For many years, demand for native chickens has exceeded supply, and prices have been favorable. Rural native chicken farming has therefore enjoyed strong production and sales, becoming an important livestock industry through which farmers can increase their income quickly with relatively little investment. However, many farmers focus only on expanding production and neglect comprehensive disease prevention and control, causing harm to the poultry industry and unnecessary economic losses. Over the years, I have helped farmers raising native chickens implement comprehensive prevention and control measures, including vaccination schedules, disease diagnosis and treatment, environmental sanitation and disinfection, chicken-house construction, and scientific feeding. These measures have effectively controlled the occurrence of chicken diseases, safeguarded the healthy rearing of native chickens, and increased production and income.
1Improve the rearing environment to create favorable production conditions for native chicken farming
1.1Choose the site carefully and renovate or build the chicken house. The chicken house must be built on high ground with good drainage and ventilation; avoid low-lying, damp locations. Windows for light and ventilation can be installed along the front and back of the chicken house at intervals of 3m, each measuring 70cm×120cm. Place perches along one side of the interior, and distribute drinkers, feeders, and other equipment throughout the house. Also, install a small door on the sunny side, 160cm high and 70cm wide, with an outdoor exercise area covered with sand. The chicken-house floor should be concrete to make cleaning and disinfection easier. In addition, increase the greenery to help purify the environment around the chicken house.
1.2Disinfect the chicken house and equipment to keep the house clean and hygienic. The chicken house should be well insulated, dry and sanitary, adequately lit, and well ventilated. Disinfect the floor by spreading quicklime or spraying it with 10% slaked lime solution. Where possible, wash it with high-pressure water and disinfect it with a blowtorch flame. Whitewash the interior walls, flues, and other surfaces with 10% slaked lime solution. Then fumigate using 15ml of formalin solution and 7.5g of potassium permanganate per cubic meter. Keep the house sealed for 1～2d, then open the windows to ventilate it. The exercise area near the chicken house should also be disinfected before use. Clean and disinfect umbrella-type brooders, cages, feeders, drinkers, and other equipment with 1% caustic soda solution or 10% slaked lime solution, then rinse thoroughly with water and dry in the sun before use.
1.3Ensure good ventilation so that native chickens grow in a healthy air environment. Ventilate the chicken house properly; in winter, take precautions against the cold while also ensuring adequate ventilation. When using coal for heating brooders, never keep doors and windows closed for long periods, as this can result in poor ventilation. The heating stove must have a flue pipe leading outdoors. When using it, check that the flue pipe is securely connected and unobstructed. Preheat the house to 30～34℃ and check that the temperature can be maintained steadily so that adjustments can be made in time. Spread clean bedding on the floor, approximately 3～5cm thick.
1.4Control the stocking density and improve the rearing environment for native chickens. The stocking density in the chicken house should not be too high. Recommended densities are 30 birds/m2 for chicks aged 1–2 weeks, 25 birds/m2 for chickens aged 3–4 weeks, 12 birds/m2 for chickens aged 5–8 weeks, 8 birds/m2 for chickens aged 9–18 weeks, and 6 birds/m2 for chickens aged 19 weeks and older. In cage-rearing houses, cages should not be placed too close together or exceed the standard density.
2Develop a scientifically sound immunization program to ensure the healthy rearing of native chickens
2.1Newcastle disease: At 7–10 days of age, administer the IV strain vaccine by nasal and eye drops, and inject an oil-adjuvanted vaccine subcutaneously or intramuscularly at 0.2ml. At 2 months of age, immunize with the I strain vaccine; at 5 months of age, immunize with an oil-adjuvanted vaccine. Alternatively, administer the IV strain vaccine by nasal and eye drops at 7–10 days of age; give the second immunization as described above after 1 months of age; immunize with the I strain vaccine at 3 months of age; and immunize with an oil-adjuvanted vaccine at 5 months of age.
2.2Marek’s disease: Inject 0.2ml of Marek’s vaccine subcutaneously or intramuscularly at 1 days of age. For breeder flocks, bivalent and cell-associated vaccines are recommended.
2.3Infectious bursal disease: At 10–14 days of age, administer a vaccine of moderate virulence via drinking water (the water should contain 2% skim milk; the same applies below); give a second immunization as above at 25–30 days of age. For replacement breeder flocks, inject an oil-adjuvanted vaccine at 5 months of age, and give another injection of oil-adjuvanted vaccine at 10 months of age to maintain high levels of maternal antibodies in the offspring.
2.4Infectious bronchitis: At 8–10 days of age, first administer the H120 vaccine by nasal or eye drops; at 3 weeks of age, administer H52 via drinking water; at 4 months of age, administer an oil-based vaccine by injection.
2.5Infectious laryngotracheitis: Live vaccine should be used only on farms where the disease is present. Administer by eye drops or via drinking water at 20–24 days of age, and repeat the immunization once after 6 weeks.
2.6Avian influenza: For chickens aged 20 days and 120 days, or when the high-risk period for influenza is approaching, and six months after the previous vaccination, administer one intramuscular vaccination at 0.5ml per bird.
2.7Viral arthritis: Administer a live attenuated vaccine at 14 days of age, followed by an oil-adjuvanted vaccine injection after 4 months of age.
2.8Fowlpox: Administer a live attenuated vaccine by wing-web stab at 3 weeks of age; give a second immunization after 4 months of age.
2.9Infectious avian encephalomyelitis: Use a live vaccine for immunization only in affected flocks; administer a live attenuated vaccine via drinking water at 10–12 weeks of age.
2.10Infectious coryza: Give the primary immunization at 1 months of age by injecting 0.5ml of an oil-adjuvanted vaccine; give the second immunization at 3 months of age by injecting 1ml; give the third immunization at 6 months of age (same as above).
2.11Prevention and control of parasitic diseases in native chickens focuses primarily on coccidiosis. Along with improving the housing environment, strengthening nutrition, and disinfecting feeding equipment, sulfadimidine may be mixed into drinking water at 0.1%–0.05% and given continuously for 2–4d; sulfaquinoxaline may be mixed into feed at 0.05%–0.1% and fed for 2–3d, followed by a break of 3d; sulfadimethoxine may be mixed into drinking water at 0.1% and used continuously for 6d; sulfachloropyrazine (Sanzi Coccidia Powder) may be mixed into drinking water at 0.03%; Baycox (2.5% solution) may be mixed into drinking water at a dose of 1ml per 1L of water and made available ad libitum; amprolium hydrochloride or diclazuril may also be used.
3Establish strict management systems and strengthen the raising and management of native chickens.
To strengthen the prevention and control of diseases in native chickens, this system is hereby established and must be strictly implemented.
3.1Strictly comply with the Animal Epidemic Prevention Law and relevant regulations on the prevention and control of animal diseases among livestock and poultry issued by the animal husbandry and veterinary authorities.
3.2If a severe infectious disease or a suspected case of a severe infectious disease occurs on the premises or nearby, immediately impose isolation and quarantine measures and report it to the veterinary authorities.
3.3Caretakers must observe the flock every day. Each morning, after the chickens are released to range, they must check the corners of the chicken houses and other secluded areas for chickens that have separated from the flock, are living alone, or appear lethargic; any such chickens must be culled immediately. Chicken diseases must be prevented, detected, and treated early. Culled chickens must be disposed of harmlessly by burying them at a designated site 3km away from the place of rearing.
3.4Regularly inspect the chicken houses, equipment, isolation houses, and the poultry farm environment for cleanliness and disinfection. Disinfect the production area once a week, and thoroughly disinfect the work area and surrounding environment once every two weeks. No other poultry or poultry products may be brought into the production area.
3.5Do not feed moldy or expired feed. Feed must not contain any drugs or additives prohibited by the state. Feed should preferably consist of ecological feed produced by farmers, such as corn, rice, wheat, and soybeans, with no pesticide residues, as well as natural insects such as earthworms from orchards and tea gardens.