ANIMAL HUSBANDRY INFORMATION

CHICKEN

Disease Management

Disease control

Coccidiosis, Ranikhet disease, Infectious Bursal disease, Fowl pox, Worms, Ectoparasites, Aspergillosis and Mareks’ disease can affect the chicks. Marek’s disease, Ranikhet disease and Infectious Bursal disease can be prevented, if preventive vaccination programme is practiced. Coccidiosis can be prevented by incorporating a suitable coccidiostat available in the market in the feed at levels recommended by the manufacturers. Eg. Maduramycin, Salinomycin, Amprolium, Monensin. In the event of an outbreak of coccidiosis, administer any one of the following medicines at levels recommended by the manufacturers in consultation with a veterinarian. Bifuran, Coxysol–Amprosol, Codrinal, Sulfadimethylpyrimidine , Sulfaquinoxaline etc.

In addition, strict sanitation, good litter management and adequate floor space will help to check the occurrence of diseases.

Vaccination programme for layer type chicken

Age	Disease	Vaccine	Route
1. 1 day	Marek’s	HVT vaccine	I/M
2. 5-7 days	RD	Lasota/F	Occulonasal
3. 10-14 days	IBD	IBD Live	Drinking water
4. 24-28 days	IBD	IBD Live	Drinking water
5. 8th week	RD	R2B/RDVK	S/C
6. 16-18 week	RD	Killed/Live	S/C

(Source: Kerala Agricultural University)

Give anti-stress medicaments to combat vaccination stress in consultation with a veterinarian.

Deworming

Birds should be dewormed starting from one week prior to R2B/RDVK vaccination and repeated at 3-week intervals so as to give a total of 4 dewormings before housing at 18 weeks of age. Piperazine compounds, albendazole, mebendazole etc. can be used against round worms. Against tape worms, Niclosamide, Praziquintel, Albendazole can be used.

While medicating through drinking water, it should be done by mixing the required quantity of medicine in the quantity of water that chicks normally consume in 4 hours time (say approximately 6 litres per one hundred, 6 week-old chicks, per day). Additional water should be given only when all the medicated water is consumed by the chicks.

Ectoparasites

The birds should be dusted or dipped and houses fumigated as soon as there is indication of ectoparasites. The following may be used for dusting and dipping. Dipping should be avoided on rainy days. Head dipping has to be avoided.

Tick tox – synthetic pyrithrine compound. Dose – as per manufacturer’s instructions
Butox – Deltamethrin compound. Dose – as per manufacturer’s instructions

In addition to these, general measures of sanitation such as keeping young stock away from adult stock, keeping the poultry houses and equipments clean, prohibiting visitors into the poultry house, proper disposal of dead birds, prevention of entry of rodents and other birds into the pen and periodical culling will greatly help in checking diseases.