Avicultural Medicine: General Concepts

Key Points

  • When dealing with a large collection of birds, the health of the flock must be the primary concern.
  • Most production-related problems occur in flocks managed by the beginner aviculturist, and it is with these clients that we often can make the greatest impact.
  • The evaluation of the whole collection and follow-up recommendations should be based on the analysis of the clients’ mission statement, aviary and traffic flow maps, finances, and records.
  • Health assessment of an aviary is a multi-faceted task that combines a review of all management protocols within a facility in combination with a site visit.
  • Another important part of aviary health assessment is to evaluate environmental enrichment provided to birds.

The cornerstone of successful aviculture is healthy breeding birds. These birds should be kept in a stress-free environment and provided with optimal nutrition to meet their physiological needs. Sound management techniques are paramount to ensure the birds remain healthy. Proper environmental enrichment is also important for psychological and behavioral well-being . . .


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References

Echols MS, Speer BL. A comprehensive plan for managing flock reproductive performance. Seminars Avian Exotic Pet Med 5:205-213, 1996.

Speer BL. The closed aviary concept. In: Abrason J, Speer BL, Thomsen JB (eds). The Large Macaws. Fort Brags, CA, Raintree Publications. 1995. Pp. 267-271.

Speer BL, A current view of veterinary flock health management: developing “growing pains”. Seminars Avian Exotic Pet Med 10:105-111, 2001.

Speer BL. Avicultural medical management: an introduction to basic principles of flock medicine and the closed aviary concept. Vet Clin North Am 21:1393-1404, 1991.

Styles DK. Reproductive management of captive psittacine collections. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim 5:475-487, 2002.

To cite this page:

Rivera S. Avicultural medicine: General concepts. May 6, 2008. LafeberVet Web site. Available at https://lafeber.com/vet/avicultural-medicine-general-concepts/