In poultry farming, parasitic diseases are a significant factor affecting both the productivity and health of chickens. These diseases can result in symptoms such as slow growth, emaciation, low immunity, decreased egg production, and high mortality rates. Let's discuss the common parasitic diseases in chickens and their prevention:
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Chicken Lice: Chicken lice stimulate the chicken's nerve endings during feeding, affecting their rest and sleep, leading to weight loss, malnutrition, and decreased egg production. While rarely fatal in mature chickens, severe infestations in chicks can result in death. Main prevention and control measures include feeding with Ivermectin at a concentration of 0.3 milligrams per kilogram of body weight, mixed into the feed once daily for seven days, with a repeat feeding after seven days. Alternatively, 5% cypermethrin emulsion can be used for spraying the chicken coop and surface of the chickens.
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Roundworms: Roundworms can infect chickens, ducks, geese, and other poultry, posing a significant threat to poultry farming. Chicks aged 8 to 10 days are most susceptible, with severe outbreaks and high mortality rates occurring in chickens aged 60 to 90 days. The main preventive measures include oral administration of levamisole hydrochloride tablets at a dose of 10-20 milligrams per kilogram of body weight, or incorporation of levamisole hydrochloride powder into the feed for six consecutive days.
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Tapeworm Disease: This disease is most prevalent between September and December, affecting chickens aged between 80 to 400 days. The primary treatment is with praziquantel, administered orally at a dose of 10-15 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. Feed normally in the morning, withhold feed for about 3 hours, provide normal water, then mix the medication evenly into 70% of the normal feed amount and administer orally in a single dose. Alternatively, fenbendazole can be mixed into the feed at a dose of 20 milligrams per kilogram of body weight for three consecutive days.
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Cestodiasis: Poultry cestodiasis refers to diseases caused by various parasites inhabiting the bodies of poultry. It is often endemic and prevalent during the summer and autumn seasons. Treatment options include using praziquantel or levamisole hydrochloride for medication.
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Trichomoniasis: Trichomoniasis is more common in summer, with chicks aged 3 to 12 weeks being most susceptible. Symptoms include depression, ruffled feathers, reduced appetite, and diarrhea with blood. Prevention mainly involves strengthening farm management, segregation of sick and healthy birds, and oral administration of metronidazole at a dose of 0.3 grams per chicken, twice a day for four days.
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Coccidiosis: Coccidiosis often occurs in chicks aged 14 to 40 days. Infected chicks initially show signs of depression, ruffled feathers, head retraction, and standing on one side in the chick cage, with contaminated liquid excrement around the cloaca. The main treatment is with sulfachloropyrazine sodium. Dissolve 100 grams in 200 kilograms of water and administer for three consecutive days. Additionally, a combination of neomycin sulfate can be used for controlling secondary infections, dissolved at a rate of 100 grams in 200 kilograms of water and administered for three consecutive days.
This summarizes the common parasitic diseases in chickens and their prevention. Poultry farmers should strengthen management practices, ensure clean and hygienic chicken coops, conduct regular disinfection, and especially focus on disease prevention and control, particularly against various parasitic diseases.
