During the transition from winter to spring, the weather changes frequently, and chickens can become ill as external conditions change. When disease breaks out on a chicken farm, it can spread widely and have a major impact on farming operations. Therefore, the diagnosis and treatment of chicken diseases should be taken seriously to improve farming safety.
Today, let’s discuss diagnosis and treatment measures for the five common chicken diseases most likely to occur this season. We hope this will be helpful.
1, Avian influenza
Avian influenza is an infectious disease that has continued to pose a serious threat in recent years. It can occur throughout the year, with the incidence especially high in winter and spring. Avian influenza is mainly caused by viruses. In general, nonpathogenic avian influenza viruses can cause chickens to produce a certain level of antibodies.
Low-pathogenic avian influenza viruses can cause some adverse symptoms in chickens, leading to reduced egg production and increased mortality in laying hens. At this point, the chickens’ own antibodies do not provide much protection;
Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses pose a greater threat and can cause a flock to die within a short time, resulting in very substantial losses to farming operations.
Chickens may show different symptoms depending on the severity of the viral infection, but most develop swelling of the head and face, darkening of the comb, reduced organ and muscle function, and bleeding in the digestive and respiratory tracts.
2, Newcastle disease
Newcastle disease is a common disease in chickens and can occur in flocks of chickens of all ages. Infected chickens are the source of infection, and their excreta can affect healthy chickens. Newcastle disease harms the digestive and respiratory tracts of chickens. Over time, it causes their functions to decline gradually, eventually leading to death. The incidence of this disease is higher in winter and spring.
Once this disease appears, it can spread widely and make farming more difficult. The most acute form of Newcastle disease causes the greatest harm (direct death), while the chronic form causes less harm (declining function, reduced egg production, etc.). However, it should still be taken seriously to avoid affecting returns.
At present, the best way to deal with Newcastle disease is to vaccinate chickens to improve their immunity. Relevant farming personnel should use the correct vaccine, at the correct time, and administer the correct dose to achieve the expected preventive effect. Attention should also be paid to vaccine storage, in accordance with the vaccine storage requirements, to prevent improper storage from rendering the vaccine ineffective and affecting the immunization effect.
During vaccination, putting vaccine drops into a chicken's nostrils and eyes is the most effective method, as it allows the vaccine to be fully absorbed. Alternatively, the vaccine can be added to water, but no disinfectant should be added to the water; or it can be added to a sprayer and sprayed so that the mist fills the entire chicken farm.
Before and after vaccination, the flock should not be given medication; otherwise, the immunization effect will be reduced. The effect of immunization should also be monitored, and any abnormal situations should be addressed promptly.
3, Chicken respiratory diseases
In general, infectious diseases can cause respiratory problems, which should be taken into consideration. In winter and spring, frequent changes in the weather increase the likelihood of respiratory disease in chickens. Therefore, during farming, care should be taken to prevent respiratory diseases in flocks and to prevent and treat them using appropriate measures.
Disinfection: During the rearing process, the premises should be disinfected regularly. Use disinfectants to disinfect drinking equipment, feed troughs, tools, and other items, 1 times a day for 7 consecutive days to reduce the number of pathogens;
Temperature control and ventilation: In winter and spring, to maintain the temperature of the farm, farm workers generally do not ventilate. In fact, this practice is very wrong because as the temperature rises, pathogens also become more active, which can have a negative impact on the flock. Therefore, while maintaining warmth, ensure adequate ventilation. At the same time, control the number of chickens appropriately to avoid excessive stocking density and ensure that rearing operations are carried out safely;
Carry out preventive vaccinations: Administer timely immunization injections to the chickens to improve the safety of rearing. Remove chicken droppings promptly to reduce the likelihood of pathogen transmission.
4, Chicken Colibacillosis
This disease is mainly caused by Escherichia coli and is also a common chicken disease. Once it occurs, it can cause digestive tract problems in chickens, reduce their growth efficiency and egg production, and may also lead to large-scale disease outbreaks, affecting the economic interests of the entire farm.
This disease can occur in chickens of any age and should therefore be taken seriously. Colibacillosis can occur in response to various external factors. Therefore, external stimuli should be minimized to constrain the environment in which Escherichia coli can survive. The best approach is to maintain good hygiene and disinfection practices while also strengthening vaccination efforts to improve the safety of rearing.
5, Broiler Ascites Syndrome
In winter and spring, broiler chickens grow relatively quickly. If ventilation on the farm is inadequate or stocking density is too high, the flock may develop ascites syndrome, which can have a significant negative impact.
To prevent this effectively, ensure adequate ventilation to reduce the number of pathogens, while also maintaining warmth to prevent the chickens from becoming chilled;
Second, control the chickens’ growth rate and prevent them from growing too quickly. Reduce the amount of concentrated feed and appropriately increase the amount of roughage to lower the likelihood of ascites syndrome.
In short, the likelihood of disease is higher when raising chickens in winter and spring. Poultry workers should strengthen disease prevention and treatment, manage the flock scientifically, ensure adequate ventilation and warmth, and avoid letting the temperature get too low. They should also carry out vaccinations as needed to improve the flock’s immunity. During rearing, they should keep the environment clean and ensure an adequate nutrient supply to prevent diseases from spreading more widely and minimize losses.