A number of poultry diseases can disrupt egg production and quality. These can range from viral threats like infectious bronchitis causing egg drops to bacterial infections like salmonella tainting shells.
Diseases and syndromes affecting egg production and quality can be grouped into 4 categories namely bacterial, viral, syndrome, and toxins.
Also see 5 common poultry diseases and common poultry vaccination and treatment methods.
Poultry diseases affecting egg production
Bacterial diseases
Bacterial infections are illnesses caused by small single-celled organisms known as bacteria. At least 7 bacteria are known to cause poultry diseases that affect egg production and quality:
- Salmonella
- Mycoplasma
- Escherichia coli
- Infectious coryza
- Ornithobacterium
- Gallibacterium
- Spirochaetosis
Viral diseases
Poultry birds like other animals are prone to viral infections.
A virus is a tiny single-celled organism that lives of and multiplies through host birds. Viral diseases can be contagious and can spread quickly within a flock.
At least 7 poultry diseases are caused by viruses and affect egg production and quality. These are:
- Infectious bronchitis virus
- Egg drop syndrome
- Swollen head syndrome
- Avian encephalomyelitis
- Influenza
- Newcastle disease
- Laryngotracheitis
Syndromic
A syndrome is a collection of recognizable characteristics or symptoms that occur together and indicate a particular condition or abnormality. Symptoms in a syndrome usually cluster in a way that makes them unique from other conditions. Two poultry syndromes that affect egg production and quality are:
- Fatty liver haemorrhagic syndrome
- Cage layer osteoporosis
Toxinal
Egg production and quality may also be affected by other environmental factors including flock contact with, and or ingestion of toxic agents. Poultry birds can come into contact with, or ingest toxins via food, water, and air.
Key takeaways
- Prevention is always better than cure
- Implementing hygiene and biosecurity measures
- Apply flock vaccinations and treatments accordingly
- Proactive flock monitoring are crucial to safeguarding both your flock’s egg production and quality.
One response to “15 Poultry diseases that affect egg production and quality”
•
[…] may also be interested in 15 Poultry diseases that affect egg production and quality, 3 Reasons why chicken eat eggs and how to prevent it, and Unmasking the mystery: The ultimate […]