Summary

It is vital that backyard poultry keepers across Tennessee have a basic understanding of common poultry diseases because it gives small flock owners the ability and knowledge to recognize, treat and hopefully prevent future disease outbreaks. Perhaps the most common disease affecting small poultry flocks is coccidiosis, which causes loss of performance and, in severe cases, even mortality. Coccidiosis occurs worldwide. It is especially prevalent in high-density commercial poultry flocks raised on the ground and in flocks where birds have direct contact with their feces. Virtually every poultry flock raised on litter or on the ground is affected by coccidiosis to some extent.