Disease Control and Biosecurity in Broiler Chickens

Today I want to share my experience in poultry on disease control and biosecurity on farms.

Most diseases are brought onto the farm. Very rarely do disease emerge on the farm. This is why biosecurity is very important.

Disease can be defined as lack of ease; any abnormality in the state of normal health is in effect disease.

Sometimes in our excitement to show off our progress, we have allowed visitors into or near our chicken runs without carrying out proper biosecurity safety measures:

1. Do not allow visitors or anyone not working at the poultry house have access to your chickens.

2. All poultry workers should have uniforms, two pairs. One for working inside the poultry houses; only take it home for washing and another for outside the poultry house. Same with boots.

3. Encourage poultry workers to bath before they start a new day. If possible provide bath facilities and soap at the farm.

4. Put footbaths at entry pointes to poultry houses and also for vehicles at the farm gate. You can also have a sprayer for vehicles entering the farm.

5. Change disinfectants in the footbaths regularly. I change mine every third day depending on traffic!

As stated earlier, most diseases are brought from outside the farm. We shall now try to identify who in particular are the likely agents:

· Our visitors, some of whom also rear chickens. It is not advisable to allow these near the chickens if biosecurity measures have not been taken i.e. Bath and change of clothing.

· Our so called consultants who visit several farms. Because we trust them a lot, we tend to relax on biosecurity.

· The people we hire to come and help with tasks like vaccinations and debeaking. These too visit several farms and pose a lot of risk. If they come with their equipment, make sure you sterilise it yourself. It's actually advisable to buy disposable syringes and needles.

· The customers who come to buy our products. These should not be allowed near the poultry houses. The most risky are times we are cropping, especially the Layers. Those vehicles and cages need to be thoroughly disinfected. If possible don't allow them on the farm. We allow buyers in our chicken houses to choose at very great risk to our remaining flock.

What I have written above is from personal experience and I would appreciate others also sharing their experiences and expertise.

- Kapolesa Edwin

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