Biosecurity

We are constantly rotating birds out of barns, and chicks into those barns to then be transitioned to the outdoors. Everything has to be cleaned, washed, dried, disinfected and then sprayed down to prevent bacteria problems. Food pans, as well as food and water delivery systems, are cleaned; heating systems [...]

After the last bird is out of the barns, we have to clean. It’s important because it makes sure bacteria doesn’t spring up. Here’s how we do it. Once the barn is empty of birds, we take down the jet tube, which connects to the air circulation system. It can [...]

Our March seminar was attended by two representatives from the Shanghai Hongyan Pheasant Farm. One of the two attendees, Miss Yuan then invited us to visit their farm in China. This past week my wife Dori and I flew to Shanghai and spent several days visiting Miss Yuan’s farm. Dori [...]

By Dr. Susan Watkins Interpreting Your Microbial Analysis This information sheet is to help you to interpret the results of your recent microbial analysis of poultry drinking water and/or well water.  It consists of excerpts from the paper “Water Quality and Sanitation” by Dr. Susan Watkins from the University of [...]

Three species of Mycoplasma can cause diseases in birds: M. gallisepticum (MG), M. melleagridis (MM), and M. synoviae (MS). A fourth species, M. iowae, often considered an avian pathogen, is associated with embryonic mortality and lowered hatchability but not with clinical diseases. Mycoplasmae are respiratory agents and can be isolated [...]

Aspergillosis can be a very devastating disease to a young flock. Aspergillosis is caused by the mold Aspergillosis fumigates that can be found in both bedding and feed. If there is mold present in the brooder house the birds will breath in the spores and become infected. Once the chicks [...]

Whether you are a veterinarian, doctor, poultry man, game bird producer or just a person who heard the news that came out of Asia during 2003 and 2004, Avian Influenza (AI) otherwise known as bird flu conjures up many thoughts and fears. For poultry and game bird people, the thought [...]

Coccidia is almost universally present in poultry raising operations. A decreased growth rate, high percentage of visibly sick birds, severe diarrhea, high mortality, and finally depressed feed and water consumption all describe coccidiosis. So what exactly is coccidiosis? Coccidiosis is a single celled intracellular parasite that has one purpose, to [...]

Presented by: Vern L. Christensen Department of Poultry Science North Carolina State University See full PowerPoint presentation here The final destination of the properly managed fertilized pheasant egg is the incubator within the hatchery.  Modern-day hatcheries generally have egg-setting capacities of thousands of eggs.  Fertilized pheasant eggs have a 24-day developmental period [...]