Page 25 - ALG Issue 1 2023

chickens
Avian Flu tips
Avian Flu cases in England in 2022 hit record numbers and the country went in to ‘flockdown’.
Avian Flu poses a threat to poultry and wild birds all year round, whether legal sanctions are in place or not, and it is important that plotholders who keep birds are aware of the symptoms and what they can do if they suspect their birds are infected.
Most chickens get Avian Flu from contacting wild birds. Chickens can also get viral infections from contaminated clothing, equipment, feed and water. Preventive measures will help you avoid Avian Flu and protect your chickens from this lethal respiratory infection. Here is how to avoid Avian Flu and protect your chickens from the disease.
Every chicken raiser should identify the symptoms of Avian Flu in their flock and then seek a cure for this infection before it kills their birds.
There are seven common signs of Avian Flu in chickens:
• Lack of appetite
• Sticky, swollen eyes
• Sneezing and coughing
• Lack of egg laying
• Lethargy
• Diarrhoea
• Sudden death
The best thing to do once your birds get Avian Flu is to identify the sick birds and quarantine them to counter the spread of this disease. Seek treatment for such birds from an avian vet to ensure the viral infection doesn’t become severe, ultimately killing your flock, one bird after the other.
Disinfect everything, including shoes, equipment and crates, to keep the virus at bay. Dispose of dead chickens if you suspect they have died of avian flu. Furthermore, disinfect the coop and other places your chickens frequent.
Most importantly, keep your chickens indoors if some flock members have Avian Flu to ensure the ailing birds don’t transmit the disease to other chickens near your premises. Contact an avian vet to administer treatment to the sick
chickens because Avian Flu is a lethal disease that needs a rapid response.
Since Avian Flu comes from wild birds, removing anything that attracts such birds into your premises is paramount. For instance, remove stagnant water from your plot because it can attract wild birds into your plot, thus increasing the possibility of sick wild birds interacting with your chickens.
Keep your birds in an enclosed run
so wild birds are kept away from your flock. Furthermore, remove feeding containers and chicken feed from your plot. Feed leftovers can attract wild birds that are likely to contaminate the feed with Avian Flu.
During times when there is no legal requirement to house birds, it is wise to keep your birds in an enclosed run to keep wild birds away from your flock if the number of cases are increasing.
Consider keeping your flock indoors, especially during high-risk times during the annual bird migration. Migrating wild birds are potential carriers of the Avian Flu and are likely to infect your chickens with this deadly viral infection.
It’s good to disinfect your coop, especially if you get reports of possible Avian Flu outbreaks. Clean and disinfect the coop after every two weeks to kill the viruses that cause Avian Flu.
Wash your hands after contacting
the birds. Remove any clothing or equipment from the cage and disinfect
Although humans usually can’t get infected with the Avian Flu, they are potential carriers of this disease.
it thoroughly before putting it back into the cage.
Have a monitoring system to help detect cases of Avian Flu in your flock. Furthermore, implement biosecurity measures to combat the spread of the virus.
Dispose of any dead birds from the cage following the relevant local guidelines. Furthermore, dispose of manure because the virus causing Avian Flu could be in the waste.
Although humans usually can’t get infected with the Avian Flu, they are potential carriers of this disease.
Most importantly, report illnesses and chicken deaths to protect the other flocks in your place after noticing the first few cases of infection.
www.learnpoultry.com
For more information, visit the DEFRA website.
Allotment and Leisure Gardener 25