How to Keep Chickens Disease Free

It's always better to prevent diseases among your chickens than it is to try to treat one. Although it may take more effort than neglecting them, in the long run keeping your chickens disease free will make your life a lot easier. Whether you have just a single backyard chicken as a pet or a large-scale poultry operation, keeping chickens healthy is essential to getting the most out of them.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Disinfectant
• Hose

1. Feed your chickens a healthy diet, appropriate to their age. The stronger your chickens are, the better they will be able to fight off diseases. Use only fresh food that hasn't passed its "use-by" date.

2. Supply the chickens with clean water, keeping their water supply out of reach of any feces or other organic matter that may drop in. Regularly flush the water lines with disinfectant.

3. Keep the chickens' cages as clean as you can. Regularly move them out of their housing, spray it with a high pressure hose and disinfect all surfaces. Clean their eating area and remove old uneaten feed regularly to prevent the chickens from eating moldy food and to keep disease-carrying rodents away.

4. Reduce mosquitoes and other disease-carrying insects by removing standing water from the vicinity of the chickens.

5. Separate sick birds from healthy birds and promptly remove dead birds.

6. Make all humans who come into contact with the chickens wash thoroughly their hands and shoes or wear sanitized protective coverings.

7. Wash all equipment that comes into contact with the chickens regularly.

Tips & Warnings

• Strengthen the chickens' immune systems by minimizing conditions that stress the birds. Give them as much space as possible, good ventilation or access to the open air and keep the temperature moderate.
• Consult a veterinarian to see if any vaccinations are necessary in your region.

Resources

• Common poultry diseases and their prevention