Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Conjunctivitis:
This disease affects the eyes. Signs that your bird has conjunctivitis are if it is
rubbing the eyes with its wing, avoiding sunlight, and cloudiness in the eyes. This condition
does not spread from bird to bird. It is caused by infection, vitamin A deficiency, and ammo-
nia fumes from excessive accumulation of bird droppings. Prevention entails keeping the
coop clean, the bedding dry, and providing good nutrition. Treatment includes increased vit-
amin A and a visit to your vet if the symptoms persist.
Marek's disease:
This disease attacks the organs, nerves, and skin. It is more common in lar-
ger breeds than in bantams. Symptoms are enlarged feather follicles or white bumps that scab
over, dehydration, rapid weight loss, stilted gait, wing or leg paralysis, and death. There is no
known treatment. Remove infected birds from your flock; you most likely will need to kill
them. Prevention includes vaccination and good sanitation. Marek's does not affect humans.
Newcastle disease:
Newcastle is also called avian distemper and domestic Newcastle. It af-
fects the respiratory system and nervous system. The whole flock can be infected in about a
week if the disease is not caught and treated. Symptoms include wheezing, gasping, and
coughing followed by drooping wings or dragging legs. Help prevent Newcastle through vac-
cination, clean coops, and good overall care of your birds through good sanitation and a bal-
anced diet. Treatment includes separating birds from the healthy flock and keeping them
warm and well fed. Then watch for the secondary signs as in drooping wings and dragging
legs. Take the birds to the vet if symptoms persist. Humans can catch an eye infection from
handling sick birds, so use rubber gloves, and wash your hands to keep from spreading the
virus.
Omphalitis:
This disease is present at the time of hatching from an incubator. The cause is
typically poor sanitation in the incubator. High humidity during incubation can prevent the
chick's navel from healing properly. Also, infection could set in if contaminated droppings are
on the hatching eggs or if hatching eggs are cracked. Chicks, up to 4 weeks old, will have a
drooping head, mushy or scabby navel, and lack of interest in food and water. There is no cure
available; the sick chicks will die or need to be killed. The best way to prevent this is to hatch
clean, uncracked eggs in a clean incubator with proper temperatures.
Osteopetrosis:
Osteopetrosis affects the bones. It is a retrovirus. Symptoms are thickened leg
bones, stilted gait, and stunting. This condition often occurs in combination with lymphoid
leukosis, a disease of the blood-forming organs. There is no treatment. Prevention includes
purchasing your chicks from a reputable buyer and knowing their background, not reusing
