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Animal scientist Dr. Vipin Kumar tells Local 18 that this disease occurring in chicks is aspergillosis, which is commonly called brooder pneumonia. Every year the poultry farming industry causes huge losses. This is a fungal disease which directly attacks the lungs of chicks.
Begusarai: These days, poultry farming business is expanding rapidly in the state. Today, thousands of youth from villages to small towns are adopting poultry farming as an employment option. Poultry farming business is seen as a better profit option at lower cost. But as soon as the cold hits, the worries of chicken keepers increase. The reason for this is a disease which farmers often recognize late. By the time the symptoms are understood, hundreds of chicks have died. Due to which most of the chicken rearing business farmers close this business in winter and then wait for summer so that they can start this business again.
However, it is even said that due to this disease, many small farmers have suffered losses in the past years and were forced to leave the business. The main reason for this is the huge lack of awareness. Farmers do not know what is causing the loss, whether it is shortage of fodder or the effect of weather, but the real truth is something else.
Scientist told why danger increases in cold?
Dr. Vipin Kumar, veterinary scientist of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Begusarai, tells Local 18 that this disease occurring in chicks is aspergillosis, which is commonly known as brooder pneumonia. Every year the poultry farming industry causes huge losses. This is a fungal disease which directly attacks the lungs of chicks. This disease is generally seen in those farms where sunlight does not reach and there is humidity. Because the form is closed and the movement of air is obstructed. Not only this, fungus grows rapidly in such an environment and spreads infection by reaching the respiratory system of chicks.
Why is it difficult to recognize symptoms?
Dr. Vipin explains that farmers are not able to identify the initial symptoms in chicks easily. By the time the disease is caught, the condition of the chicks has become critical. Talking about the main symptoms, the chick stops eating and drinking, breathes with its mouth open, a rattling or whistling sound starts coming while breathing. Many times, even after picking up the chick, its breathing is felt shaky. The most frightening thing is that there is no concrete treatment for this disease yet. That means once a chick gets infected, its death is almost certain. For this reason, this disease is known as ‘silent killer’ among chicken farmers.
What is protection?
Dr. Vipin advises that chicks be given multivitamin A and E supplements in the early stages. This increases immunity. Also, arrange for sunlight daily in the farm, ensure ventilation, always keep the bedding material dry and clean, clean water and grain utensils regularly. They say, there is no cure, hence prevention is the best medicine. If farmers just exercise a little caution, 80% of the loss can be prevented.
