Torticollis and sudden deaths: the Newcastle signal

Subjects still standing in the morning can die before evening. At that point, you need to think urgency.

At first, you see little. Then mortality rises quickly, and the flock tips.

When the neck twists, it is a nervous signal. With sudden deaths, Newcastle comes to the forefront.

Newcastle is a viral disease. A virus is an invisible enemy that passes from bird to bird.

Health guides cite three families of signs: nervous, respiratory, and drop in laying.

Torticollis is part of this. The neck goes to the side, like a handlebar that you can no longer control.

You may also hear wheezing sounds, see gasping, or birds struggling to breathe.

In an egg-laying farm, a sudden drop in laying with these signs also strengthens the alert.

Because this disease can kill quickly. And every hour lost allows transmission to advance in the flock.

A virus travels with birds, people, boots, and everything that moves from dirty to clean.

Immediately separate the suspect flock from the rest. The idea is simple: stop unnecessary back and forth.

Biosecurity requires a forward march: you go from the cleanest to the riskiest.

Boots and clothing reserved for the building limit what you carry under your feet.

An unrenewed footbath is useless. Dirty, it only reassures, but it no longer protects.

Dead birds must be managed properly. Leaving them lying around further increases health risks.

Then, quickly contact the local veterinarian. Only he can set the appropriate health framework.

Do not cobble together a treatment randomly. You would waste time while the disease progresses.

Prevention relies on two pillars: locally decided vaccination and daily maintained biosecurity.

A failed vaccination may protect nothing. Chlorinated water, dirty equipment, or sick birds can nullify it.

An ignored alert affects not only health. It also empties the flock that was supposed to pay.

Remember the logic: sudden deaths plus torticollis, you isolate, you limit, then you call.

And at your place, who do you call first when the deaths suddenly rise?

For information about our chicks, write on WhatsApp to 05 44 83 27 79. The flock record book is offered to you.

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Nextekci is a hatchery in Agnibilékrou, Côte d'Ivoire. With Nextekci, every customer is a satisfied poultry farmer.