The most common bird diseases: description, symptoms, treatment and prevention

Breeding poultry is not only profitable, but also affordable. With proper housekeeping, you can not only provide your family with meat and eggs, but also earn enough money. However, as in every business, there are pitfalls, and here they are. The main problem in breeding poultry are diseases that, in the absence of adequate treatment and preventive measures, can cause serious damage to the household. Therefore, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the most common diseases of poultry, their characteristic signs at the initial stage of development, as well as methods of eliminating the problem.

Causes and types of diseases

Diseases in poultry often develop for the following reasons:

• ignoring the main standards of maintenance: cleanliness of rooms and equipment, compliance with temperature conditions
• poor-quality and unbalanced feed;
• non-compliance with the norms of planting birds per 1 meter of area.

The combination of these factors leads to a decrease in the immunity of the bird, as a result of which its susceptibility to various infections and bacteria increases.

All diseases are divided into 2 main categories:

1. Infectious. A provoking factor of development are pathogens, ticks, parasites. This category includes many diseases of farm animals and birds that can be transmitted not only to the rest of the livestock, but also to humans. Farmers should be aware of them. These include infectious and invasive diseases of birds.
2. Not contagious. They develop against the background of improper maintenance and nutrition of birds. Not able to spread to other individuals and transmitted to humans.

Both species are dangerous, since in the absence of adequate methods of treatment they can cause irreparable damage to the household, so it is worth exploring the most common bird diseases. This will help to identify pathologies by initial signs.

Bird Infectious Diseases

This type of disease is the most dangerous, since in most cases it develops suddenly and with lightning speed. In a matter of days, contagious bird diseases can spread to the whole population. At the first alarming symptoms, isolate diseased specimens from the rest and call a veterinarian. Consider the most common of them.

Smallpox diphtheria

Pathology develops against the background of the penetration of a filtered virus into the body, which has 3 main strains. As a result of this, veterinarians isolate such forms of the disease: conjunctival, diphtheria, smallpox. Less susceptible to the geese, duck virus.

Infection of the bird occurs through infected feed, equipment, and the source can be sick wild birds, blood-sucking insects (mosquitoes, wasps, ticks). The incubation period is 3-8 days.

Primary symptoms:

• general depressed condition;
• ruffled feathers;
• lack of appetite;
• egg production is reduced to a minimum;
• wings are down;
• films are present in the oral cavity, which makes breathing difficult;
• swelling of the eyes (with conjunctival form);
• warts appear on the scalp (with smallpox).

There are no specific medicines to eliminate this disease. If necessary, remove films from the oral cavity and treat the wounds with a mixture of 5% iodine and glycerol taken in equal amounts. In case of eye damage, they should be washed with a 2% solution of boric acid. During therapy, provide the bird with full nutrition with a high content of green soft feed.

Pullorosis, or bacillary white diarrhea

A dangerous disease of birds, which in acute form manifests itself in chickens and turkey poults. Young animals aged 1 to 14 days are most susceptible to it, however, inaccuracies in care may increase the likelihood of developing the disease even before the age of 2 months. In adults, the disease can be present in a chronic form, periodically worsening.

The causative agent of pullorosis is pullorny bacillus, belonging to the group of salmonella. In the litter, the infection remains viable for 100 days, in water - 200 days.

Infection occurs through eggs, that is, the offspring obtained from them is already infected. Another method of transmission occurs through food or equipment while keeping chickens and adults.

The main signs in young animals:

• profuse white diarrhea;
• feathers tousled;
• eyes half closed;
• dejected condition;
• sharp weight loss.

The chronic form of the disease in an adult bird is practically not manifested. Only during the period of exacerbation, egg production decreases, appetite decreases, an uncharacteristic lethargy, sagging abdomen appears.

The main drugs for pullorosis in young animals:

1. "Biomycin hydrochloride." Up to 10 days of age - 1 mg per 1 head, at the age of 11 to 20 days - 1.2 mg per 1 individual. The daily norm should be divided into 2 doses, morning and evening. Therapy is carried out until the alarming symptoms are completely eliminated. The drug is also used as a prophylaxis, so it can be used for chickens and turkey poults from a day old.
2. "Norsulfazole sodium." It is prescribed for preventive purposes from the first day of life. A solution of the drug (0.04-0.01%) is used for drinking for 5-6 days.
3. "Penicillin". It is used to treat chickens and turkey poults. The daily dosage is 2-4 thousand international units per 1 head. The duration of therapy is 5-8 days, twice a day.
4. Synthomycin. The daily dosage is 20 g per 1 individual. The duration of treatment is 5-8 days three times a day. "Synthomycin" should initially be dissolved in wine alcohol in a ratio of 1 to 10, and then introduced into water, which will be used to knead the flour mixture or to drink.

Pasteurellosis, or Cholera

A dangerous disease that affects all types of poultry of any age.

The causative agent is the ovoid stick of Pasteurella. The microbe retains its viability in manure for 1 month, in soil - 1-3 months, in water - 3 weeks.

The source of infection is sick birds and animals, rodents, cutaneous parasites. The infection is transmitted through drinking and food. The spread of bird disease is facilitated by crowding, dampness of the premises, a sharp change in weather, malnutrition. The incubation period is 3-5 days.

Clinical signs:

• crest and grooves are cyanotic;
• depressed general condition;
• intense thirst;
• immobility;
• elevated temperature (42-43 degrees);
• rapid breathing;
• ruffled feathers;
• diarrhea, bowel movements are liquid, greenish in color.

If the bird does not die within the first 7 days, the disease becomes chronic, affecting individual organs.

Preparations for the treatment and prevention of pasteurellosis:

1. "Biomycin." The daily dosage is 15-20 g per 1 individual, administered with food for 7-10 days.
2. "Terramycin". It is used as a prophylaxis. It is administered as a 3-5% solution intramuscularly, with a dosage of 1 mg per head.
3. "Penicillin". Used for treatment. Dosage - 3-4 thousand international units per 1 kg of live weight. The drug is administered 3 times a day intramuscularly, every 6-8 hours. If necessary, therapy is repeated after 3, 5, 10 days. With timely use, up to 80% of infected livestock can be saved.

Paratyphoid

Infectious disease of birds, which is more likely to affect young animals. Dangerous for goslings, ducklings, less common in turkeys and chickens. It can be transmitted to humans and animals. Therefore, every poultry breeder should know about the symptoms and treatment of poultry disease.

Its causative agent is bacteria belonging to the Salmonella group. Viability of paratyphoid bacillus is maintained in the soil for 2-3 months, in a litter - 5 months, in salted meat - 5 months. A provoking factor of development is an insufficient amount of vitamins and minerals in the diet of the bird, overheating in the incubator, crowding, dirt and dampness in the premises.

The main source of infection is adult carriers, from whose eggs young animals are hatched. The virus enters the yolk, so part of the offspring dies at the embryo stage during the incubation process. Survivors eventually become a source of infection, as the disease becomes chronic with periods of exacerbation and relief. The incubation period is from 12 hours to several days.

Initial signs of paratyphoid:

• chills;
• drowsiness;
• thirst;
• feathers tousled;
• wings are down;
• lack of appetite;
• lacrimation
• purulent conjunctivitis;
• cramps
• throwing the head back;
• diarrhea, fluid and foamy bowel movements.

Drugs for treatment:

1. Synthomycin. It is prescribed to ducklings and goslings up to 30 days of age - 10-15 mg per 1 dose. The drug is used three times a day for 5 days.
2. Chloramphenicol or Biomycin. The dosage for 1 dose is 5-10 mg. The drug is administered three times a day for 5 days.

Gumboro's disease, or infectious bursitis

Gamboro disease in birds is characterized by the rapid course of the pathological process. As a result of infection, deaths reach 50%. In addition to this, a high percentage of rejected carcasses, which lose their commercial qualities against the background of numerous hemorrhages and exhaustion, also brings loss.

Infection occurs through the mucous membranes. The provoking distribution factors are the total content of adults and young animals, litter, litter. The carrier of the viral disease of birds is infected chickens purchased from an unscrupulous producer.

The infection affects chickens between 2 and 15 weeks old, but the most dangerous period is from 3 to 5 weeks.

Characteristic signs of infection:

• refusal of food;
• diarrhea;
• chills;
• ruffled feathers;
• dejected general condition.

Special drugs for the treatment of Gumboro disease do not exist. Therefore, the only effective method of combating this disease is the timely vaccination of young animals.

Plague

This poultry disease affects young animals and adults. Infection occurs through drinking, food and airborne droplets.

The causative agent of the pathology are strains A and B of the filtered virus. Strain A causes a typical form of plague, and strain B causes an atypical one. The disease affects chickens, guinea fowl, turkeys, peacocks.

The atypical form affects young animals under the age of 3 months. A bird aged 3 to 6 months suffers from 2 forms of the disease equally, and adults are affected by typical plague. The incubation period lasts from several hours to 8 days.

Clinical signs:

• temperature 43-44 degrees;
• swelling of the eyelids;
• feathers tousled;
• general weakness;
• drowsiness;
• refusal of food;
• the comb and earrings have a bluish tint;
• mucous discharge from the nostrils;
• swelling of the skin and subcutaneous tissue;
• croaking sound;
• cramps
• throwing back the head.

Mortality in the plague accounts for 90-95% of diagnosed cases. An effective treatment for this disease has not yet been developed. Therefore, to protect the economy from the plague can only preventive vaccination.

Infectious laryngotracheitis

This disease of bird breathing is characterized by the rapid development of the pathological process. It is most dangerous for chickens.

The causative agent of infectious laryngotracheitis is a filtered virus that is unstable to the external environment. Under the influence of sunlight, he dies within 7 hours. Disinfectants are able to completely destroy it.

The source of the disease is adult carrier chickens. A provoking factor is non-compliance with poultry standards, vitamin A, B2, D deficiency and a deficiency in the diet of minerals. The incubation period from 3 days to 6 weeks, depending on the type of pathology.

Clinical symptoms:

• intermittent breathing;
• general weakness;
• mucous discharge in the larynx and trachea;
• sudden weight loss;
• gurgling sounds;
• wheezing
• pallor of the skin.

Mortality is 15%, this occurs as a result of strangulation of the bird, since abundant secretions fill the lumen in the larynx.

Drugs for treatment:

1. "Biomycin hydrochloride." Dosage - 10-30 g per 1 individual, twice a day. The duration of therapy is 5 days, after a week repeat the treatment.
2. Aqueous solution of "Formalin". The drug is introduced into the drink at the rate of 1: 2000 three times a decade.

Vitamin Deficiency Pathologies

The main reason for the development of non-communicable bird diseases is the non-observance of the rules for the maintenance of birds, as well as the lack of sufficient vitamins and minerals in their diet. Often, these diseases lead to the death of the entire population.

Vitamins

Veterinarians distinguish the following main types of pathology:

1. Vitamin A deficiency. Vitamin A deficiency leads to keratinization of the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx, eyes, and trachea of ​​the esophagus. As a result, scabs are formed on the surface, cheesy discharge appears. In young animals, against the background of deficiency, growth slows down, depletion develops, abnormal skeleton changes are observed, feathers fall out. To combat the pathological process, it is recommended to enrich the diet with a synthetic analogue of vitamin A, as well as introduce orange fruits into the diet.
2. Vitamin B. It is most susceptible to deficiency of B vitamins in young animals aged 2 to 5 weeks. A characteristic feature is dermatitis, tremor of the extremities, impaired renal and hepatic function, and paralysis. For the prevention of vitamin deficiency, it is recommended to introduce yeast, fish and meat and bone meal, bran into the diet.
3. Vitamin D deficiency. A deficiency of this vitamin provokes joint tumors, rickets, softening of bones. In adults, the eggs have a soft shell. To eliminate the disease, it is recommended to add chalk, shell rock, fish oil, slaked lime to the diet.
4. Avitaminosis E. Young growth at the age of 3-5 weeks suffers more. The bird has a loss of interest in food, general weakness, weight loss, impaired coordination of movements. In the absence of therapeutic measures, a quick death of the livestock occurs. To eliminate the problem, it is recommended to add green mass, herbal flour, dairy products to the diet.

Cannibalism

This disease develops in chickens. Veterinarians argue that its development is facilitated by improper bird maintenance, the presence of parasites, and a lack of calcium in the diet. Aggressive behavior is more susceptible to adults in the period of molting and oviposition.

To prevent biting, it is recommended to introduce meat and bone meal, oat husks, straw, fresh herbs, potatoes, cabbage, oilcake into the diet.

For the treatment of open wounds as a result of biting, one should use brilliant green, wood tar, ASD-2.

If, in spite of the measures taken, cannibalism continues, it is recommended to carry out debiking. This procedure is used for young animals with the aim of shortening the beak, followed by cauterization of wounds.

Qatar, blockage of goiter

This poultry disease develops as a result of feeding a poor or spoiled feed by a livestock. The bird initially ceases to approach the feeder, then refuses water, begins to stretch its head, to cow it, trying to spit something out. When the form is launched, an unpleasant odor and foamy substance from the mouth appear.

To eliminate the pathological process and stagnation, goiter massage is performed. To do this, the bird should be taken by the legs, turned upside down and run your hand from the goiter to the throat. After the procedure, the bird should be drunk with a weak potassium permanganate solution, and then fed with whey, cottage cheese or yogurt.

Protozoal diseases of birds

This group includes infectious diseases of birds caused by internal parasites that feed on others. Next, we consider them in more detail.

Coccidiosis

The causative agents of the pathological process are the simplest intracellular parasites - coccidia. They parasitize in the small intestines of birds, when multiplied by repeated division, they damage the walls of the organ.

Coccidia undergo 3 stages of development, the first two in the body of the bird, and the third in the external environment. It is during this period that the infection of healthy individuals occurs as a result of peeling of the droppings of sick individuals. The incubation period lasts 4-7 days.

Most often, the disease manifests itself in chickens, less often in turkey poults, goslings and ducklings. In the soil, pathogen viability persists for 1 year. Coccidia are resistant to chemicals, but can not tolerate sunlight.

Characteristic signs of coccidiosis:

• rapid exhaustion;
• diarrhea, often with blood;
• shaky gait;
• the head is pulled into the body;
• chills.

Mortality is 50-70% of the livestock. The development of the disease provokes improper bird maintenance, a lack of vitamins and minerals in the diet.

Therapeutic drugs:

1. Akrikhin. The daily dosage is 0.5-2.0 g per 10 water. It is added in drink. The course of treatment is 5-7 days.
2. Sulfur powder. Daily dosage - 2% of the total feed volume. The duration of therapy is no more than 5 days, as it contributes to the development of rickets.
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The source is sick individuals and contaminated water. Trichomoniasis is equally dangerous for all types of poultry. The incubation period is 6-15 days.

Clinical signs:

• hard breath;
• mucous discharge from the nose and eyes;
• loss of appetite;
• depressed state;
• weakness;
• whitish-yellow nodules in the oral cavity;
• difficulty swallowing.

Drugs to eliminate unpleasant symptoms and treat poultry disease:

1. Osarsol. Dosage - 10 mg per 1 kg of live weight. Initially, the drug is dissolved in a 1% soda solution, and then introduced into water. Duration of admission is 4 days.
2. "Phenothiazine." Norm - 0.2-0.5 g per individual per day. The course of treatment is 2-3 days.

Invasive diseases

Invasive diseases caused by external parasites are no less dangerous for birds. In the absence of adequate treatment measures, they can cause serious damage to the poultry farm.

The carriers of parasites are wild birds, rodents, a person who brought the pathogen on the sole of his shoes. Provoking factors of mass distribution: overcrowding, dirt in the premises, reduced immunity of the bird against the background of insufficient amounts of vitamins and minerals in the diet.

The most common invasive diseases of birds (their treatment should be carried out immediately) are as follows:

1. Ticks Small insects that feed on the blood of an animal. Show activity at night. Are carriers of dangerous viral diseases. To combat it, it is necessary to treat the premises with acaricides as prescribed by the veterinarian twice with a frequency of 1 week.
2. Bedbugs, fleas, lice. Small insects that settle in the basal area of ​​feathers, which cause concern for birds. When they appear, the bird is constantly trying to climb its beak under the plumage. For treatment, such drugs as Bars, Front Line, Neostomazan are used.
3. Lop-eater and peroids. Small parasites living on down and feathers. They feed on dead skin particles, blood from fresh wounds, plumage. A parasite can be brought by a person on the sole, wild birds, rodents. The provoking factor of reproduction is the dirty and crowded bird keeping. For treatment, drugs of the peritrin group are used, which process the premises and the entire population.

Fungal diseases

This group includes diseases of birds, the causative agents of which are spores of pathogenic fungi. They are able to be transmitted through feed and food. In the absence of timely measures, the disease can be transmitted to the whole population.

Thrush, or candidiasis

The most common fungal disease of birds (see photo below) can be transmitted to animals and humans. Pathology affects the oral cavity, esophagus and goiter. The provoking factor of development is the maintenance of birds on a uniform feed.

The causative agent of the pathology are yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida. An ideal environment for their reproduction is contaminated water. Thrush is not transmitted between birds.

The main symptoms of bird disease:

• Seals on the mucous membrane of the mouth, crest and goiter of a white-gray shade.
• Lethargy.
• Pallor of the skin.
• Rumpled appearance.
• Lethargy.

Diagnosis of bird disease is carried out by a veterinarian according to external characteristic signs. Based on this, a course of antibiotic therapy is prescribed.

Therapeutic drugs:

1. "Nystatin." The daily dosage is 0.5-1.0 g per 10 kg of feed. Duration of administration is 7 days.
2. "Copper sulfate." The dosage of the drug per day is 0.9-1.2 mg per 10 kg of feed. The course of treatment is 10 days.

Poisoning

Often the source of the development of non-communicable bird diseases is moldy or expired feed. Grain can be identified by the characteristic dark points along the seam. This symptom indicates the presence of mold spores.

In addition, a bad wet mash, which remained in the inventory, can cause severe poisoning. Therefore, the feeders should be promptly cleaned of uneaten residues several hours after feeding.

Common symptoms of intoxication:

• vomiting
• thirst;
• anxiety;
• bloody diarrhea;
• limb tremor,

As a first aid, a weak solution of potassium permanganate is used, as well as a mixture of activated carbon and baking soda. Medicines are injected every 3 hours with a pipette into the beak. When the condition normalizes, a decoction of flax seed is applied, 2-3 drops per individual.

The diagnosis and treatment of birds is prescribed by a veterinarian, who should be called at the first alarming signs.

Constipation

Pathology is characterized by blockage of the intestinal lumen. Often manifested in obese birds and individuals infected with intestinal parasites.

Characteristic symptoms:

• difficult bowel movement, in which the bird sits down and shakes its tail;
• eyes are constantly covered;
• raised feathers;
• refusal of food;
• general lethargy.

To cleanse the intestines, 2-3 drops of vegetable oil are injected into the anus, which improves the yield of feces. To prevent constipation, the bird should regularly feed vegetables and herbs.

Hypothermia and hyperthermia

In chicks under the age of 30 days, the thermoregulation system is not fully formed, therefore, they need artificial heating. Hypothermia (hypothermia) forces them to huddle near a heat source, climb onto each other, which can lead to trampling of weaker individuals. Therefore, it is necessary to place a sufficient number of heaters so as not to provoke crowding.

High temperature of the content also negatively affects the health of birds. It is especially unfavorable for waterfowl. Signs of hyperthermia (overheating) are thirst, loss of appetite, cyanosis and wrinkling of the crest. To prevent the development of the disease, it is necessary to equip the house with ventilation, provide constant access to water, and on the street make spacious awnings for walking in the hot season.

Prevention

Preventing bird diseases is more cost effective than treating them. Even a recovered livestock cannot always fully restore its reproduction. Therefore, for successful poultry management, special attention should be paid to the prevention of bird diseases.

Primary requirements:

1. Hatching eggs and chickens should be purchased from trusted manufacturers.
2. Provide separate keeping of young and adult individuals.
3. Quarantine newcomers.
4. Keep strangers out of the house.
5. Balance nutrition by saturating the diet with green mass, vitamins, vegetables and mineral mixtures.
6. Timely remove uneaten residues from the feeders, remove the litter from the premises.
7. Regularly disinfect rooms and equipment.

The more attention will be paid to disease prevention, the higher the immunity of birds. And this will reduce the likelihood of mortality to a minimum.