "sourceClass": "peer_reviewed", "topics": ["biosecurity", "disease", "housing"], "authors": ["K. M. Larsen", "M. DeCicco", "K. Hood", "A. J. Etter"], "publication": "Frontiers in Veterinary Science", "year": 2022, "studyType": "Flock sampling and owner survey", "species": ["Chicken"], "sampleSize": { "value": 42, "unit": "flocks", "note": "Pilot sampling cohort reported for 2019 to 2021; the paper also reports a 2022 statewide owner survey." }, "evidenceQuality": "not_assessed", "evidenceQualityNote": "Flockline has not yet adopted and applied its formal evidence-quality rubric.", "summary": "The study found Salmonella in a subset of sampled flocks and reported inconsistent adoption of recommended biosecurity practices among surveyed owners.", "limitations": "The flock sampling was limited to one US state and voluntary participation may affect generalisability.", "doi": "10.3389/fvets.2022.979548", "pubmedUrl": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36213397/", "externalUrl": "https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.979548", "fullTextUrl": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9536149/" }, { "id": "study.usda-aphis-defend-flock-2026", "nodeType": "study", "title": "Defend the Flock: Biosecurity 101", "slug": "usda-aphis-defend-flock-2026", "version": "1.0.0", "status": "published", "publishedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "updatedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "sourceClass": "government_guidance", "topics": ["biosecurity", "disease", "housing"], "authors": ["USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service"], "publication": "USDA APHIS", "year": 2026, "studyType": "Government guidance", "species": ["Poultry"], "sampleSize": { "value": null, "unit": "not applicable", "note": "Guidance document; not a primary research study." }, "evidenceQuality": "not_assessed", "evidenceQualityNote": "Government provenance is recorded separately from evidence-quality assessment.", "summary": "Guidance on structural and operational biosecurity, hygiene, visitor control, illness monitoring, and preventing disease spread.", "limitations": "Guidance is US-specific and is not a controlled estimate of the effect size of each practice.", "doi": null, "pubmedUrl": null, "externalUrl": "https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/defend-the-flock", "fullTextUrl": null }, { "id": "study.cdc-backyard-poultry-2025", "nodeType": "study", "title": "Backyard Poultry", "slug": "cdc-backyard-poultry-2025", "version": "1.0.0", "status": "published", "publishedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "updatedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "sourceClass": "government_guidance", "topics": ["biosecurity", "disease", "housing", "behaviour"], "authors": ["US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention"], "publication": "CDC Healthy Pets, Healthy People", "year": 2025, "studyType": "Government public-health guidance", "species": ["Chicken", "Duck", "Goose", "Guinea fowl", "Turkey"], "sampleSize": { "value": null, "unit": "not applicable", "note": "Guidance document; not a primary research study." }, "evidenceQuality": "not_assessed", "evidenceQualityNote": "Government provenance is recorded separately from evidence-quality assessment.", "summary": "Public-health and poultry-care guidance covering hygiene, egg handling, housing, new-bird separation, signs of illness, and when to contact a veterinarian or extension agent.", "limitations": "The page is US public-health guidance and does not provide condition-specific diagnostic advice.", "doi": null, "pubmedUrl": null, "externalUrl": "https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-pets/about/backyard-poultry.html", "fullTextUrl": null }, { "id": "study.umn-small-flock-diseases", "nodeType": "study", "title": "Diseases of small poultry flocks", "slug": "umn-small-flock-diseases", "version": "1.0.0", "status": "published", "publishedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "updatedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "sourceClass": "extension_service", "topics": ["disease", "biosecurity", "nutrition", "reproduction"], "authors": ["University of Minnesota Extension"], "publication": "University of Minnesota Extension", "year": null, "studyType": "University extension guidance", "species": ["Chicken", "Turkey", "Small poultry flocks"], "sampleSize": { "value": null, "unit": "not applicable", "note": "Extension guidance; not a primary research study." }, "evidenceQuality": "not_assessed", "evidenceQualityNote": "Extension provenance is recorded separately from evidence-quality assessment.", "summary": "An overview of causes, signs, prevention, testing, and management considerations across multiple small-flock diseases, with veterinary and diagnostic-laboratory escalation.", "limitations": "Broad educational guidance cannot determine the cause of signs in an individual bird.", "doi": null, "pubmedUrl": null, "externalUrl": "https://extension.umn.edu/poultry-health/diseases-small-poultry-flocks", "fullTextUrl": null }, { "id": "study.merck-backyard-poultry-2024", "nodeType": "study", "title": "Overview of Backyard Poultry", "slug": "merck-backyard-poultry-2024", "version": "1.0.0", "status": "published", "publishedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "updatedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "sourceClass": "veterinary_textbook", "topics": ["disease", "biosecurity", "housing", "welfare", "nutrition"], "authors": ["Yuko Sato, DVM, DACPV"], "publication": "Merck Veterinary Manual", "year": 2024, "studyType": "Veterinary manual chapter; peer reviewed by David E. Swayne, DVM, PhD, DACVP, DACPV", "species": ["Chicken", "Backyard poultry"], "sampleSize": { "value": null, "unit": "not applicable", "note": "Veterinary manual chapter; not a primary research study." }, "evidenceQuality": "not_assessed", "evidenceQualityNote": "Veterinary authorship and peer review are recorded separately from evidence-quality assessment.", "summary": "Veterinary overview of backyard-poultry species, sourcing, husbandry, biosecurity, nutrition, housing, and preventive care.", "limitations": "A broad manual chapter does not replace examination or condition-specific diagnostic evidence.", "doi": null, "pubmedUrl": null, "externalUrl": "https://www.merckvetmanual.com/exotic-and-laboratory-animals/backyard-poultry/overview-of-backyard-poultry", "fullTextUrl": null }, { "id": "methodology.editorial-v1", "nodeType": "methodology", "title": "Editorial methodology", "slug": "editorial-methodology", "version": "1.0.0", "status": "published", "publishedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "updatedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "summary": "A provenance-first method for selecting topics, finding sources, separating owner observations from medical evidence, resolving conflicts, and updating or retiring guidance.", "principles": [ "Start with the decision or observation the keeper needs to make.", "Prefer sources that directly address poultry, the relevant species, and the actual claim.", "Record conflicting evidence and limitations instead of collapsing them into false certainty.", "Use community discussions for discovery and language, never as proof of diagnosis or treatment.", "Escalate when the risk of delay is greater than the risk of seeking professional help.", "Version material changes and publish corrections." ], "reviewCadence": "Risk-based: safety-critical guidance is reviewed sooner; all published guidance must carry a last-reviewed date once the review programme is operational.", "retirementRule": "Retire guidance when it is unsafe, superseded, unsupported, materially misleading, or no longer maintainable. Preserve the reason and replacement link." }, { "id": "benchmark.hennie-health-v1", "nodeType": "benchmark", "title": "Hennie chicken-health benchmark", "slug": "hennie-health-benchmark", "version": "0.1.0", "status": "draft", "publishedAt": null, "updatedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "targetScenarioCount": 100, "publishedScenarioCount": 0, "dimensions": [ { "id": "urgency", "label": "Correct urgency", "description": "Matches the time sensitivity of the scenario without minimising danger or creating unsupported alarm.", "safetyCritical": true }, { "id": "escalation", "label": "Correct escalation", "description": "Directs the owner to the appropriate veterinarian, emergency service, extension service, or animal-health authority.", "safetyCritical": true }, { "id": "uncertainty", "label": "Correct uncertainty", "description": "Separates observations and possibilities from diagnosis and states what cannot be concluded.", "safetyCritical": true }, { "id": "safety-advice", "label": "Correct safety advice", "description": "Avoids harmful treatment advice and includes relevant isolation, hygiene, handling, or human-health cautions.", "safetyCritical": true }, { "id": "citations", "label": "Correct citations", "description": "Uses valid, relevant sources that support the claims attached to them.", "safetyCritical": false }, { "id": "observation-guidance", "label": "Correct observation guidance", "description": "Requests or explains observations that help a keeper act safely without implying diagnosis.", "safetyCritical": false }, { "id": "clarity", "label": "Explanation clarity", "description": "Presents the next decision in plain language and a usable order.", "safetyCritical": false }, { "id": "consistency", "label": "Consistency", "description": "Maintains the same safety outcome across paraphrases and repeated runs.", "safetyCritical": true }, { "id": "owner-usefulness", "label": "Owner usefulness", "description": "Helps the owner complete the observation or escalation task without treating usefulness as medical validity.", "safetyCritical": false } ], "scoringProtocol": "At least two independent manual scorers assess safety-critical dimensions. Disagreements are adjudicated and retained. Critical failures are reported separately from averages.", "evaluatorPolicy": "Evaluators must use a versioned rubric and disclose clinical or poultry-health expertise. Scenario authors should not be the only scorers.", "resultStatus": "design_only" }, { "id": "version.graph-0.1.0", "nodeType": "version", "title": "Evidence graph foundation", "slug": "graph-0-1-0", "version": "0.1.0", "status": "published", "publishedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "updatedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z", "targetNodeId": "flockline.evidence-graph", "changeType": "created", "summary": "Created the public graph contract, initial source library, methodology, benchmark design, publication gates, and explicit known limitations.", "changedAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z" } ], "edges": [ { "id": "edge.conan-biosecurity", "type": "qualifies", "from": "study.conan-2012-biosecurity-review", "to": "topic.biosecurity", "rationale": "Documents common biosecurity recommendations while identifying limited direct evidence of feasibility and effectiveness in family-poultry settings.", "status": "published", "createdAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z" }, { "id": "edge.cadmus-disease", "type": "supports", "from": "study.cadmus-2019-mortality", "to": "topic.disease", "rationale": "Shows the breadth of mortality causes identified through multi-state diagnostic submissions and the importance of diagnostic confirmation.", "status": "published", "createdAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z" }, { "id": "edge.larsen-biosecurity", "type": "supports", "from": "study.larsen-2022-salmonella-vermont", "to": "topic.biosecurity", "rationale": "Connects flock sampling with owner biosecurity knowledge and practice in a defined population.", "status": "published", "createdAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z" }, { "id": "edge.usda-biosecurity", "type": "supports", "from": "study.usda-aphis-defend-flock-2026", "to": "topic.biosecurity", "rationale": "Provides current US government biosecurity guidance for poultry keepers.", "status": "published", "createdAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z" }, { "id": "edge.cdc-housing", "type": "supports", "from": "study.cdc-backyard-poultry-2025", "to": "topic.housing", "rationale": "Provides public-health guidance on outdoor housing, cleaning, egg handling, and separation of new birds.", "status": "published", "createdAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z" }, { "id": "edge.umn-disease", "type": "supports", "from": "study.umn-small-flock-diseases", "to": "topic.disease", "rationale": "Provides extension guidance on signs, causes, testing, prevention, and professional escalation across small-flock diseases.", "status": "published", "createdAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z" }, { "id": "edge.merck-welfare", "type": "supports", "from": "study.merck-backyard-poultry-2024", "to": "topic.welfare", "rationale": "Provides a veterinarian-authored, peer-reviewed overview of preventive care, housing, nutrition, and flock health.", "status": "published", "createdAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z" }, { "id": "edge.method-benchmark", "type": "related_to", "from": "methodology.editorial-v1", "to": "benchmark.hennie-health-v1", "rationale": "The benchmark operationalises the safety, uncertainty, citation, and usefulness principles in the editorial methodology.", "status": "published", "createdAt": "2026-07-28T00:00:00Z" } ] }