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Many s are engaged in raising chickens. But unfortunately, even experienced poultry farmers do not always know about chicken diseases. Although these poultry often get sick. Among the diseases associated with mechanical damage, there are many viral infectious diseases.
Newcastle disease in domestic chickens can be attributed to the most dangerous viral infection. In large poultry farms, veterinarians strictly control the condition of the birds. Outbreaks of the disease are not uncommon, but, unfortunately, due to ignorance or for some other reason, poultry farmers do not report diseased chickens. If Newcastle disease is detected in chickens, the farm is closed for quarantine.
From the medical history
Like many other infections, Newcastle disease (chicken plague, Asian plague, pseudoplague) originated in Indonesia. She was registered there in the early years of the XNUMXth century. After a short period of time, the first diseased birds were found in England, near Newcastle. Hence the name of the disease.
From the UK, the infection enters the US. During World War II, Newcastle disease spread throughout Europe and the Soviet Union. Unfortunately, over the years, it has not been possible to get rid of chicken plague. In 2014, the disease was recorded in Dagestan and some regions of Our Country. It affected the following areas:
- Saratov;
- Ivanovskaya;
- Kaluga;
- Penza;
- Pskov and Krasnoyarsk Territories.
Due to the fact that chicken plague is an insidious infectious disease, poultry farmers must understand the symptoms, prevention measures and treatment of chickens at home.
What is Newcastle Chicken Disease:
Forms of the disease
Newcastle can take many forms, each with symptoms.
Doyle form
Newcastle disease in chickens, symptoms:
- The body of the chicken is exhausted, it refuses to eat, there is muscle trembling.
- It is difficult for the bird to breathe due to the mucus that forms. The stool is liquid, with a color that is not inherent in chicken manure. Often there is blood in it.
- The development of conjunctivitis, clouding of the cornea almost always accompanies Newcastle disease.
- Although rare, paralysis occurs in chickens.
- During autopsy, hemorrhagic damage to the digestive system can be detected.
Forma Bicha
It is also an acute form of Newcastle. With timely treatment, up to 50% of infected chickens survive.
Symptoms:
- Cough;
- Mucus in the respiratory organs;
- Difficulty breathing.
- Conjunctivitis.
Important! If screening in adults is less than 50 percent, then in chickens up to 90%.
Bodette form
This type of Newcastle disease affects mainly chickens, while a little more than 30% of adult birds die. In chickens at any age, there is a disorder of the nervous system. Vaccination can save the farm.
Hitchner form
The mildest form of Newcastle disease. Although the hens are lethargic, weak, and eat poorly, the laying hens continue to lay eggs.
Since the strain of this form of Newcastle has a low virulence, it is used in the manufacture of a vaccine.
What is the cause of the disease
To identify Newcastle chicken disease and begin its treatment, you need to know how birds become infected:
- From infected domestic chicken during the incubation period (3 to 10 days).
- From vaccinated immunocompromised animals.
- From wild birds (including pigeons).
- Ticks and other insects.
- Rodents: mice, rats.
The disease can be transmitted:
- By air. The virus can cover a distance of up to 5 km.
- By water. If an infected bird drinks water from one container, then the probability of the disease of the rest of the bird’s offspring is high.
- Through food, if sick and healthy chickens are kept together, as in the photo.
- From a sick person.
- Through stool and mucus from the mouth.
Features of the course of the disease
The Newcastle disease clinic is different, depending on the form and strain of the virus. If the birds have been vaccinated, then they are resistant to the disease. Infection of chickens appears after 3-10 days.
If the birds were not vaccinated, then after three days all birds can be affected by the acute form. After 3 days, 100% of chickens die
Newcastle disease affects the nervous system of chickens, so they have impaired coordination, bending and twisting the neck. The head constantly twitches, seizures may occur, the birds wheeze and cough. Conjunctivitis develops before the eyes.
Treatment and control measures
Only a specialist can determine the form of the disease and prescribe a course of treatment.
It is immediately worth noting that the disease is useless to treat. Even after recovering, the chicken remains a carrier of the virus for a year. Therefore, experts recommend destroying sick birds. To avoid disease in the flock, chickens should be vaccinated at the age of one day.
After suffocation of sick chickens, total disinfection is carried out in the room. Every corner of the chicken coop, dishes, inventory is processed, the bedding is changed.
If Newcastle disease is found in chickens on the farm, then quarantine is imposed on it. As a rule, it lasts at least 30 days. At this time, it is forbidden to sell eggs, chicken meat, as well as fluff, feathers. In addition, the sale and purchase of chickens is prohibited. Outsiders are not allowed on the farm.
Restrictions may be lifted if re-maintenance of hens and premises does not show Newcastle disease.
That is why, with a serious attitude to business, it is necessary to take preventive measures and vaccinate chickens in a timely manner.
preventive measures
Preventive measures will not cause any particular difficulties for the owners of the chicken herd. After all, you don’t have to do anything special. The main thing is to properly complete the herd, follow the recommendations for the care and feeding of poultry.
The coop where the chickens live and the surrounding area must be kept clean and disinfected from time to time. It is advisable not to allow wild pigeons, mice, rats to chickens, as carriers of the Newcastle disease virus.
Vaccinate poultry twice a year. Particular attention should be paid to the young. They are vaccinated against the disease at the age of one day. Your veterinarian will help you choose the vaccine.
But sometimes you have to vaccinate chickens outside the plan. When they do it:
- in the outbreak of Newcastle in your backyard;
- if domestic birds fell ill and died in neighboring farms;
- if there is a poultry farm near your home (up to 10 km) that has an outbreak of Newcastle disease.
Vaccine against Newcastle
Vaccines are live and inactivated, in addition, they differ in the degree of aggressiveness of the virus. The use of live vaccines can cause complications in chickens, primarily respiratory diseases. After the vaccine, chickens begin to sneeze, cough, and a runny nose may appear.
A live vaccine can be administered in different ways: drink it with a syringe or instill it into the eyes and nose. As a rule, this method of vaccination works faster than injections. It is a pity that the effect of the drug does not last long, about three months. If conventional chickens and laying hens have enough vaccine, then broiler chickens remain at risk.
For adult chickens, an inactivate is suitable, which lasts from six months to a year.
To prevent the disease, experts advise revaccination after 6 months. Such procedures will reliably and permanently preserve the immunity of chickens, and then the symptoms and Newcastle disease itself will not appear in your backyard.
Before and after vaccination, it is necessary to feed the chickens with fortified feed, so that the effect is better, for a week.
Vaccination belt:
Today, veterinary pharmacies sell various preparations for vaccinating poultry against Newcastle disease. Unfortunately, their prices are too high, not every small poultry farmer can afford.
There are domestic drugs and imported ones, but their effectiveness is the same. But the prices are different. Veterinarians will advise which vaccine is best to use to treat their birds.
To summarize
If you decide to seriously engage in breeding chickens, you need to be prepared for feathered diseases. At the first signs of malaise, you should consult with specialists.
This is especially true of Newcastle disease, which has been walking the planet for more than a century. After all, it develops rapidly and can carry away the entire bird flock in a few days. In order not to incur economic and moral losses, keep chickens clean and vaccinate in a timely manner.