ABSTRACT
No treatise on maintaining the health of any poultry, including egg-laying hens, can be written without discussing biosecurity, which is the protection of the birds from agents that may cause disease. Biosecurity also prevents the spread of disease-causing agents such as bacteria, viruses and parasites from one group of birds to another. Biosecurity is a way of life that must be adopted and practised by everyone who comes in contact with poultry. Although there are many complex strategies to maintain biosecurity, these strategies can be classified as
• separation • people • traffic control • equipment and vehicles • air, feed and water
By providing proper biosecurity, the most common mechanisms of disease spread can be prevented and controlled. This chapter reviews the range of biosecurity measures required to maintain the health of laying hens. It also reviews disease identification and detection, including the identification of specific diseases and vaccination regimes for prevention or treatment.
