Protecting Backyard Chickens From Disease

May 27, 2016

By Dr. Joe Hess,

Alabama Extension specialist

The popularity of raising your own backyard chickens continues to grow. A poultry scientist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System says it is vital that people with backyard flocks do their part to reduce disease spread.

Dr. Joe Hess, an Alabama Extension specialist who works with both large commercial poultry producers as well as with backyard poultry hobbyists, says small flock owners can follow some easy guidelines that will help ensure their birds’ health.

“First, people with backyard poultry should buy chicks from outlets like feed and seed stores or directly from a mail-order company,” said Hess. “These outlets are selling chicks from suppliers that are certified free of disease, helping ensure people begin their flocks with healthy chicks. Always buy birds from a reputable source.”

Practicing backyard biosecurity is an important way to safeguard your flock of backyard chickens, said Hess, who is also a professor of poultry science at Auburn University.

“We use personal hygiene to avoid catching or spreading germs. Good hygiene and other common-sense practices are essential in preventing disease in birds. If you follow some basic tips and make them part of your routine, you can reduce the risk of exposing your flock to diseases.”

Keep Your Distance

Other people and birds—including new birds you’ve just bought and wild birds—can carry diseases to your flock. Keep out unnecessary visitors. Limit contact that visitors have with your birds.

If visitors have birds of their own, do not let them enter your bird area or have access to your birds at all. Also, avoid visiting farms or other households with poultry.

Make sure that feeders are placed in a covered location where wild birds cannot gain access. This will help reduce the potential for disease carried in the droppings of wild birds.

Keep It Clean

“People can pick up germs on shoes and clothing which can put their chickens at risk, “said Hess. To reduce the potential of exposing birds to disease, backyard flock owners should have a pair of shoes and a set of clothes to wear only around their birds.

Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before entering the coop or handling birds. Then wash hands thoroughly after handling birds. Keep cages clean and change food and water daily. Also, clean and disinfect equipment that comes in contact with birds or droppings.

Don’t Bring Disease Home

Tires, poultry cages and equipment can all harbor germs. If you travel to a place where other birds are present, or even to the feed store, be sure to clean and disinfect these items before returning to your property.

Hess cautions small flock keepers about taking their birds away from home.

“If you take birds to a fair or exhibition, keep those birds separated from the rest of your flock for at least 2 weeks after the event. New birds should be kept separate from your flock for at least 30 days.”

Know Warning Signs of Poultry Diseases

Many poultry diseases are swift moving and deadly. Hess emphasizes that early detection is important to prevent the spread of disease.

“By doing a quick daily check of how your birds are eating, their energy levels and how they look, you will be more able to recognize if something is wrong.”

Sudden drop in egg production or misshapen eggs
Swelling of head, eyelids, combs and hocks
Diarrhea
Purplish discoloration of combs and wattles
Difficulty breathing and nasal discharge
Tremors, drooping wings or other movement problems

Report Sick Birds

Finally, he reminds owners of backyard chickens that it is critical to report sick poultry to state officials.

“Alabama has a huge commercial poultry industry. It is vital that state officials know if small flocks are having disease outbreaks to prevent the disease from spreading to other small flocks in the area or to commercial poultry operations.”

Source : aces.edu