Avian Rhinotracheitis 'Swollen Head Syndrome'

Avian Rhinotracheitis 'Swollen Head Syndrome'

Introduction 

A viral disease of chickens, turkeys (see separate summary), guinea fowl and possibly pheasants seen in Europe, Africa, South America and North America. It is caused by a pneumovirus of the Paramyxoviridae family, first isolated from poults in South Africa in 1978. Two subgroups have been identified on the basis of the G-protein sequence: A (original UK isolates) and B (original southern Europe isolates). There is rapid lateral transmission with infection by aerosol through the respiratory route; vertical transmission is uncertain. As for many infections, fomites can be important in moving infection between farms. The incubation period is 5-7 days, morbidity is 10-100% and mortality can be 1-10%. 

Signs

• Decreased appetite, weight gain and feed efficiency.

• Facial and head swelling (though this can occur in other conditions).

• Loss of voice.

• Ocular and nasal discharge

• Conjunctivitis.

• Snick.

• Dyspnoea.

• Sinusitis.
  

AVIAN EYE DISORDERS

Avian Eye Disorders

Birds can suffer from many different eye disorders. They can be due to an eye injury, or possibly an infection to the area. Occasionally, eye disorders are symptoms of another underlying medical problem. Therefore, if your bird has an eye problem, it should be considered serious and you should consult a veterinarian to rule out any major internal disease.

Symptom and Types

Conjunctivitis, a common eye disorder, is usually caused by bacteria and can be identified as red and swollen eyelids, and may lead to photosensitivity (avoidance of light) in the bird. Conjunctivitis is also a symptom of many other medical problems, including respiratory infections.

Uveitis causes an inflammation of the inner parts of the eye. However, it is commonly 

Avian Eye Disorders

Birds can suffer from many different eye disorders. They can be due to an eye injury, or possibly an infection to the area. Occasionally, eye disorders are symptoms of another underlying medical problem. Therefore, if your bird has an eye problem, it should be considered serious and you should consult a veterinarian to rule out any major internal disease.

REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD RAISE GUINEA FOWL

Guinea fowl aren’t for everyone, that’s just the straight truth. They are loud, annoying, funny looking and dumber then you can believe. However they have several redeeming qualities that make farmers and backyard poultry keepers alike big fans of this silly looking bird.

I started raising Guineas a few years back because of our tick problem, but since have found a whole bunch of reasons why I think everyone should get a few Guineas:

LEG AND SKELETAL PROBLEMS IN POULTRY

Leg and skeletal problems are a very important area especially from welfare points of view and are common in some breeds of broilers. Issues include rickets, TD, spondylolisthesis, slipped tendons, tibial rotation and femoral head necrosis.

Slipped tendon

Slipped tendon or Perosis is a metabolic disease that causes deforming leg weakness in chickens, ducks and turkeys. It is usually seen in poultry under six weeks of age, and results in flattened and enlarged hocks. This causes slippage of the Achilles tendon at the hock which causes the foot and shank to extend laterally from the body, and only appears in one leg. It is called ‘spraddle legs’ if both legs are affected, and is most often caused by injuries received when other chicks pile upon it or when the chick is placed on slick flooring soon after hatching.

What causes perosis?

Perosis is caused by a deficiency of a number of trace nutrients, primarily manganese and choline, but zinc, pyridoxine, biotin, folic acid and niacin may also be involved. In turkeys it may be an inherited galactosamine deficiency.

Prevention and treatment of perosis

It is important to provide starter and grower diets that are formulated to contain adequate amounts of all trace minerals and vitamins, especially manganese and choline. Water that contains vitamin supplements will ensure that perosis does not develop in young chicks. Most perosis-affected flocks will respond to supplementation with manganese.

Source: Poultry Hub

DEBEAKING OR BEAK TRIMMING

Debeaking, also called beak trimming, is the partial removal of the beak of poultry, especially layer hens and turkeys although it may also be performed on quail and ducks. Most commonly, the beak is shortened permanently, although regrowth can occur. The trimmed lower beak is somewhat longer than the upper beak. According to Practical Poultry Raising:

CANNIBALISM IN POULTRY

Cannibalistic behavior performed by poultry is the pecking, tearing and consuming of skin, tissues or organs of flock mates. Outbreaks of cannibalism occur in all types of housing systems, including cages, floor pens, aviaries; in outdoor, free-range flocks; and among many different types of poultry, including chickens, ducks, turkeys, quail and pheasants.

Birds will show cannibalistic behavior when they are crowded or feed-restricted. Flock behavior and inter-bird dynamics often include aggression of birds toward each other, which can ultimately result in injury.

MOULTING IN LAYERS

Some people just accept this situation and hope for an improvement, while others look upon it as a strange disease. This seasonal decline in egg production occurs when birds go into a condition known as the "moult".

Moulting is the process of shedding and renewing feathers. During the moult the reproductive physiology of the bird is allowed a complete rest from laying and the bird builds up its body reserves of nutrients.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF BUYING DAY OLD CHICKS (DOC) OR POINT OF LAY (POL)

DOC & POL ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES:

The two approach are quite good but it depends mainly on the availability of fund for the project. Starting with point of lays (POL) requires a huge amount of cash which must be available before embarking on the project and as for day old chicks (DOC), it only requires little cash to start as the price to get a day old bird are lesser than that of point of lay. The price difference can be as much as 1800 Naira.
Also getting point of lay needs you to be very very careful. This is because some farmers can be untrustworthy, some of them may sell a bad breeds of birds to you, some also lie about the actual age of the birds and some don't give the birds the right medications and Vaccination Program because they are trying to save cost for a better profit. This might result to the birds not laying when they ought to start,  or they may have poor production. So buyers have to get the point of lay from credible Source. Same also goes for the day old chicks because you'll always find different products in the market, so getting your birds from a credible source is one of the key things for a successful farming.
In addition to this, there are lots of risk raising birds from day old in terms of mortality rate and this is the major reason why people run away from raising birds from day old, as there is less probability for mortality in point of lay.
So this are the careful considerations anyone will have to check before starting.

Feel free to get back to us for any comment or questions.

Source: Anu Oluwa farm.

CHRONIC RESPIRATORY DISEASE (CRD)

Introduction:

Infection with Mycoplasma gallisepticum is associated with slow onset, chronic respiratory disease in chickens, turkeys, game birds, pigeons and other wild birds. Ducks and geese can become infected when held with infected chickens. In turkeys it is most associated with severe sinusitis (see separate description in the turkey section). The condition occurs worldwide, though in some countries this infection is now rare in commercial poultry. In others it is actually increasing because of more birds in extensive production systems that expose them more to wild birds.

In adult birds, though infection rates are high, morbidity may be minimal and mortality varies.

The route of infection is via the conjunctiva or upper respiratory tract with an incubation period of 6-10 days.

Transmission may be transovarian, or by direct contact with birds, exudates, aerosols, airborne dust and feathers, and to a lesser extent fomites. Spread is slow between houses and pens suggesting that aerosols are not normally a major route of transmission.

PROLAPSE IN LAYERS

Prolapse in Layers

Prolapse in laying birds is the eversion of the oviduct and rectal organs through the vent to the extent that the organs don't retract. The condition invariably results in death even if the prolapse is discovered and the organs replaced in position.
Several management practices for use in the rearing stages of the pullet can reduce the incidence of prolapse. The two that possibly have the greatest influence are correct feeding and correct lighting.