INFECTIOUS CORYZA
Coryza is the medical term for local cold.
However its more serious in chicken.Its airbone disease,Can be passed from bird to bird,through infected droplets,contaminated feeds,water,beddings and dust particles.
Birds are also highly susceptible at places such as poultry shows,swap meet and live birds market place or all places where they can be in contact with infected birds.
It can also spread via wild birds so try to keep them out of the chicken area as much as possible.Poor unsanitary housing and overcrowding exacerbates the problem since the bacteria can proliferate in the coop if the circumstances are right.
The bacteria being an aerobic bacteria it can thrive in an atmosphere with little or no oxygen.So a dump and dirty coop is the ideal breeding ground.
Things for infectious coryza can be mistaken for something else but taken all together there is no mistaking the diagnosis.
-fascial swelling
-pale,occasionally swollen comb
-foul smelling,thick sticky discharge from the nostrils and eyes
-bubbles at the corner of the eyes
-eyelids can become crosty and stuck together
-decreases egg production
-decreased appetite and loss of weight
The incubation period of coryza is 1-3 days.This is followed by the onset of symptoms over 2-3 days.The entire flock becomes infected within 10 days.Due to its highly infectious nature seperating the infected flocks sometimes is futile. Chicks from 1 month of age and Older flocks are at higher risk,weak stressed birds are also at risk,poorly fed chicks are also at a higher risk.Introducing healthy birds to sick ones also triggers the disease.New birds should be quarantined for atleast a month being closely monitored and vaccinated against new caslte and any other vaccine needed.
Have seperate quarters for multi aged flocks.Dont mix different ages together.
Also important to note is that the infected birds become carriers for the rest of their life.Carriers suffer from regular re-occurrence throughout its lifetime requiring antibiotics,isolation and increased care and attention.
Also note apart from just decreased laying,recovered birds may finish their laying circle very early than expected.
Third point to note is that coryza is not passed through the eggs as it is commonly assumed.
Since coryza is a bacteria it can be killed by an antibiotic.Most commonly used are erythromycin,streptomycine or sulfanomites all depending on your veterinarians’ choice and its availability
The bacteria can also be killed by heat,drying and disinfectants.Free ranged birds are at a lesser risk of coryza.Kukus which can access sunlight are also at a lesser risk.
Disifecting the coop after removal of chicken manure is necessary.Wash poultry equipments too with the disinfectant.
If the disease has occured in your farm never introduce new birds into the empty coop previously occupied by infected chicken for atleast a month.Through out this period disinfecting of the coop should be done
Last but not least never visit a farm that has coryza also restrict other farmers from coming to your farm if incase the disease has struck your birds.
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