THE REALITIES ABOUT POULTRY The Modern Farm - The Realities About Poultry_Seco | Page 92

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Transport of litter material on and off the farm site as well as storage of used litter on site
may be a biosecurity risk.
Signs of Poultry Disease
Chickens huddle together.
Coughing, sneezing, rapid breathing
Difficulty in breathing (open beak) and swelling of face.
Discharge from mouth and nostrils.
Dullness, no appetite, closed eyes.
Nodular skin lesions (abnormal growth of skin).
Paralysis (loss of muscle function) of wings, characteristic dropping of limb.
Lameness
White droppings
Marked drop in egg production and increased number of poor quality eggs – soft shelled with
watery content.
Eye worm
Purple discoloration of wattles and combs with swelling caused by abnormal accumulation of
fluid. This is a common sign of Avian Influenza.
Turned or twisted neck ( torticollis )
Dark red colour of head and comb
Greenish or yellow droppings
Bloody reddish droppings.
Pinpoint bleeding under the skin (mostly seen on feet and shanks)
Swollen head, accumulation of liquid in eyelids and comb
Causes of Poultry Diseases
Diseases can be caused by things that can be seen and things that cannot be seen, including bacteria,
viruses, fungi, parasites, and poisons. An incomplete diet may also cause disease.
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Viruses: These cause diseases like; New Castle Disease, Gumboro, Avian Influenza and Duck
plague. Viral diseases cannot be treated with antibiotics. Vaccines can be effective for preventing
some viral diseases.
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