Poultry diseases have a negative impact on poultry production they can lead to either
- mortalities
- Morbidity
- Retarded growth
- Reduced and lowered production
- The high cost of production due to the purchase of birds or as a result of loss
Disease refers to any deviation from the normal functioning of the animal's body
Below are some of few indicators of a healthy bird any deviation from this is a disease or condition and therefore need for action from the farm point
- Good appetite and quite active
- Bright eyes
- Clean and shiny Feathers
- Normal posture
- Clear and open nostrils with no discharge
- Mouth closed when breathing except in hot condition
- Wings carried close to the body
Poultry disease management is one of the factors a farmer needs to be equipped with as part of quick response action before consulting a vet . Its important to know that diseases are categorized into major groups according to the causative agent
Viral diseases _ viral diseases have no cure with high morbidity and mortalities, most of them are infectious and contagious they include;
- Newcastle disease
- Mareks disease
- Fowlpox disease
- Infectious bronchitis
- Gumboro diseases
- Bacterial diseases-bacterial pathogens are common in most environments but thrive when exposed to some predisposing factors ie moist, contaminated feed, water and surfaces.they include ;
- infectious coryza
- fowl cholera
- fowl typhoid
- colibacillosis
- Bumblefoot
- Mycoplasmosis
protozoan diseases-these are diseases caused by protozoan parasites which multiply in the intestinal lining they can cause diseases; clinical coccidiosis with signs or subclinical without common symptoms ;
Coccidiosis is the common protozoan disease in poultry production
Fungal infections Diseases caused by the fungus eg Aspergillosis, Candidiasis, Histoplasmosis
Nutritional or metabolic conditions in poultry they arise as a result of a deficiency in mineral elements in the feed
Consulting with poultry experts before administering any drug or vaccine
| NAME | SIGN | PREVENTION | TREATMENT |
|
Newcastle disease NCD |
Twisted neck 'paralysis, difficulty in breathing, greenish diarrhea | vaccination;6 days,28day& every 2months | None |
|
Infectious bronchitis[Viral] |
|
Vaccination at 3-4months |
None Antibiotics to control secondary infections |
|
Fowl cholera/ Pasteurellosis |
Blue combs and watts, severe diarrhea, reduction in feeds intake | Annual vaccination at 9 weeks |
Remove, slaughter and destroy infected birds then strict hygiene |
| Fowlpox |
scabs on the combs, wattle, eyelids death
|
wing web vaccination at 6 weeks' isolation | none |
| Marek and Leukosis | Affects birds 20-30 weeks old' leg paralysis' death of 10-30% of the flock | done at the hatchery, isolation | none |
| Gumboro disease(infectious bursae ) | Prostration of birds 'droopy and sleepy, vent pecking, collapse and die, hemorrhages in muscles, mucoid diarrhea with soiled vent feathers | Isolation, Vaccination at day 14and 21 via drinking water | none |
| Coccidiosis | watery and bloody diarrhea, high mortalities, | Quarantine the young from adults, use coccidiostats in feeds, maintain hygiene | use sulfur-based drugs or pyrimidine in drinking water |
| Pullorum disease( bacillary white diarrhea) | high death rate ' white diarrhea | blood test adults to remove carriers, strict hygiene, avoid stress | sulfur-based drugs |
PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE
N/B Consult a vet before administering drugs