Disease of commercial chickens (Yr 4)

Question 1

what age are broilers classed as growers/finishers?

Answer 1

2-9 weeks

Question 2

what age do commercial layers start laying?

Answer 2

17/18 weeks old

Question 3

what management factors can affect chicks (<2 weeks old)?

Answer 3

temperature/humidity/ventilation
water/feed
arriving weak - hatchery issues, parent bird problems…

Question 4

what nutritional deficiencies affect chicks (<2 weeks old)?

Answer 4

vitamin E deficiency (encephalomalacia)
vitamin D and calcium (rickets)

Question 5

what infectious diseases can affect chicks (<2 weeks old)?

Answer 5

naval/yolk sac infection (salmonella, E. coli…)
aspergillosis
vaccine reactions
avian encephalomyelitis

Question 6

what immunosuppressive diseases can effect growers/finishers?

Answer 6

infectious bursal disease virus
chicken anaemia virus
mareks disease
viral arthritis (reovirus)
mycotoxicosis (non-infectious)

Question 7

what respiratory diseases can affect growers/finishers?

Answer 7

mycoplasma
infectious bronchitis virus
avian metapneumovirus
infectious laryngotracheitis
Newcastle disease virus
avian influenza virus
E. coli
Pasteurella multocida (fowl cholera)
ornithobacterium
parasites (worms, protozoa)
environment