Poultry Disease & Botulism

There are more than 100 diseases which can affect poultry.

Poultry typically remains healthy if you feed it a balanced diet, provide a continuing supply of clean, fresh water for drinking and bathing, and furnish adequate facilities for comfort and sanitation. Diseases, such as botulism, omphalitis, paratyphoid and others, become a threat largely where poultry is kept in crowded, unsanitary conditions.

Botulism

Perhaps the most common cause of poisoning is botulism from spoiled food scraps or contaminated water. If you feed kitchen scraps to your ducks and geese, then sort out anything that is spoiled or rotten. Any water supply must be free of excessive droppings, decaying leaves and dead animals.

Signs of botulism poisoning appear within eight to 48 hours of consuming the toxin. In mild cases, the only sign may be a brief bout with weak legs before the birds return to normal. In severe cases, the birds may appear sleepy and unable to hold their heads erect, due to paralysis of the neck muscles. Their wings and legs may become paralyzed, too, causing them to lie on their sides. Waterfowl stricken while swimming may drown because of muscle paralysis, but most affected birds die of suffocation due to paralysis of the respiratory system.

Omphalitis

Omphalitis is a bacterial infection that occurs in any species of newly hatched fowl. The classic sign is red navels, followed by deaths in the brood for up to two weeks after the hatch. Omphalitis is caused by poor incubator sanitation. It is not contagious, but no cure is known. Prevention involves meticulously cleaning and disinfecting the incubator.

Paratyphoid

Paratyphoid, also known as keel, is caused by salmonella and may be transmitted by dirty eggs in the incubator or by infected droppings in the water, feed or litter. Signs include trembling, gasping, breathing with a clicking sound, coughing, sneezing, poor growth, weakness, diarrhea, dehydration, and sometimes watery or pasty eyelids and wet, runny nostrils. A high rate of death occurs within a few weeks after the hatch. Deaths increase due to such stresses as shipping, irregular feeding, chilling or overheating. Since survivors are carriers, if an outbreak of paratyphoid occurs, the best approach is to destroy the whole group, completely disinfect the brooder and incubator, and start again.

Brooder Pneumonia

Brooder pneumonia, also known as aspergillosis, is an infectious disease caused by inhalation of a fungus that flourishes in damp feed and litter. Signs include gasping, inflamed eyes, bad breath, nervous activities, loss of appetite but increased thirst, and emaciation. Prevention involves removing wet feed and damp litter from the brooder and destroying it by burning. Keep the brooder warm, dry and well-ventilated without being drafty.

Coccidiosis

Coccidiosis is transmitted on equipment and clothing, and by insects and animals. Infected carriers shed disease organisms in their droppings, and thus, contaminate feed, water, litter and soil. Signs include loss of appetite and weight, weakness and inability to stand, continual distressed peeping, and occasional bloody droppings. An outbreak may involve most or all of the brood, and a high rate of death. Sulfa compounds provide effective treatment. Coccidial contamination may be avoided through good brooder sanitation.

References

• The Poultry Site: Botulism
• Queensland Government: Coccidiosis
• Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry: Fungal Diseases
• The PoultrySite: Salmonellosis, Paratyphoid Infections