Introduction

I. Disease: “Any deviation from normal state of health.”

1. How diseases are spread:
   1. Through feed and water
   2. Bird to bird contact:
      1. Poultry and swap shows
      2. Carrier birds
      3. New stock
      4. Free flying birds
   3. Visitors or attendants
   4. Equipment, carrying cases, feed sacks, etc.
   5. Contaminated litter and soil
   6. Flies, mosquitoes and parasites
   7. Lack of nutrient

    B. Prevention of disease:

1. 1. Buy from known, well-managed sources
   2. Careful introduction of new stock; quarantine
   3. Keep visitors away or take proper bio-security measures
   4. Don't visit other farms unless you take proper measures
   5. Dispose of dead birds promptly and properly
   6. Follow tight sanitation and disinfection measures
   7. Control insects
   8. Don't allow your flock contact with wild birds or wild waterways
   9. Vaccination if warranted

    C. Recognize and diagnose:

1. Know what is normal activity, growth and physiology of your birds:
   1. What size, color should the organ be?
   2. Where are the organs located?
   3. What is the organ's basic function?
2. Diseases are caused by viruses, bacteria, feed deficiencies, toxins, parasites and others
3. 3Post birds which die and look for abnormalities
4. Symptoms: bird's actions and visible problems; droopy, ruffled feathers, watery eyes
5. 5Lesions: usually things shown by autopsy
6. If abnormality exists, consult experienced or professional help:

        a. State Diagnostic Labs are in Harrisonburg, Ivor, Lynchburg, Richmond, Warrenton and Wytheville, VA. For best results, take a freshly dead and a sick live bird from your flock.

                b. Private veterinarian or poultry expert

        7. Keep a flock history. Record any vaccinations, medications or inspections. Keep a record of dead birds (date and possible reason for death). Keep a general flock record of age of birds, feed ration and environmental conditions.

    D. Treatment of disease:

1. 1. Get proper diagnosis
   2. Treat promptly, properly
   3. Follow treatment directions, precautions
   4. Don't substitute drugs for management

Parasites

I. External (can transmit disease)

1. Lice, a small flat insect

    1. Live on body; eat feathers and dry skin, usually found below the vent

2. 2. Control:
      1. Nicotine sulphate
      2. Malathion 4-7% dusts
      3. Stirfos
      4. Read direction and precautions carefully
      5. Avoid contact of wild birds

    B. Mites

1. 1. Red Mites
      1. Live on birds during night
      2. Treatment: paint walls, roosts and other cracks with carbolineum, other anthracene oil or malathion.
   2. Northern Fowl Mites
      1. Live on bird all the time, hard to eliminate
      2. Treatment: nicotine sulphate, malathion, stirfos and carbaryl
      3. Avoid contact with wild birds
   3. Scaly Leg
      1. Cause thick scales on legs. Show spread
      2. Treatment: Dip birds' legs in hot water and then in oil. An oil with a petroleum base is preferred.

    C.  Ticks are controlled by insect stripes.

    D. Mosquitoes transmit diseases.

II. Internal

    A.  Roundworms: live in small intestines

    B.  Tapeworms: live in intestines

    C,  Control and treatment of worms:

1. 1. Thoroughly clean up between batches of birds
   2. Good litter management (break worms life cycle)
   3. Avoid overcrowding
   4. Prevent contact with wild birds
   5. Treat with specific drugs, poultry wormers
   6. Use piperazine, phenothiazine, dibutyltin dilaurate

NOTE: A little mineral and vitamin supplement is good. However, too much can be bad, even fatal.

Reviewed by Audrey McElroy, associate professor, Animal and Poultry Sciences

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