Chicks mortality is a matter of concerns to all poultry farmers. Although mortality of chicks can not be ruled out altogether at least mortality of 1 to 5 % is considered normal. When it goes beyond this, that is when it become a problem. Then what could be responsible for chicks mortality? The answer is provided below.
The cause of chicks mortality can be group into four, they are 1 genetic 2 diseases 3 nutrition and 4 management causes
GENETIC
There are some chicks that come with a bad gene that can cause their death few days after hatching.
Recommendation; try to buy your chicks from good hatchery that have a track record of good quality chicks.
DISEASES
There some diseases that could be responsible for the mortality of chicks. These are
1 Coccidiosis
Coccidiosis is a parasitic disease that can affect t birds from the first week to any age. Higher incident is at 3 to 4 weeks
Recommendations:make sure to be changing the litter material regularly. Use anti coccidia drug starting from the 3rd week for prevention.
2 Gumboro disease
This is a viral disease that can attack at any age, starting from the first week. It can cause heavy mortality and lower the immunity of the birds. High incidence start from 2 weeks upwards
Recommendations:
Ensure the chicks are properly vaccinated against Gumboro disease starting from the 7th /day. Maintained good hygiene of the poultry house to prevent spread of the disease.
3 CHRONIC RESPIRATORY DISEASE (CRD)
This is a bacteria disease that can also affect the chicks from the brooding stage of their life.
Recommendations:
Use antibiotics during brooding. In case there is sign of CRD use Tylosin base drug to treat.
4 ASPERGILLOSIS
This is also called brooder pneumonia. It is a fungal disease with signs similar to CRD. It occur during the brooding stage in the brooding House.
Recommendations:
Avoid giving mouldy feed to your chicks. Dust in the brooding house should be avoided and wood shavings should be used instead of saw dust.also allow ventilation in the pen.
5 PULLORUM AND SALMONELLOSIS
Both diseases are bacteria diseases. They can cause mortality to the chicks starting from the first day of their life to about three weeks of age. Older birds can also be affected but as bird age they develop resistance to the disease. The diseases are egg born. That is infected hen transmitted it to their chicks via their eggs that are infected.
Recommendations:
Use good or effective antibiotics during brooding. Maintain good hygiene. Buy your chicks from good hatchery that treat their hen against these diseases.
6 NEWCASTLE DISEASE (ND)
This is a viral disease of chicken which can affect all age of birds, starting from the brooding stage. It can cause heavy mortality to your flock if not properly managed.
Recommendation:
Make sure your chicks are well vaccinated against Newcastle disease starting from day 1 to 14. Maintain good hygiene both within and around the poultry house.
NUTRITION
Although nutritional causes mortality, it may not be common, due to the fact that most farmers are using commercial feed which is balance in nutrients. However, deficiency of vitamins and mineral can result into poor performance of the birds.
Recommendations:
Use multivitamin and minerals during brooding so as to prevent deficiency.
MANAGEMENT
Poor management, is one of the major cause of chicks mortality. These are those things that are done in the wrong ways during brooding.
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