Common Poultry Diseases During Winter - Diseases in Poultry

Common Poultry Diseases During Winter

Common Poultry Diseases

As the winter season has started. And in this season, protecting your birds from cold weather becomes the biggest problem. Also, dealing with the diseases that come in cold weather is also a troublesome phase. And then the biggest problem is that there is no such guideline for domestic poultry farmers, by following which they can deal with all these problems in a good way. Today we are talking about it and we are trying to talk with complete brevity.

First of all, understand the winter season. Basically, the winter season is divided into two parts. Early winter (October, November) is also called cold and dry season (low humidity ratio). And the second part (December, January, February) is the cold and cool (high humidity) part. In these two parts, protecting the chickens from the cold is seen as a problem, but the ratio of humidity is ignored. The ratio of humidity is less in the first part and more in the second part. And the ratio of humidity is the most important for chickens like temperature.

First part of winter season (October, November)

If we talk about the first part of the winter season, first of all we highlight the loss of low humidity by keeping in mind the low humidity. Low humidity is a cause of respiratory problems, especially infectious cough. And if someone has an attack of whooping cough in any big farm or home farming, it becomes viral again. And it goes viral with great intensity. So focus on the moisture ratio. Keep warm water in a lukewarm water spray or pot etc. and continue to use cough syrups etc. as a precaution. A digital temperature meter must be installed so that the ratio of temperature and humidity is known.

Second half of winter season (December January February)

Cold which is the common problem of the first and second part. To prevent this, put rice husk, wooden straw, chaff etc. under the chickens and try to keep this bed dry.

Wet bedding is harmful to chickens. The living space of the chickens should be packed with a blanket or pallet, but also make proper arrangements for the supply of fresh air, otherwise there may be respiratory problems or death due to suffocation due to ammonia gases. . The living space can be kept warm by installing hundred watt bulbs or rods etc. Give cough and fever medicine as a precaution from time to time. Vitamin E is best in cold weather. And he should try to provide adequate sunlight in the chickens' living areas during the day, otherwise he should provide additional calcium and vitamin D. There are many vitamins available in the market which contain adequate amounts of calcium or vitamin D. Where the humidity ratio is low in the first part of winter, the humidity ratio is high in the second part of winter, too high ratio can cause damage, so always try to keep the litter placed under the chickens dry.

We hope that this effort will prove to be a guide for domestic poultry farmers.

Some diseases of Chickens, common in Winter season

1. Bacillary White Diarrhea

Bacillary white diarrhea is common in poultry and caused by the bacteria Salmonella pleurum. Diseases can be transmitted through infected birds, their droppings and their eggs. consumption of contaminated food, water or bedding, and contact transmission; mechanical diffusion; Vertical transmission can occur in newly hatched chicks due to transoviral transmission. Thus, chicks are much more susceptible to this condition than mature birds and may exhibit mass mortality by 3 weeks of age. Clinically, young birds show pasted vents, white diarrhoea, mottling, lameness, lethargy (sleepiness), labored breathing and blindness.

Morbidity rates can range from 10 to 80 percent, and mortality typically increases within 7 to 10 days in stressed or immunocompromised flocks. Reach 100%. Adults are usually subclinical and may have decreased egg production, fertility or calving. Clinical signs including; Depression, anorexia, diarrhea, and dehydration are occasionally seen.

Treatment, prevention and control

Salmonellosis, E. coli and plurum diseases can be treated by administering broad-spectrum antibiotics to the infected litter and the entire flock. A high level of farm/pen hygiene and sanitation should be maintained. Biosecurity measures should be in place. Avoid feeding contaminated feed to birds.

2. Fowl cholera

Fowl cholera is a bacterial disease of birds caused by the organism Pasteurella multocida, which affects birds 6 weeks of age or older. It is a serious and highly contagious disease that can range from acute septicemia to chronic and localized infection with morbidity and mortality rates of up to 100%. The disease is spread through nasal secretions, feces, contaminated soil, equipment and people. Clinical outcomes vary greatly depending on the duration of the disease. In the acute form, the observation of large numbers of deaths without any preceding clinical symptoms is usually the first indication of the disease.

In more prolonged cases, depression, anorexia, discharge of mucus from the mouth, torn feathers, diarrhea, and increased respiratory rate are commonly observed. In the chronic form of fowl cholera, symptoms and lesions are usually associated with local infection of the sternal bursa, wattles, joints, tendon sheaths and footpads, etc., which are often inflamed. Exudative conjunctivitis and pharyngitis may occur. Torticollis can result when the brain and spinal cord, middle ear, or skull bones are affected.

Symptoms of cholera

In acute cases, birds that appear healthy die suddenly while in chronic cases infected birds show the following:

• Yellow, green or gray diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Difficulty breathing
• Fallen feathers and tail feathers
• Ruffled feathers
• Swelling of leg joints, sinuses, wattles and foot pads
• Neck twitching (torticollis)
• Discharge from the nostrils or beak
• Note: The above symptoms are also similar to fowl typhoid.
• Treatment, prevention and control
• Fowl cholera can be treated with sulfa drugs, tetracycline and erythromycin.

Poultry birds can be vaccinated against Fowl Cholera by inoculating them with cholera vaccine. Maintain proper hygiene and sanitation. Practice high levels of biosecurity and prevent rodents, wild birds and other animals.

3. Aspergillosis/Broder Pneumonia:

Aspergillosis is a fungal disease caused by Aspergillus fumigatus in poultry. In wet and cold weather due to high humidity and insufficient sunlight, it is common for feed or litter to become wet, thus creating a favorable environment for mold growth in the poultry environment. Aspergillus spores are inhaled by birds and these spores later develop into lesions that fill the lungs, making breathing problems such as wheezing or open-mouth breathing very common symptoms. Birds under intensive management systems will experience greater disease outbreaks if stocking densities are high and ventilation is inadequate.

Factors that cause the spread of the disease are aerosols of spores, which are common in hatcheries, contaminated dust and household waste.

Aspergillosis can exhibit 2 forms.

• Acute
• chronic

A) Acute form:

It usually occurs in young chicks reared under brooders and hence is called brooder pneumonia. Onset is too early, leading to high morbidity and mortality. Infected birds die within a few days of the onset of infection. The most common symptoms include; Lethargy, depression, loss of appetite, labored breathing, and cyanosis (blue/purple pallor) and mortality.

b) Chronic form:

Its development takes several weeks or months to develop at dangerous stage. This usually occurs in older birds, malnutrition, stress, concurrent illness, or prolonged antibiotic/corticosteroid use. The most common clinical signs include weight loss, loss of appetite, exercise intolerance, increased respiratory rate, changes in voice (voice) often more pronounced in chickens, audible respiratory sounds (raels), Includes tail bobbing, open-mouth breathing (gasping).

4. Coccidiosis

Coccidiosis is a protozoal disease caused by various intracellular species of the genus Eimeria in poultry, characterized by enteritis and bloody diarrhea. Coccidial parasites are ubiquitous in the poultry environment and can cause clinical disease under favorable conditions, thus exhibiting opportunistic behavior. The infectious process is rapid (4-7 days) resulting in parasite replication in host cells with extensive damage to the intestinal mucosa. Poultry coccidia are generally host-specific, and different species parasitize specific parts of the intestine. The wet litter and warm pen temperatures commonly seen during the rainy season favor the sporulation of the coccidial oocyst and, therefore, cause outbreaks of coccidiosis. Clinically, bloody stools, torn feathers, anemia and lethargy are observed.

Other symptoms of coccidiosis range from reduced growth rates to a high percentage of visibly sick birds, severe diarrhea, and high mortality. Reduced feed and water consumption, weight loss, stunted growth, reduced egg production, and increased mortality may accompany outbreaks. Mild infections, which may be classified as subclinical, may cause feather depigmentation and possibly lead to secondary infections, particularly Clostridium spp. Survivors of acute infections recover in 10-14 days but may never recover lost performance. These lesions occur almost entirely in the intestinal tract and often have a specific location and appearance that is useful in diagnosis, such as dark red to gray hemorrhages in the cyst.

5. Bumblefoot (ulcerative pododermatitis)

Bumblefoot is a term used to refer to the swelling of a chicken's foot or footpad. This is an irritating condition, an extremely common problem for older backyard chickens and birds raised on unhealthy floors or wet litter. Bacteria such as staphylococcus abound on such floors and thus invade the skin of the chicken's foot and cause infection, forming a pus-filled abscess. A cut, scrape, bruise or even just a raw spot on the skin from walking on wet, dirty bedding can be an entry point for bacteria and can multiply the severity of foot ulcers.

The most common behavioral symptoms of bumblefoot include limping and the affected bird not using the leg at all due to excruciating pain. By the time the limp is felt, the infection has most likely been festering for some time. Examination of the footpads may reveal redness, swelling, blisters, and either a black lesion, a lump between the toes, or a black rash on the footpad.

6. Infectious bursal disease

A highly contagious and fatal viral disease that mostly affects young birds between 3-6 weeks of age, caused by an RNA virus belonging to the family Birnaviridae. The disease attacks the basal component of the immune system, resulting in immunosuppression due to the destruction of immature B lymphocytes and thus increased susceptibility to secondary infections. The disease is spread through bird-to-bird contact as well as contact with contaminated people and equipment. Birds release the virus in droplets and can spread through the air on dust particles. Dead and infected birds are also a source of the virus and should be incinerated.

The disease may appear suddenly with a sudden decrease in feed and water consumption. Chickens may exhibit severe prostration, lethargy, watery diarrhea resulting in feather fouling around the vent wings, vent picking, and inflammation of the cloaca. Herd morbidity is usually 100%, and mortality can range from 5%–20%. Infected chickens less than 3 weeks of age do not develop clinical disease but show severe and persistent immunosuppression due to destruction of the bursal plaque and subsequent atrophy.

Symptoms of gum disease or IBD

• Deep prostration
• Watery diarrhea
• Irrelevance.
• Inflammation of the cloaca
• Dirty air fins
• Picking a vent

Treatment, Prevention and, Control

Gumboro disease is highly contagious and the herd owner should expect a 100% morbidity rate and a 20% mortality rate. There is no cure or cure for this disease but it can be prevented by vaccinating birds before outbreaks occur. In situations where the disease has already occurred in the herd, the herd should be culled and the pens disinfected. Gumboro infectious brucellosis vaccine (IBDV) should be administered to chickens between their second and fourth weeks of age.