20/01/23
Unit 6 – Health
Bacteria
Salmonella in Chickens
What is Salmonella in Chickens:
Salmonella is a notifiable disease that must be reported on the government website when this
disease is suspected in a chicken flock; Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause acute septicaemic
disease in chickens, is the leading cause of chick loss, a chronic disease in domesticated-matured
chickens, and wild fowl.
Who is affected by the Disease:
An estimate of around 30% of chickens across the world are contaminated with Salmonella;
Salmonella effects 5.5% of chickens in the UK and 1 in 10,000 eggs are contaminated. It is a zoonosis
disease that can be transmitted from chickens to humans.
‘Avian Salmonellosis’ is the collective term for the chronic disease of fowl caused by one or more
members of Salmonella bacterial genus.
Symptoms of Salmonella in Chickens:
Weak and lethargic birds.
Very loose yellow or green droppings.
Purple or blue looking comb and wattles.
Decreased feeding and weight loss.
Increased water consumption.
Reduced egg production.
Noticeably lower hatch rates.
Chicks and poults show weakness, anorexia, and shivering.
Outbreaks in turkeys and chickens can have up to 60% mortality.
Unit 6 – Health
Bacteria
Salmonella in Chickens
What is Salmonella in Chickens:
Salmonella is a notifiable disease that must be reported on the government website when this
disease is suspected in a chicken flock; Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause acute septicaemic
disease in chickens, is the leading cause of chick loss, a chronic disease in domesticated-matured
chickens, and wild fowl.
Who is affected by the Disease:
An estimate of around 30% of chickens across the world are contaminated with Salmonella;
Salmonella effects 5.5% of chickens in the UK and 1 in 10,000 eggs are contaminated. It is a zoonosis
disease that can be transmitted from chickens to humans.
‘Avian Salmonellosis’ is the collective term for the chronic disease of fowl caused by one or more
members of Salmonella bacterial genus.
Symptoms of Salmonella in Chickens:
Weak and lethargic birds.
Very loose yellow or green droppings.
Purple or blue looking comb and wattles.
Decreased feeding and weight loss.
Increased water consumption.
Reduced egg production.
Noticeably lower hatch rates.
Chicks and poults show weakness, anorexia, and shivering.
Outbreaks in turkeys and chickens can have up to 60% mortality.
