Chicken farming has become very popular in Kenya, it is a great way to generate income and create employment. However, this sector is faced with many problems among them being diseases. You might have heard of stories where a farmer’s flock was swept away completely by diseases leaving not a single chick but don’t let that discourage you! Many of these diseases can be managed and prevented, so you can still successfully raise chickens.
Today I will discuss the common chicken diseases in Kenya and how you can prevent them.
Top 4 Chicken Diseases in Kenya and Their Prevention
Marek’s Disease
Marek’s Disease is a viral disease that is very contagious in poultry. The disease can start as early as 3 weeks of age, but it primarily occurs between 2 to 5 months of age. The disease leads to alterations in various nerves and can result in tumors in key internal organs.
Transmission
The birds are infected when they inhale air from virus-laden dander. Once this infected dander is in the poultry hours or the environment it’s very hard to kill the virus and it can last for a very long time in the environment. Since the infected birds continue to shed the virus when a healthy bird is introduced to the flock it gets infected. Furthermore, the virus-laden dander can be spread by the workers on clothes, feet, equipment, and hair. However, it is not transmitted through hatching.
Mortality Ratre: 1-50%
Symptoms
- The symptoms differ mostly depending on the position of the formed tumor.
- The most common sign is Paralysis of legs especially if the bird was not vaccinated.
- Wing paralysis
- Head shaking
- Signs of blindness, discolored pupils,
Prevention
- Through vaccination when the chick is 4-7 days
- Separate birds with age groups
- If caretakers need to go back and forth between age groups, they should change clothes and disinfect.
- Isolate the sick birds.
New Castle Disease
Newcastle is a viral disease that is very contagious and affects the respiratory and nervous system. It is known to cause a large no of deaths.
Mortality Rate: from 0-100%
Transmission:
It is spread through the inhalation of infected aerosols and ingestion of infected feces. The virus can also be found in feed, water, equipment, clothes, and the environment.
Symptoms
- loss of appetite, coughing, gasping, nasal discharge, watery eyes, bright green diarrhea, and nervous signs such as paralysis and convulsions
- High mortality rate
- Decrease in egg production, abnormal eggs
- twisted neck,
- leg paralysis
- Birds sit on their hock joints
- Hide head between legs
Prevention
- Routine disinfection of the premise
- Proper litter and pest management
- Frequent changes in drinking water
- Prevent contact with wild birds
Gumboro/infectious bursal disease
The infectious bursal disease also known as Gumboro is a viral disease that affects chickens, turkeys, ducks, guinea fowl, and ostriches. It’s only young chicken that shows clinical signs. The age group most affected is 3-8 weeks and it can lead to higher death rates. Gumburo leads to the loss of lymphoid tissue in the bursa of Fabricius, a crucial organ in the immune system of birds.
Transmission
It is spread through the ingestion of infected feces and other contaminated materials. It can also be transmitted vertically through eggs.
signs
- listlessness
- watery diarrhea
- ruffled feathers
- dehydration.
Prevention
- Vaccinate your chicken at an early age.
- Use the all in all out policy disinfect the poultry house and let it rest for some days before introducing other birds.
- Maintain hygiene
Cocci (i.e. coccidiosis)
This disease is caused by Coccidian which is found in the intestine and multiplies very fast. It affects birds of the age of 10 weeks and occurs in both acute and chronic forms. Although common in young birds it can be found in adults too.
In the acute form, the birds die in 5-7 days while the chronic type takes longer but persists for long.
Transmission
It is spread through the ingestion of coccidia eggs in the environment. The eggs remain in the environment for a long time after being shed.
Signs
- Depression
- Decreased feeding
- Bright red bloody or brown-red droppings
- Anemia
- Pale cockscombs
- Watery feces mixed with undigested feed in the feces
- Ruffled feathers
Prevention
- Use feeds containing anticoccidiostats which help the chicken develop immunity.
- Maintain a clean and dry environment.
