POULTRY HEALTH
For profitable poultry production (as well as a 'happy' flock) it is important to maintain a healthy flock. The well-known quote "The best defense is a great offense" holds true when keeping poultry. A strong biosecurity program is important to keep disease-causing organisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc) away from your flock.
To understand the effects of disease-causing organisms (and management problems) on the health of your flock it is important to have a good understanding of the anatomy and physiology of poultry and what the inside of a healthy bird looks liked
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Disease prevention & treatment |
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National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP - USDA)
Kentucky Representative:
Dr. Robert Stout, State Veterinarian, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Division of Animal Health
100 Fair Oaks Lane, Suite 252
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: (502) 564-3956
Fax: (502) 564-7852
Email: robert.stout@ky.govAdditional contact person: Sue Billings, Deputy State Veterinarian - sue.billings@ky.gov
Additional contact person: Sue Blair, Poultry Programs - sue.blair@ky.govSummary of Kentucky NPIP regulations - each state is responsible for administration of the NPIP program
University of Kentucky's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
| University of Kentucky, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory | |
| Shipping address: 1490 Bull Lea Rd. Lexington, KY 40511 |
Mailing address: P.O. Box 14125 Lexington, KY 40512-4125 |
| Phone: (859) 253-0571 Fax: (859) 255-1624 |
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Receiving Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Diagnostic Services Coordinator: Dr. Deborah Williams (859) 253-0571 ext. 150 |
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Note: Sick or dead chickens can be submitted to the UK Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory through a local veterinarian.
DISEASE IDENTIFICATION
General information
Sticky droppings: A feed-related problem (Washington State University)
The Merck Veterinary Manual (Commercial website for Merial)
Intestinal Health Center for Poultry (Intervet)
Many poultry diseases can only be diagnosed by means of a necropsy (an autopsy on animals). If you are having a mortality problem in your flock, doing a basic necropsy may help to identify the most likely cause. An understanding of avian anatomy is required.
Avian necropsy techniques (University of Florida)
Avian anatomy (University of Kentucky)
Several websites have a list of avian diseases with descriptions of the possible symptoms.
Avian disease factsheet (Virginia Tech)
Common poultry diseases (University of Florida)
While a necropsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis, symptoms can be used to narrow down the potential problem and allow you to begin a treatment while waiting for confirmation from the diagnostic lab.
Poultry disease diagnosis (Mississippi State University) - Overview of information needed to help in diagnosing a problem in a poultry flock, including a form to fill out so you can't answer questions when calling a vet or an extension agent.
Poultry disease diagnosis based on symptoms (Mississippi State University) This is a repackaging of the material in the above website and is a listing of poultry diseases based on the types of symptoms observed or the systems of the body affected.
Compendium of poultry products (Fort Dodge)
Animal Drugs @ FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
Leg disorders
A variety of leg disorders are possible in poultry flocks. They can be the result of improper nutrition and/or management. Some problems are genetic. Leg problems can be a problem in chicken flocks raising cornish-based chicks for meat production (i.e., broilers) because of the potential for them to put on weight faster than they can develop the bone structure to support the weight. Waterfowl, turkeys and gamebirds are prone to leg and foot problems
Leg and foot disorders in domestic fowl (Virginia Tech)
Leg problems in broilers and turkeys (Kansas State University)
Orthopedics for poultry made easy for beginners (American Peafowl Association)
Eye disorders
Eye disorders (not related to disease) are not very common in poultry flocks. Birds rely on their sight in order to find food and water so any problems with their vision will adversely effect flock performance.
Eye disorders of poultry (University of Florida)
DISEASE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT
It is easier to prevent disease than treat a disease outbreak when it occurs.
General information
Preventive medicine for backyard poultry flocks (University of Nebraska)
The avian immune system (University of Florida)
The interrelationship of nutrition and immunity (University of Florida)
Vaccines
Vaccines can be a very important tool for preventing poultry diseases. Unfortunately, most poultry vaccines are only available in 1,000 or more doses, and once mixed must be used within 24 hours. It is important, therefore, to consider the price of the vial and calculate the cost per bird.
Understanding vaccines (University of Nebraska)
Vaccination of small flocks (University of Florida)
Vaccination failure in poultry: Factors to consider (University of Florida)
Investigating vaccination failure in poultry flocks (University of Florida)
Newcastle and Infectious Bronchitis vaccine reactions in commercial broilers (University of Florida)
Medications
If a disease gets past your biosecurity program it may be necessary to treat them with medications. There are a variety of medications available that are labeled for use with poultry. It is very important to read the label - medications can only be used as indicated on the label. If your species of poultry is not listed it is not cleared for use with those birds. Off-label use is only allowed under a veterinarian's supervision.
Compendium of poultry products (Fort Dodge)
Poultry diseases and medications for small flocks (University of Connecticut)
Merck Veterinary Manual - Poultry (Merck)
Natural remedies for common health issues of small flocks (University of Kentucky)
Antibiotics
Avoiding residues in small poultry and game bird flocks (Oregon State University)
Sanitation
General characteristics of disinfectants (Mississippi State University)
AVIAN INFLUENZA
Understanding the differences between various types of flu (University of Kentucky)
Bird flu: Identification and reporting (University of Kentucky)
Bird flu - Biosecurity & Prevention (University of Kentucky)
Bird flu - Cleaning and disinfection (University of Kentucky)
Bird flu - Considerations for pets and non-farm animals (University of Kentucky)
Bird flu - Information for hunters and taxidermists (University of Kentucky)
UK Health Care - Spotlight on health: Bird flu
Avian Influenza in poultry (University of Florida)
Avian influenza in free-range and organic poultry production (ATTRA)
COCCIDIOSIS
Parasite management for natural and organic poultry: Coccidiosis (ATTRA)
EXOTIC NEWCASTLE DISEASE
Exotic Newcastle Disease: A deadly disease that affects poultry and pet birds (USDA/APHIS)
MYCOPLASMA
Mycoplasma gallisepticum - A continuing problem in commercial poultry (University of Florida)
Factors to consider in serological testing for Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) (University of Florida)
RESPIRATORY DISEASES
The avian respiratory system (University of Kentucky)
Infectious Bronchitis Virus: Classical and variant strains (University of Florida)
Infectious Bronchitis and its effect on egg production and egg quality (University of Florida)
WEST NILE VIRUS
West Nile Virus and chickens (Kansas State University)
MYCOTOXINS
Mycotoxins are becoming a serious problem in the feed industry. Mycotoxins are toxic compounds produced by molds in animal feeds. Even if the mold is destroyed, the mycotoxin usually remains.The Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine monitors the levels of mycotoxins in corn in the midwest area. The December 2009 report indicated that there is a higher than normal incidence of corn affected by mycotoxins across Iowa and in samples submitted from six states including Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin.
KnowMycotoxins - A website dedicated to helping you better understand the growing mycotoxin problem in the feed industry.
Risk factors affecting mycotoxin occurence in poultry production (Alltech and KnowMycotoxins.com)
Managing the risk of mycotoxins in poultry production (Zootecnica)
How delayed harvest might affect ear rots and mycotoxin contamination (Iowa State University)
MISCELLANEOUS DISEASES (or health issues)
Infectious Bursal Disease (Gumboro) in commercial broilers (University of Florida)
Managing heat stress - Part 1 - Layers respond to hot climatic conditions (World Poultry)
Water sanitizer toxicity: Water sanitizers are commonly used to remove bacteria, fungi, or algae from water lines. If water sanitizers are too high, especially quaternary ammonium and chloride, toxicity can occur. Symptoms include reduced water consumption, reduced growth, facial swelling and discharge from the nose and or eyes.
EXTERNAL PARASITES
Common continuous external parasites of poultry (University of Kentucky)
Common temporary external parasites of poultry (University of Kentucky)
External parasites of poultry (University of Florida)
Less common external parasites of poultry (Ohio State University)
Northern Fowl Mite (University of Florida)
Eliminating mites from poultry flocks (Kansas State University)
INTERNAL PARASITES
Coccidia are single-cell protozoa that damage the lining of the small intestine. They are host-specific, meaning the species that affects cattle, swine, and poultry do not affect sheep and vice versa.
Poultry and sheep:
Using multi-species grazing, including poultry, can play an important role in controlling sheep worms. Ruminants (other than sheep) serve as dead-end hosts to the sheep worm preventing the spread of larvae. Having poultry follow sheep in the rotation is another way to eliminate a lot of larvae.
Intestinal parasites in backyard poultry flocks (University of Florida)
Parasite management for natural and organic poultry: Coccidiosis (ATTRA)
Parasite management for natural and organic poultry: Blackhead in turkeys (ATTRA)
BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS
Cannibalism, prevention and treatment (Mississippi State University)
Cannibalism: Prevention and Treatment (Virginia Tech)
Cannibalism in small poultry flocks (Kansas State University)
Cannibalism by poultry (University of Nebraska)
TURKEYS
How to raise heritage turkeys on pasture - Common diseases and ailments of turkeys (American Livestock Breeds Conservancy)
How to raise heritage turkeys on pasture - Health promotion and biosecurity (American Livestock Breeds Conservancy)
Preventing blackhead disease in turkeys and gamebirds (Kansas State University)
Parasite management for natural and organic poultry: Blackhead in turkeys (ATTRA)
WATERFOWL
Goose diseases (FAO)
GAMEBIRDS
Diseases of peafowl (American Peafowl Association)
Preventing blackhead disease in turkeys and gamebirds (Kansas State University)
MISCELLANEOUS HEALTH-RELATED FACTSHEETS
Prevention and control of fowl pox in backyard chicken flocks (University of Florida)
Avian diseases transmissible to humans (University of Kentucky)
How poultry disease spreads in the live bird marketing system (USDA/APHIS)
Spanish version - Cómo se propaga la enfermedad de laves aves de corral en el sistema de comercialización de aves
USDA/APHIS - Spanish educational materials
USDA/APHIS - Arabic educational materials
USDA/APHIS - Dari educational materials
USDA/APHIS - Pashto educational materials
USDA/APHIS - Traditional Chinese educational materials
USDA/APHIS - Tagalog educational materials
USDA/APHIS - Vietnamese educational materials
DISCLAIMER: References to commercial products or services provided via this Web site are intended for informational and educational purposes only, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky Extension, or the University of Kentucky as a whole.
