Avian influenza (AI) is a highly contagious viral disease of birds that can strike domestic poultry without warning and could prove devastating to the Mississippi poultry industry. AI in any of its forms is a serious threat to all commercial poultry farms.
CRITICAL PRECAUTIONS
Have strong biosecurity practices in place to protect your farm.
Wear dedicated footwear or plastic boots in each individual chicken house to prevent tracking AI inside.
Develop and maintain a “line of separation” (clean vs. dirty) at your farm.
Change clothes and boots before checking chickens if you have visited any location where other chicken growers may have been.
Maintain a good rodent control program on your farm.
Use footbaths (i.e., dry bleach) at control room and chicken house entrances.
Know how to recognize disease symptoms and chickens that are not thriving.
Avoid wild birds (especially migrating waterfowl) and their fecal material.
SYMPTOMS
Sudden and extreme increase
in mortality
Coughing and sneezing
Swollen sinuses and watery eyes
Nasal discharge
Twisted neck
Stumbling/falling down
Watery or green diarrhea
Lethargy
Decreased feed/water intake
Purple discoloration of wattles, comb, and legs
More than 10 percent of flock shows symptoms
M3070 (03-23) • Produced by Agricultural Communications
The Mississippi State University Extension Service is working to ensure all web content is accessible to all users. If you need assistance accessing any of our content, please email the webteam or call 662-325-2262.
