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Many Russians are involved in raising chickens. But unfortunately, even experienced poultry farmers do not always know about chicken diseases. Although these poultry often get sick. Among the diseases associated with mechanical damage, there are many viral infectious diseases.
Newcastle disease in domestic chickens can be considered the most dangerous viral infection. In large poultry farms, veterinarians strictly monitor the condition of the birds. Outbreaks of the disease are not uncommon, but, unfortunately, due to ignorance or for some other reasons, poultry farmers do not report sick chickens. If Newcastle disease is detected in chickens, the farm is quarantined.
From the medical history
Like many other infections, Newcastle disease (chicken plague, Asian plague, pseudoplague) originated in Indonesia. It was registered there in the first years of the 20th century. After a short period of time, the first sick birds were discovered in England, near Newcastle. Hence the name of the disease.
From the UK the infection spreads to the USA. During World War II, Newcastle disease spread throughout Europe and the Soviet Union.Unfortunately, over the years it has not been possible to get rid of chicken plague. In 2014, the disease was recorded in Dagestan and some regions of Russia. It affected the following areas:
- Saratovskaya;
- Ivanovskaya;
- Kaluga;
- Penza;
- Pskov and Krasnoyarsk regions.
Due to the fact that chicken plague is an insidious infectious disease, poultry farmers must understand the symptoms, preventive measures and treatment of chickens at home.
What is Newcastle chicken disease:
Forms of the disease
Newcastle disease can occur in different forms, each of which has symptoms.
Doyle form
Newcastle disease in chickens, symptoms:
- The chicken's body is exhausted, it refuses to eat, and muscles tremble.
- It is difficult for the bird to breathe due to the mucus that forms. The stool is liquid, with a color unusual for chicken droppings. Often there is blood in it.
- The development of conjunctivitis and corneal clouding almost always accompanies Newcastle disease.
- Although rare, paralysis occurs in chickens.
- During an autopsy, hemorrhagic damage to the digestive system can be detected.
Scourge Form
This is also the acute form of Newcastle. With timely treatment, up to 50% of infected chickens survive.
Symptoms:
- Cough;
- Mucus in the respiratory system;
- Difficulty breathing.
- Conjunctivitis.
Important! If the screening rate for adults is less than 50 percent, then for chickens it is up to 90%.
Beaudette form
This type of Newcastle disease affects mainly chickens, while a little more than 30% of adult birds die.Chickens at any age experience nervous system disorders. Vaccination can save the farm.
Hitchner form
The mildest form of Newcastle disease. Although the chickens are lethargic, weak, and eat poorly, the hens continue to lay eggs.
Since the strain of this Newcastle form has low virulence, it is used in vaccine production.
What causes the disease
To identify Newcastle chicken disease and begin its treatment, you need to know how birds become infected:
- From infected domestic chicken during the incubation period (3 to 10 days).
- From vaccinated animals with weakened immune systems.
- From wild birds (including pigeons).
- Ticks and other insects.
- Rodents: mice, rats.
The disease can be transmitted:
- By air. The virus can travel up to 5 km.
- By water. If an infected bird drinks water from one container, then the likelihood of disease in the rest of the bird's offspring is high.
- Through food, if sick and healthy chickens are kept together, as in the photo.
- From a sick person.
- Through bowel movements and mucus from the mouth.
Features of the course of the disease
The clinical picture of Newcastle disease varies depending on the form and strain of the virus. If birds have been vaccinated, they are resistant to the disease. Infection of chickens appears after 3-10 days.
If the birds have not been vaccinated, then after three days all birds can be affected by the acute form. After 3 days, 100% of the chickens die
Newcastle disease affects the nervous system of chickens, causing them to lose coordination and bend and twist their necks.The head constantly twitches, seizures may occur, and the birds wheeze and cough. Conjunctivitis develops before the eyes.
Treatment and control measures
Only a specialist can determine the form of the disease and prescribe a course of treatment.
It is immediately worth noting that it is useless to treat the disease. Even after recovering, the chicken remains a carrier of the virus for a year. Therefore, experts recommend destroying sick birds. To avoid flock disease, it is necessary to vaccinate chickens at one day of age.
After suffocating sick chickens, the room is completely disinfected. Every corner of the chicken coop, dishes, equipment is processed, and the litter is changed.
If Newcastle disease is detected in chickens on a farm, it is subject to quarantine. As a rule, it lasts at least 30 days. At this time, it is prohibited to sell eggs, chicken meat, as well as down and feathers. In addition, the sale and purchase of chickens is prohibited. No strangers are allowed on the farm.
Restrictions may be lifted if repeated maintenance of the hens and premises does not show Newcastle disease.
That is why, if you take the matter seriously, it is necessary to carry out preventive measures and vaccinate chickens in a timely manner.
Preventive measures
Preventive measures will not cause any particular difficulties for chicken flock owners. After all, you don’t have to do anything special. The main thing is to properly staff the flock and follow the recommendations for caring and feeding poultry.
The chicken coop where the chickens live and the surrounding area must be kept clean and disinfected from time to time. It is advisable to keep wild pigeons, mice, and rats away from chickens as they carry the Newcastle disease virus.
Vaccinate poultry twice a year. Particular attention should be paid to young animals. They are vaccinated against the disease at one day of age. A veterinarian will help you choose a vaccine.
But sometimes you have to vaccinate chickens outside of the plan. When they do this:
- in case of an outbreak of Newcastle in your yard;
- if poultry on neighboring farms fell ill and died;
- if not far from your home (up to 10 km) there is a poultry farm where there has been an outbreak of Newcastle disease.
Newcastle vaccine
Vaccines are either live or inactivated; in addition, they differ in the degree of aggressiveness of the virus. The use of live vaccines can cause complications in chickens, primarily respiratory diseases. After the vaccine, chickens begin to sneeze, cough, and may develop a runny nose.
The live vaccine can be administered in different ways: by syringing it or putting it in the eyes and nose. As a rule, this method of vaccination works faster than injections. It is a pity that the effect of the drug does not last long, about three months. While the vaccine is sufficient for ordinary chickens and laying hens, broiler chickens remain at risk.
For adult chickens, an inactivate is suitable, which lasts from six months to a year.
To prevent the disease, experts advise revaccination after 6 months.Such procedures will reliably and for a long time preserve the immunity of chickens and then the symptoms and Newcastle disease itself will not appear in your backyard.
Before and after vaccination, it is necessary to feed chickens with fortified feed for a better effect throughout the week.
Chicken vaccination:
Today, veterinary pharmacies sell various preparations for vaccinating poultry against Newcastle disease. Unfortunately, their prices are too high and not every small poultry farmer can afford them.
There are domestic and imported drugs, but their effectiveness is the same. But the prices are different. Veterinarians will advise which vaccine is best to use to treat their birds.
Let's sum it up
If you decide to get serious chicken breeding, you need to be prepared for bird diseases. At the first signs of illness, you should consult with specialists.
This is especially true for Newcastle disease, which has been walking around the planet for more than a century. After all, it develops rapidly and can carry away an entire flock of birds in a few days. To avoid incurring economic and moral losses, keep your chickens clean and vaccinate them in a timely manner.
