Disease Control in Rearing Birds

 

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Introduction:

By reviewing conditions in the rearing and release pens that allow disease causing organisms (viruses, bacteria, parasites and fungi) to thrive, ways can be suggested in which these diseases can be controlled.


Sources of disease:

Obviously the first priority is to try to prevent disease-causing organisms being present in the pens to infect the birds. Newly hatched chicks are free of most disease causing organisms so disease is carried to the birds from outside sources. Possible sources of disease include:

Sick birds already present on the farm.
Wild gamebirds present around the farm.
Disease-causing Organisms
Rats, mice, cats and dogs. (spreading disease on their feet  etc.)
Other farms locally with significant numbers of birds. (particularly at the release pen stage)
Staff visiting other sites with game birds present.
Visitors (including advisors and Veterinary Surgeons) visiting the farm.

Each farm needs to review its biosecurity policy to reduce the chance of disease entering from these sources.

 

Reducing the effects of disease:

Even with strict biosecurity, it is often not possible to totally prevent disease organisms affecting birds. The most significant difference between naturally reared and artificially reared birds is the stocking density. At higher stocking rates, disease-causing organisms are more likely to be spread between birds than at lower stocking densities.

In the wild many infections tend to be self-limiting as the birds develop some degree of immunity or tolerance. However when infections are overwhelming or if a bird's immune system is depressed then clinical disease will occur. It can therefore be seen that to control clinical disease a number of strategies are necessary:

Avoid overcrowding of the birds in the pens. Reducing bird numbers should reduce the level of disease present. In release pens ensure that the birds spread throughout the pen.
Improve the immune status of the birds by reducing stress.
Reduce the numbers of infectious organisms present and reduce the birds contact with them.

With so much variation in housing systems for rearing game birds it is difficult to set maximum acceptable stocking rates. However as a general rule, in rearing pens the birds should have sufficient house / night shelter space for all the birds to be able to return for heat and shelter if necessary and to be able to move comfortably about the accommodation to find food and water.

Good management enhances the immune status of the bird and clean water and high quality feed is essential. Good housing and heating are required to provide steady temperature control in the first few weeks. Stresses that can adversely affect the bird's ability to fight parasitic infections include rapid variations in housing temperature, problems with the water or food quality, other disease conditions such as bacterial enteritis and competition from other birds in the pen.

There are a number of ways of reducing levels of disease-causing organisms and of reducing the birds contact with them.

As already stated above, reduce the number of birds present in a pen and reduce the group size within which birds are reared.
Ensure that adult birds are not present on the rearing fields and in release pens, as they are a potential source of infection.
As disease is easily transferred on boots and hands ensure both are cleaned well between visiting different batches of birds. If hand wash facilities are not readily available, the use of bactericidal hand wipes is advised.
There are feed additives that can improve the immune status of the birds. These should only be regarded as an aid to preventing disease and should not be seen as an alternative to good management.
Reduce the birds direct contact with the highly contaminated areas around feeders and drinkers by placing feeders and drinkers off the ground on a weld mesh frame so that waste products are collected beneath out of contact with the birds.
As disease-causing organisms thrive in warm and damp conditions correct any leaking drinkers as a matter of urgency. Do not empty dirty drinking water onto the ground within the pens but ensure it is disposed of well away from the pens.
There are some disinfectant products that can be safely applied both to the water and the environment whilst the birds are present. These can reduce, but will not completely eliminate, organisms that have the potential to cause disease.

 

                       

 

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Last modified: January 25, 2005