Poultry Health Services Paramyxovirus

Adenovirus

Paramyxovirus

Streptococcus

Neuro

Respiratory

Diarrhoea/ green faeces

Dead squabs/ dead in shells/ reduced hatchability/ infertility

External lumps/ bumps on skin and limbs

Adult bird sudden death

Young bird

Stock Bird

Racing bird

Notifiable Diseases

Notifiable diseases are animal diseases that you’re legally obliged to report to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), the animal health division of Defra, if you suspect that an animal may be infected. Notifiable diseases include infectious diseases that are both endemic (present) and exotic (not present) in the UK but need to be controlled for a variety of reasons, such as human and/or animal health and welfare, economic reasons or national and international trade.

There are two notifiable diseases that are of concern in game birds: Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) and Newcastle Disease.

If you or your vet suspects infection with either Avian Influenza or Newcastle Disease then this must be reported to APHA, the animal health division of Defra, who will investigate further and decide what further testing and measures need to be implemented to control the spread of disease.

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Zoonoses

Ectoparasites

Infectious Diseases

Biosecurity, Cleaning and Disinfection

One of the most important processes in your toolkit for controlling disease in your flock is your biosecurity and cleaning routines.

What is good biosecurity?

Biosecurity is a series of measures you take to protect your flock from disease, good biosecurity is being aware of these risks and to take measures to reduce them, some examples are;
Ensure to quarantine new additions to your loft for 14 days minimum. This allows for any disease to show its head before you introduce it into the rest of your loft.
Routine cleaning and disinfection of loft
Cleaning water drinkers daily
Scraping faeces off and washing down perches
Washing hands/changing clothes between groups of birds
Rodent proofing feed storage containers – rodents are a major source of disease transmission.
Limiting access to your lofts: ensure that visitors have not had contact with other lofts at least 48 hours prior to visiting. This will reduce the likelihood of outside spread into your birds.

Best cleaning and disinfection protocols

It is best practice to clean and disinfect the loft, fixtures and fittings at least weekly.

Wash/remove excess dirt with soap, sponge, scraper, jet wash.
Allow to dry to avoid disinfectant dilution ideally.
Apply disinfectant as instructed by the directions on the packaging. For example, if 50g to 5L, measure it out in a bucket. Dilutions are necessary to ensure the product is still active against the diseases that may be on the surfaces.
Ensure any disinfectants used in the presence of birds are bird safe at the dilution given.

Some recommended disinfection product brands include:

Virkon
Harkers Vykil
Biolink - Bi-oo-cyst is included in this range which has specific action against coccidial oocysts.
Net-Tex