small flock biosecurity Flashcards
Biosecurity common goal
to have healthy birds no matter what size or species
how many broilers, layers, or turkeys can you have without quota?
- 300 broilers (Farmgate sales only, after inspected slaughter)
- 50 turkeys (Can sell, after inspected slaughter)
- 99 layers (Farmgate sales only, if not graded)
- no quota for other birds eg. ducks
Why Should I Care if My
Birds Are Healthy?
l Bird Welfare
l Optimum Growth and Production
l Optimum Reproduction
l Movement – only healthy birds or chicks and eggs from healthy birds can cross borders
Recipe for Disease
- pathogen, host, route of transmission
“The Wall of Protection” - what general things protect poultry from disease?
- management
- biosecurity
- sanitation
- vaccination
- nutrition
nutrition for small flocks
- what do we need?
- common problems? what will we see?
- Make sure your birds are fed a balanced diet designed to meet the needs of the bird for its species and type (e.g. laying hen or meat type bird)
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Common Problems
1. Not providing commercially prepared starter feed
2. Not using a fortified supplement in the right proportions when grain is added to the diet
<><><><> - Improper diets: poor feathering, slow growth, leg problems, increased fatness, cannibalism, egg eating, thin shelled eggs, etc.
Biosecurity for small flocks
- simple but most effective principles
- Be careful who visits your farm!
- signage
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Simple but most effective: - Washing hands
- Having designated clothes and boots
- Restricting access/handling of birds
How disease agents can move from one farm to another…
- wild birds
- rodents, pests, and predators
- people
- wind
- etc…
mouse and rats - how much space do they need?
dime and quarter
Quarantine principles, time
Quarantine new birds or birds that have been in contact with other birds (at a show, auction, etc.) for 14 - 28 days.
strategies for preventing contact with wild birds
Minimize contact with wild birds and wildlife through netting and covered feed and water bins
Avian Influenza- What Is It? types?
- Avian influenza (AI), often called “bird flu,” is caused by the Type “A” influenza virus. This virus can affect several species of food-producing birds (chickens, turkeys, quails, guinea fowl, etc.), as well as pet and wild birds.
- Avian influenza viruses can be broadly classified into 2 types, based on the severity of the illness caused in birds:
> low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI)
> highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) - Most avian influenza viruses are low pathogenic. These typically cause little or no signs of illness in infected birds.
- However, highly pathogenic viruses can cause severe illness and death in birds.
- We are dealing with an H5N1 HPAI Eurasian Strain of Avian Influenza
clinical signs of AI in chickens
- severe illness 1-2d post exposure: ruffled feathers, severe lethargy
- Day 3: cyanotic/necrotic combs and wattles, periorbital edema, lathargy
turkeys signs of AI
- not apparent until close to death
- severe lethargy, huddling, ruffles feathers
- trouble walking, neurological signs
HPAI Also Infects:
l Also impacted Commercial Ducks-
l Gamebirds
l Wild birds- Ducks, Geese, Swans, Colonial
Nesters
l Including Scavengers- Raptors like Hawks,
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Eagles, Owls and Turkey Vultures and Corvids like Crows and Ravens
l Including Scavenger Mammals- Skunks, foxes, raccoons, mink, otter, a Bear in PQ and Seals
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l And a dog and numerous cats (mostly feral)
l And potentially humans….
what to do if there are sick bird and high mortality concerns, so that you suspect AI?
Contact your local CFIA District Office or your Private Veterinarian and self quarantine until diagnosis confirmed
Biosecurity Measures this Winter/ Spring for AI:
- Don’t walk Disease into your barn or yard/run…!
- Proper Biosecurity SOP’s and use of PPE
- Use a Visitor Log Book
- Sick bird and high mortality concerns: Contact your local CFIA District Office or your Private Veterinarian and self quarantine until diagnosis confirmed
- Deadstock Management! Scavengers can bring disease to the farm OR deadstock can bring HPAI to wildlife and other farms
- Pick up spilled Feed
- Rodent Control- (Rats live outside the barn and come into feed.)
- Wild Bird Exclusion
- If you see dead wild birds contact CWHC
- Keep birds inside till after Fall Migration (end of Aug to Mid Dec or until late Spring depending…)
- Clean, Clean, Clean!
- This includes disinfecting waterers and feeders between flocks or after a disease challenge
Odds Ratio for AI: the odds of having the disease were;
- 500 times lower for producers who have disinfection station to allow visitors to clean hands and disinfect boots
- 6 times lower if changing boots
between barns - 6.5 times higher if inadequate use
of anteroom - 9 times higher if inadequate management of movements
- 7 times higher if visitors have incomplete hygiene measures
- 29 times higher if sharing farm equipment
3 parts to AI risk management tool
l Ecology Study- Lets test everything we can on an IP. Animals and things.
l Case Control Study- Lets evaluate physical farm, management of the IP and compare to other farms within the Primary Control Zone
l Epidemiological Risk Map- Lets look at developing a tool to help assess the risk of an operation to HPAI in relation to other farms
