There are a lot of poultry diseases that can be harmful to your chickens and other poultry. The most common poultry diseases aren’t always easy to spot, but it doesn’t take long for them to become dangerous for our birds. Here’s a look at some of the most common poultry diseases and what you can do about them. Yea, there are many common poultry diseases-
Fowl Pox
Fowl pox is a virus that can infect most poultry species, including chickens, turkeys, ducks, pheasants, quail, ostrich, emu, rhea, and others. Pet parrots and other bird species may also be affected.
Direct contact is also used to spread fowl pox from bird to bird. The virus is airborne and can infect birds via their eyes, skin wounds, or breathing. Despite the fact that the disease is contagious, it spreads slowly.
Fowl Pox Symptoms
Fowl pox comes in two varieties: dry and wet. Birds can become infected with one or both types of fowl pox. Although mortality from both forms of the disease is usually low, a fowl-pox infection can result in reduced egg production and poor flock performance.
Fowl Pox Treatment
There is no effective treatment for fowl pox.
Infectious bronchitis in Poultry Birds
Infectious bronchitis (IB), also known as bronchitis or a cold in humans, is a virus that affects chickens. A similar disease (quail bronchitis) can affect bobwhite quail, but it is caused by a different virus.
Infectious bronchitis is extremely contagious and can quickly spread through a flock. The virus spreads via the air, feed bags, infected dead birds, and rodents. The virus can also be transmitted to developing embryos through the egg, but an affected embryo usually does not hatch.
Infectious bronchitis Symptoms
- Feed and water consumption are decreasing.
- Chickens that are sick chirp and have watery discharge from their eyes and nostrils.
- Young chickens breathe laboriously and may gasp. Breathing sounds are more audible at night when the chickens are sleeping.
- Egg production in laying hens is decreasing. (Production should resume in five to six weeks, but at a lower level than before.)
- The infectious bronchitis virus has the ability to infect various parts of the body, including the reproductive system.
- When a hen’s reproductive system becomes infected, the egg shells become rough and misshapen, and the egg whites become watery.
Infectious bronchitis Treatment
Infectious bronchitis has no specific treatment. Antibiotics for three to five days may help fight off any secondary bacterial infections. It is beneficial to raise the room temperature by 5°F for brooding chicks until symptoms subside.
Avian Influenza
The virus is spread through secretions from infected birds’ nostrils and manure. Infected insects and rodents may spread the virus to susceptible flocks. AI can also spread through the improper disposal of dead birds and manure, as well as through contaminated shoes, clothing, crates, and other equipment.
Avian Influenza Symptoms
AI symptoms differ depending on the type of virus involved. AI viruses are typically classified as mildly or highly pathogenic based on their pathogenicity.
Avian Influenza Treatment
There is currently no effective treatment for AI. The virus will continue to be shed by recovered flocks. Vaccines can only be used with a special permit.
Fowl cholera
Pasteurella multocida causes fowl cholera, a bacterial infection. Avian pasteurellosis and avian hemorrhagic septicemia are other names for this infection. This type of bacteria affects all poultry species, including game birds and waterfowl. Domestic birds, including pets and zoo birds, as well as wild birds, can become infected. Fowl cholera usually affects birds over the age of six weeks.
Fowl cholera Symptoms
Symptoms like reduced feed consumption, lethargy, and along with darkened heads (a purplish discoloration of wattles and combs). Birds may develop swollen heads, wattles, foot pads, and joints later in the infection.
Fowl cholera Treatment
Because fowl cholera can be treated with antibiotics.
Sudden Death Syndrome
Birds exhibit no visible symptoms of disease but suddenly extend their necks, gasp, or squawk. They flap their wings, causing the birds to flip over on their backs (hence the name flip-over disease). The vast majority of the birds affected are males, particularly those of larger breeds.
Sudden Death Syndrome Symptoms
The cause of SDS is unknown, but it is thought to be a metabolic disease caused by a high carbohydrate intake. SDS can begin as early as three days of age and can last until the bird reaches market weight. Peak mortality usually occurs between the ages of 12 and 28 days.
Sudden Death Syndrome Treatment
SDS can be reduced by slowing broiler growth rate, particularly during the first three weeks of life. This can be accomplished by limiting the amount of light exposure per day and/or providing a low-energy diet.
Rickets
Rickets is primarily a nutrition issue caused by a calcium and phosphorus imbalance or a vitamin D3 deficiency. It can, however, be caused by an intestinal disorder that prevents these nutrients from being absorbed from the diet.
Rickets Symptoms
Affected birds develop lameness and soft bones and beaks. Hens’ egg production decreases while their soft- or thin-shelled eggs increase.
Also Read: Health Views: Most Common Diseases in Sheep Symptoms & Treatment
Egg Peritonitis In Laying Hens
A hen’s reproductive tract is divided into two parts: the ovary and the oviduct. The egg yolks are formed in the ovary. They are then released and picked up by the oviduct to continue the “construction” of the egg. If the oviduct does not pick up the yolk, it is shed into the hen’s body cavity. This is known as “internal laying,” and such yolks are usually absorbed by the body. However, such yolks can become infected because the highly nutritious egg yolk is a good medium for bacteria. This is known as egg peritonitis.
Egg Peritonitis Treatment
There is no cure for egg peritonitis, but antibiotics can be used if the condition is detected quickly.
Newcastle disease
Newcastle disease affects all ages of birds. The virus causes mild eye inflammation in humans and mammals.
Newcastle virus can be transmitted over short distances by air. Sick birds can directly transmit the virus to flock mates via body secretions and fecal material.
Newcastle disease Symptoms
Newcastle disease is distinguished by symptoms such as hoarse chirps (in chicks), watery discharge from the nostrils, labored breathing (gasping), facial swelling, paralysis, trembling, and neck twisting.
Newcastle disease Treatment
Newcastle disease has no specific treatment. To prevent secondary bacterial infections, antibiotics can be given for three to five days.
To know more about health diseases and health conditions of various animals check Animal Healthcare
