Poultry Disease Prevention and Control for Small Flock Owners

By Allah dad Khan

BIOSECURITY FOR POULTRY

Commercial flocks and small flocks:

Use same techniques to prevent disease

Same diseases threaten both

Objectives:

Disease prevention through effective biosecurity practices- keep diseases out!

If breakdown in biosecurity and disease challenge occurs, ensure chickens are immune competent to limit losses

Disease organisms get to other farms by one of the above ways 90% of the time. Break the cycle!

INVISIBLE KILLERS OF POULTRY

Disease Gumboro (Bursal Disease) Coccidiosis Fowl Cholera Infectious Coryza Avian Influenza Laringotracheitis Marek’s Disease Newcastle Mycoplasmosis Salmonellosis Avian Tuberculosis

Lifespan Away from Bird Months Months Weeks Hours to days Days to weeks Days Weeks Days to weeks Hours to days Weeks Years

Recognizing Common Poultry Diseases

POULTRY COCCIDIOSIS

Intestinal parasite, common, controlled by drugs and vaccines

INFECTIOUS CORYZA

Caused by Haemophilus paragallinarum, very fragile organism, common in layer

industry

FOWL POX

Viral disease, spread by mosquitoes and direct contact,

controlled by vaccination

MAREK’S DISEASE

Viral disease, causes tumor formation, controlled by

vaccination

CANNIBALISM

Genetics predisposition, management factors, controlled by trimming beak, reduced light

intensity,…

ASCARIDS AND TAPEWORMS

Common, litter management, treatment as needed

---Be on the lookout!---

AVIAN INFLUENZA

Viral disease, severity varies from LPAI to HPAI, common,

vaccination may be practiced in some situations

Conclusions

Take home message:

Goal: to prevent entry of diseases into your flocks by use of biosecurity practices

Plan: develop and implement a common sense disease prevention program