Learn About The Best Ways To Protect Chickens From Diseases

There are many factors that contribute to chickens becoming infected with diseases, and these diseases often lead to decreased performance in their rearing, growth rate, egg production, etc. They may also lead to death, and chickens may become infected with diseases due to indirect conditions that put chickens under stress. It reduces resistance to disease and stress causes. Inappropriate temperatures, overcrowding, lack of water and food, over-administration of medications, and the disease itself may be a predisposing factor that reduces the immunity of chickens to another disease.

Tips to protect chickens from diseases

Here are some general tips for maintaining chicken health:

Follow preventive measures; Such as wearing and covering the feet with plastic clothing when entering the chicken coop, and sterilizing the tools used before entering them and using them for another flock.

Comprehensive and continuous cleaning and disinfection, regularly removing accumulated garbage, fighting rodents and insects, and removing dead chickens.

Maintain proper temperatures and provide ventilation to keep chickens healthy.

Quarantine new poultry for 30 days in another location, which must be at least 11 meters away.

Do not share garden equipment and poultry supplies with your neighbors or other chicken or bird owners, and they should be disinfected frequently.

Be alert to any behaviors or symptoms appearing in chickens, as early detection helps prevent the spread of the disease.

Ways to strengthen chicken immunity

The immune system of chickens helps in preventing diseases, as the immune system produces antibodies to a specific disease by infecting them with the disease, and this process is called active immunity, and the chicks also receive antibodies from the chicken through the egg yolk, albumin, and fluids present in the eggs, and this is called immunity. Negativity, Here are some foods that help strengthen chicken immunity:

Garlic: It is a powerful aid to the immune system. It is also antimicrobial, helps deter intestinal worms, and stimulates the immune system. Add 4 cloves of crushed garlic to a gallon of drinking water. It should be changed every 2-3 days and replaced with fresh cloves. You can use powder. Fresh garlic, taking care not to eat too much of it so as not to lead to anemia.

Eggs and dairy products: Serve eggs scrambled, add some dried herbs, some yogurt to oatmeal or forage, and bake and grind the egg shells.

Fruits : such as watermelon, grapes, bananas, and berries. Fruits are rich in important nutrients, vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals.

Tonics : Apple cider vinegar is considered a tonic for chickens. It is beneficial for digestion and increases calcium absorption. It is recommended to add one tablespoon per gallon of water.

Seeds and grains: Fermented feed contains high levels of vitamins B, C, and K, and contains probiotics that aid digestion and enhance immunity.

Vegetables : Fresh vegetables contain large amounts of vitamins A, C, K, and B6, in addition to calcium, potassium, copper, and manganese.

Herbs : There are many herbs that help strengthen the health and digestion of chickens, including oregano; It enhances immunity and helps protect against some types of infections, such as salmonella, cinnamon, which is antibacterial and anti-oxidant, and reduces inflammation, turmeric, which is considered an antibiotic and antioxidant, and ginger, which is considered anti-viral, and it also enhances immunity.

Warning signs of chicken diseases

There are common signs that you can use to detect diseases:

The chicken sits on its back or lies down.

Abnormal feather loss.

Excretion of abnormal feces.

Fluffy, electrified feathers.

Eyes dull or closed.

Drooping in the wings.

General lethargy.

The most prominent diseases that affect chickens

The following are the most common diseases that affect chickens:

Birdpox

Symptoms: There are two types of smallpox: The dry type is characterized by wart-like lesions on areas where there are no feathers, and the wet type is characterized by lesions in the mouth, pharynx, trachea, and larynx, causing respiratory distress by blocking the upper air passages.

Methods of transmission : Smallpox is transmitted through direct contact between infected birds, or through mosquitoes, and it also enters the bloodstream through the eyes, respiratory system, or wounds.

Treatment : There is no treatment currently available for this disease, but vaccines can be used to prevent the spread of the disease.

Infectious bronchitis

Symptoms : watery discharge from the eyes and nostrils, and difficulty breathing.

Methods of transmission : Because it is a highly contagious disease, it is spread through the air, feed bags, dead birds, and through rodents. It may also be transmitted to embryos in eggs, which die before they hatch.

Treatment: There is no cure for this disease, but antibiotics are given for 3-5 days to prevent secondary infection, vaccination against it is also done, and the temperature of the coop is raised to alleviate the symptoms.

Bird flu

Symptoms : lethargy, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and a decrease in egg production.

Modes of transmission : It is transmitted through improper disposal of infected bird carcasses, manure, shoes, clothing, boxes, and contaminated equipment, and by insects and rodents.

Treatment : There is no effective treatment for it, but it can be alleviated through proper nutrition, antibiotics, in addition to the use of vaccinations and strict quarantine.

Inflammatory pneumonia (Newcastle)

Symptoms : It is characterized by sudden symptoms, including: Chickens have a hoarse voice , watery discharge from the nostrils, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, paralysis, tremors, and twisting of the neck.

Methods of transmission : It is transmitted through the air, or through the shoes of caretakers and visitors, and contaminated and dirty equipment. It can be transmitted through the egg, which dies before it hatches. It is also transmitted through birds’ body fluids, secretions, waste, and breathing.

Treatment: There is no cure for this disease, but antibiotics are given for 3-5 days to prevent secondary infection, vaccination is done against it, and the temperature of the coop is raised to alleviate the symptoms.

Cold

Symptoms : swelling around the face, unpleasant odor, thick, sticky discharge from the eyes, difficulty breathing, diarrhea, and irritation of the eyelids. It may cause stunting in young birds.

Methods of transmission : It is transmitted through direct contact with infected birds, inhalation of airborne droplets, and contamination of feed and water.

Treatment : Treatment can be done using water-soluble antibiotics or antibacterials, raising chickens well, and quarantining them.