Beginner Farmer Resources Pastured Poultry Production Heath Animal

Beginner Farmer Resources Pastured Poultry Production Heath & Animal Welfare This presentation template was developed by NC Choices and project partners to be shared in full for educational purposes. NC Choices, funders, and project partners are not responsible for content selected or adapted outside of the original slide deck presentation. The project is supported by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program competitive grant no. 2018 -70017 -28550 of the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Beginner Farmer Resources Healthy Bird

Beginner Farmer Resources Disease Recognition • Due to economics, diagnosis of poultry diseases must often be made using a combination of history, symptoms and response to treatment as opposed to definitive laboratory tests. • Therefore learning the clinical signs of disease & routine observation of birds is crucial to recognition and diagnosis.

Beginner Farmer Resources Reservoirs of disease • Disease-causing organisms are generally found in live birds, in secretions of live birds, and freshly dead birds. • Rodents and insects can be reservoirs. • Most diseases are spread by humans. • Avoid sick birds, secretions from birds, and manage mortality to prevent infecting your birds.

Beginner Farmer Resources Carrier Birds • Birds that have recovered from a disease but can still shed the organism. • Quarantine can sometimes help you identify these birds. (example: Salmonella)

Beginner Farmer Resources Other Concerns • Nutritional • Chemical toxins • Other toxins • Traumatic injury • Excessive stress • Predators

Beginner Farmer Resources Look at your Birds! • Posture • Food consumption • Water consumption • Activity level • Egg production

Beginner Farmer Resources What to look for? • Respiratory disease: fluid from eyes and nares, shaking head, wiping face on feathers over wings, open mouth breathing, pale to blue color • Gastrointestinal disease: loose feces to diarrhea, discolored droppings, not eating, dirty feathers around vent • Central nervous system disease: unable to stand, head tilted, walking unsteady, unable to right self

Beginner Farmer Resources Disease Symptoms - Body Combs & Wattles Eyes Nasal passages Wings Legs & Feet Swelling, discolored Cloudy, drainage Discharge, color Drooping Color, scales, physical injuries Nasal Discharge, Frothy, Crusty Eyes

Beginner Farmer Resources Disease Symptoms – Behavior Walk or Gate Appetite Thirst Movement Coughing, Sneezing Breathing Slow or difficult Eating normally? Change in drinking Normal activity level? Snickering, rattling Panting or gasping Disease Symptoms - Feces • Change in color, frequency or consistency • The presence of blood, or mucus Photographs by Jacquie Jacob UK Cooperative Extension Service

Beginner Farmer Resources Microorganisms • Any disease that is transmissible or contagious • Bacteria • Viruses • Fungi • Mycoplasmas • Protozoa • Parasites

Beginner Farmer Resources Parasites • Organisms that live on other organisms (hosts) without providing any benefit in return. • External parasites • Internal parasites

Beginner Farmer Resources Internal Parasites • Live inside birds • Some can be seen with unaided eye • Two main types of life cycles

Beginner Farmer Resources External Parasites • Parasites that live on the skin, shanks, feathers • Fleas, bed bugs, lice, mites, flies, mosquitoes, ticks • Primarily cause mechanical damage • Cause long-term decline in health • Tissue/feather damage is visible, nits and bugs can also be visible

Beginner Farmer Resources Scaly Leg Mites Treatment: Petroleum jelly or vegetable oil. Acts as a smothering agent. Reapply as needed.

Beginner Farmer Resources Northern Fowl Mite Treatment: Permethrin – apply in houses, roosts, floors, interior surfaces. ALWAYS READ LABELS.

Beginner Farmer Resources Lice Eggs Treatment: Permethrin – apply in houses, roosts, floors, interior surfaces. ALWAYS READ LABELS.

Beginner Farmer Resources Fowl Pox Treatment: None, but you can vaccinate. Disagreement on value of vaccinating after an outbreak.

Beginner Farmer Resources Vent Pecking - Trauma Treatment: Preventative. Plenty of space, proper nesting boxes, proper lighting, removing problem birds.

Beginner Farmer Resources Egg Production Changes • • • Infectious diseases generally cause a sudden drop in eggs – pay attention to this! Soft shelled eggs Wrinkled eggs Inactive reproductive tract Day length Egg bound Peritonitis Prolapse Age

Beginner Farmer Resources

Beginner Farmer Resources Reportable Diseases in NC ● ● ● Salmonella gallinarium Salmonella typhoid Infectious Laryingotracheaitis Mycoplasma gallinarium Mycoplasma synoviae Avian Influenza Avian Chlamydiosis Avian Encephalomyelitis Paramyxovirus Virulent Newcastle Disease West Nile

Beginner Farmer Resources Avian Influenza Check current status here: http: //www. ncagr. gov/avianflu/

Beginner Farmer Resources Diseases • Use the diagnostic lab services when unsure of cause or multiple birds are sick • A fresh mortality or bird must be used for necropsy • Web: http: //www. ncagr. gov/vet/ncvdl/ • Phone: (919) 733. 3986

Beginner Farmer Resources Biosecurity • Always wash hands after poultry work • Shower & change clothes before mingling with other poultry owners and before returning to your flock • Use boot covers & coveralls or a dedicated set of clothes & shoes

Beginner Farmer Resources Thank you! • Are there any questions? MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS: Dr. Donna Carver for slides and pictures Richard Goforth for slides and pictures