By Charles Kimani
Poultry farming is very popular across the country. This can be attributed to the low cost of production and the availability of a ready market. Despite that, like in any other business, poultry farmers face challenges throughout the year due to various factors the most common being diseases, especially during cold seasons.
This is because cold and wet weather conditions affect chicken’s ability to produce and lose heat at a balanced rate, and so their immune system is weakened making them more susceptible to diseases.
In this article we share some of the diseases that you may come across in the coming months.
1.Fowl pox
Fowl pox is transmitted by flies and mosquitoes which are common during the wet season. Signs and symptoms of Fowl include :pimples on the birds’ comb, wattle, and eyelids; watery eye discharge; a whizzing sound; and a loss of appetite. The disease can be controlled by vaccination, elimination of mosquito breeding sites (i.e., stagnant water), clearing bushes around, and maintaining proper hygiene and sanitation.
2.Coccidiosis
In the cold season, we all want to make sure our windows and doors are locked, presumably to keep the cold away. As farmers, we do the same for our poultry, not knowing that the high temperatures inside the coop and the presence of wet litter provide fertile ground for the coccidian organism that causes the disease. Signs and symptoms of coccidiosis disease include bloody diarrhea and a loss of appetite.
The disease can be controlled by maintaining good house hygiene and sanitation and avoiding overcrowding. Fortunately, this disease can be managed by using materials available locally. A farmer should mix blackjack in a litre of water, giving it to the bird
for 3–5 days, and using pawpaw seeds by crushing the seeds and either mixing them with the poultry feed or water.
3. Brooder pneumonia
As we have seen, wet litter is the main factor that contributes to the majority of poultry diseases. Brooder pneumonia is not an exception. Poultry are infected by the inhalation of spores that are a result of dump litter or food. Symptoms include open mouth breathing, which is a sign that the chicken is having a hard time breathing; increased intake of water; and poor appetite. This deadly disease can be prevented by removing mouldy food and litter.
4. Worms
They mostly infect internal organs, such as the lungs and trachea. There are two groups of worms: round and flat worms. Common worms are tapeworms and flukes. Tapeworms invade the intestine, causing weakness and slow growth, and flukes attach themselves inside the body or beneath the skin. The worms can be treated by adding garlic, diatomite and vinegar in their drinking water.
Always remember the best way to manage poultry diseases is through proper feeding, good housing and maintaining proper hygiene. Charles Kimani is the farmer feedback officer at Biovision Africa Trust. Email: ckimani@biovisionafrica.org