Newcastle is a viral disease, highly contagious and can kill the entire flock in a short time, however the disease can be prevented through following proper prevention measures.
Additionally birds attacked by Newcastle show different signs such as sneezing and running nose, coughing, breathing difficulty, eye, neck and head swellings, greenish watery manure. Low feed intake, sleeping, dropping wings, walking difficulty and neck twisting. It spreads through infected birds, new birds, through infected farm tools and air.
Control measures
Always isolate sick birds far from the rest of the flock and contact a veterinary doctor on how to manage a sick flock. Also for proper disposal and control of disease spread slaughter all sick birds and burn or burry dead birds.
Prevention measures
Ensure regular flock vaccination and separate newly bought birds for proper disease examination. Also maintain good hygiene around the flock by washing hands, clothes and shoes before handling birds. Always limit contact between chicken and other domestic poultry to prevent Newcastle from spreading. Additionally, keep birds in an elevated clean safe, well ventilated cage to allow manure fall freely and minimize contact with germs.
Furthermore, provide supplementary feeds to free range chickens to boost body immunity against diseases. Lastly feed birds at a specific time in the afternoon this helps animals to come back home thus protecting them from predators.
