How to Protect Baby Chicks Against Avian Influenza

Avian influenza is spread through direct bird to bird contact as well as through contact with feces and other bodily fluids of an infected bird. The disease can also be spread through the wind if infected fecal matter dries up and gets carried by the wind. Avian influenza is not transmitted from the hen to the eggs, and baby chicks are not born with avian influenza.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Store the feed for the chicks securely indoors where it can not be accessed by wild birds and other vermin that might carry the disease. Feed and water the chicks indoors for the same reason.

2. Keep your chicken house clean at all times. Spilled feed, standing water and litter attract wild birds and vermin to the area and promotes the spread of the disease. Disinfect feeding bins on a regular basis.

3. Bury or burn damaged eggs, dead chickens and manure on a regular basis to stop the spread of the disease. Do not allow the baby chicks to live in an environment where they are walking in each others feces.

4. House the baby chicks in an area where they are not down wind of the adult chickens. It is also important to not allow water run off from the adult chickens area to go into the baby chick rearing area.

5. Practice good personal hygiene. Clean overalls and footwear should be worn by anyone entering the poultry farm. Clothing should be cleaned and disinfected after use. Vehicles and equipment should be cleaned before bringing them into the baby chick's living area.

6. Watch the baby chicks for symptoms of avian influenza and contact your vet if you see them present. Symptoms include depression, nervousness, appetite loss, an increased thirst, coughing, sneezing, inflammation and discoloration of the combs, diarrhea and sudden death.

Tips & Warnings

• Isolate new stock of chickens when bringing them into your poultry farm so they can be watched for symptoms of the disease. Assign separate staff to care for the new stock if possible. If there is not enough staff to do this, then make sure the isolated chickens are tended to last or staff changes clothing before going in with the rest of the birds.