Poultry Biosecurity and Diseases
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Backyard Biosecurity
Keeping your birds, as well as neighboring domesticated birds; wild birds; and humans healthy is not complicated if you follow 3 simple steps. A key component is this is to always be sure to keep things clean, don't mix tools used for poultry with other tools used on your property, and always change shoes and clothes and wash your hands well after handling your birds.
Poultry Diseases
Look at your Birds DailyA close and keen eye has always been one of the farmer's most important tools. This is no different with your livestock. Know your animals' normal behaviors. For birds, know the warning signs of bird diseases, as indicated in the right hand column. If you know the signs, this will also help you know if something is wrong.
Early detection is important to prevent the spread of disease. Keep CleanBackyard farmers love their birds and often consider them family members. To make sure to take the best care of both your feathered and human family, be sure to follow these safety steps.
Keep Other Birds AwayBackyard farmers love their birds and often consider them family members. Other people and birds - including birds you've recently bought and wild birds, could carry diseases and parasites to your flock.
Here are some tips to keep these away: To make sure to take the best care of both your feathered and human family, be sure to follow these safety steps.
Report Sick or Dying BirdsIf your birds are sick or dying:
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Warning Signs Many bird diseases are difficult to diagnose. If one or more of your birds is ill or dies, it is important to know your birds and if the bird is simply old and died of natural causes or if you are on the verge of a devastating outbreak.
Avian Influenza (AI) Virus AI viruses can infect chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, ducks, geese, and guinea fowl, plus a wide variety of wild birds. Wild waterfowl like, geese and ducks, can carry the virus without exhibiting symptoms. AI can strike quickly without any signs of infection and spread rapidly. Strains of AI are called low pathogenic avian influenza virus, or LPAI, and highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI. The terms refer to how severely the illness affects birds, with the highly pathogenic avian influenza causing the most illnesses and deaths in domesticated poultry. The virus can be in the feces, saliva, and respiratory secretions of infected birds. Other birds can become infected through direct contact with infected birds, contaminated equipment and even through the air over short distances. No one in the United States has become ill from an infected bird, though there have been cases in other parts of the world. Migratory waterfowl many carry HPAI from Europe and Asia to North America. It is safe to eat properly prepared poultry products, including meat and eggs. Signs:
Exotic Newcastle Disease (END) END is a deadly viral disease that can affect any species of birds. It spreads quickly and can infect and cause death even in vaccinated poultry. Signs:
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