4. Managing the health of the birds
Daylight cycles
As the days become shorter, with less daylight hours, your
chickens’ productivity may also decline. This, combined with
their moulting (losing of feathers) will have a large impact
on the egg production from your birds. You can introduce
artificial light into your coop if you wish to keep production
up, but it could also be beneficial to let the chickens progress
through their natural cycle. If you do introduce artificial light, ensure
they consistently receive 14 hours of light and avoid reducing this time
frame as you move through seasons.
Moulting (losing feathers)
The occurrence of feather loss is quite a natural event in a chooks lifecycle, however it can provide
challenges for some birds due to hormonal imbalances and an increase in energy requirements.
Moulting commonly occurs around Autumn, coinciding with the reduction in daylight hours and it is
typically an annual event. After a hen’s first moult she will lay fewer but larger eggs.
Worms
The large round worm (ascarids) is the main risk. The adult worm lives in the gut where it lays many
eggs which are excreted in the droppings for other birds to become infected. These worms compete
for nutrition in the chooks gut and often result in wasting and reduced production. There are numerous
other worms that can also parasitise the hen including intestinal worms (Capillaria spp), caecal worm
(Heterahis spp) and tape worms (Raillientia spp and Davainea spp).
Prevention: Remove all manure and litter from the chook house, clean down and disinfect (with a
product known to eliminate worm eggs) prior to introducing new birds. Avoid damp conditions in the
shed by providing adequate drainage, avoiding water spills and controlling seepage especially in
dirt floors.
External parasites
Chooks are vulnerable to infestation with ticks, lice and mites. Again the clean down process between
batches should include an insecticide spray which is applied in the nest boxes and perches as well as
the general shed area. New birds being introduced should be checked for parasites prior to contact
with other birds and if there are any signs of infestation they should be treated prior to introduction.
Infectious viral and bacterial diseases
Birds are susceptible to a number of infectious diseases which they can contract by various vectors
e.g. wild bird contact, aerosol transfer from a neighbours flock, visitors, second hand equipment, etc.
The two main ways of preventing this transfer are (1) bio-security (minimising contact with people,
other birds, or used equipment) and (2) vaccination (ensure that the birds have received all the regular
vaccinations prior to purchase e.g. mareks disease, infectious bronchitis, infectious laryngotracheitis).
If birds show obvious signs of illness, seek veterinary advice. If birds become debilitated or stressed, it
may be best to euthanise them humanely.
Coccidiosis
There are several forms of coccidiosis caused by the Eimeria spp of protozoa. These pathogens cause
irritation of the gut, often with signs of blood in the faeces. Other symptoms include dullness, huddling,
ruffled feathers, etc. With appropriate management in the rearing phase most hens develop immunity
to coccidia. This involves the controlled application of anti-coccidial compounds in the rearing diets. If
adult birds do show symptoms of coccidiosis they will need to be treated – seek veterinary advice.
For hens to perform wel l , in terms
of egg production they need to
remain healthy. Unfortunately there
are many chal lenges for birds’ even
isolated home flocks which can prove
a problem and need to be dealt with.