Health Care
- Birds should be vaccinated against important diseases like Marek’s disease, Ranikhet disease, fowl pox etc. to
develop immunity against these diseases.
- Regular deworming of birds for internal parasites is very important due to scavenging nature of birds.
- Although debeaking of birds is not encouraged in rural poultry production since it helps in foraging and
scavenging, but debeaking may be followed if the farmer is rearing about 80-100 or more birds to avoid
cannibalism, egg biting etc.
- After first deworming, repeat at 3 week intervals so as to give a total of 4 dewormings.
- While medicating through drinking water, it should be done by mixing the required quantity of medicine as per
veterinarian’s advice in the quantity of water that chicks normally consume in 4 hours’ time (approximately 6
litres per 100 birds of 6 week-old per day).
- Additional water should be given only when all the medicated water is consumed by the chicks.
- On the slightest indication of external/ectoparasites, the birds should be dusted or dipped and houses
fumigated.
- While dipping, care should be taken to avoid head dipping and avoid dipping during rainy days.
- Always follow advice of veterinarians and manufacturer’s instructions to avoid health hazards.
The schedule for deworming and debeaking is as below.
| Age |
Programme |
| 31-42 days |
First debeaking |
| 42-50 days |
First deworming |
| 13-16 weeks |
Second debeaking and second deworming |
Recommended Vaccination schedule for backyard poultry
| Age |
Name of the vaccine |
Strain |
Dose |
Route |
| 5th day |
Newcastle Disease |
Lasota |
One drop |
Eye drop |
| 14thday |
Infectious Bursal Disease |
Georgia |
One drop |
Oral drop |
| 21st day |
Pox |
Fowl pox |
0.20 ml |
S/C injection |
| 28thday |
Newcastle diseases |
Lasota |
One drop |
Oral drop |
| At Backyard |
| 9thweek |
Newcastle diseases* |
R2B |
0.5 ml |
S/C injection |
| 12thweek |
Pox* |
Fowl pox |
0.5 ml |
S/C injection |
*Repeat these two vaccines at every six months interval
Note: The first day vaccination for Marek's disease is generally undertaken at hatchery itself.
Vaccination of backyard poultry (Source: Mr. Alekha Dalai)
As a precautionary measure, avoid rearing of different species of poultry (like rearing chicken with ducks,
turkeys etc.), keep young stock away from adult stock, keep the poultry houses and equipments clean, follow proper
disposal of dead birds, prevent entry of rodents etc.to check the diseases. Biosecurity, even-though demands some
amount of investment, ensures diminished losses due to infection and good quality production.
