POULTRY

Eliminate stagnant water. Mosquitos can bite and transmit certain diseases like fowl pox. By removing any container with stagnant water like tyres for example, will help to deter their presence.

Provide a dust bath and/or according to the species, a bathing area. When birds bathe in water or saturate themselves with dust they are actively maintaining their plumage. This helps them to eliminate naturally external parasites. In well-watered areas bathing is most common for waterfowl for example, in arid areas or for quail, chickens etc, dusting is more often observed. Experiments with quail show that frequent dusting helps to maintain an optimum amount of oil on the feathers.

Remove manure frequently. Flies are attracted to the manure to lay their eggs. Soiled and damp bedding should be removed frequently and replaced with fresh. This will also contribute towards protecting your fowl from respiratory diseases. By keeping nesting boxes clean with fresh bedding, the eggs, whether they be for consumption or hatching, will be kept free of dejections and contaminates.

Quality food and a well-balanced diet corresponding to their age and species, and water replaced with fresh daily contribute to the well being of the flock and helps them build up their resistance and immunity to disease. Avoid distributing the food directly onto the ground, but rather in an adequate feeder. By removing the feed when possible, rats will be less inclined to tunnel their way into the reserved areas. Feeders can be suspended to avoid poultry contaminating and wasting the food.

Ensure that wild birds do not have access to your flock’s food and water. Only feed what your flock can consume. Avian flu is transmitted during the migration season and it is of the utmost importance to avoid the transmission of this deadly virus to your flock.

Virus and bacteria can be spread through clothes and shoes. To prevent potentially harmful organisms from being transferred to your flock, it is good practice to reserve seperate clothes and foot ware for when you are tending your brooders and flock. Other poultry clients in food stores for example, can spread potential organisms if wearing the same foot ware as they use when tending their animals. It is best, however tempting, to avoid letting strangers interact with your flock.

Be prepared to isolate any incoming (new) birds for a minimum of 30 days to ensure that they don’t come into contact with your existing flock. This gives you the possibility to observe the isolated bird for any sign of disease or parasites. Travel and a change of environment will stress the bird, lowering its resistance to diseases and parasites. Isolate any bird which shows signs of illness. Most birds will not show signs of illness before it is too late. By observation of a change of comportment, you can detect a potentially harmful situation. Some birds can be carriers of diseases without showing any signs of distress.
Your breeder, veterinary service or club can help and inform you about any vaccines available in your country.