Common Organic Treatment for Newcastle Disease

The drugs to treat or cure Newcastle disease (ND) are not yet available. Hence, the only solution available to poultry keepers is to prevent its occurrence through the vaccination of birds. Well, sometimes, we tend to forget some things such as La Sota vaccination or would like to try some organic solutions or herbs to prevent or cure Newcastle disease. If you fall in any of these cases, this post is for you.

Newcastle disease is a viral disease that affects a large percentage of poultry birds like chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, etc. Luckily there are vaccines or different natural remedies to combat the disease in your flock.

Before knowing how to treat Newcastle disease in chickens, we must know that ND is a highly contagious disease among birds around the world. It is caused by a virus of the family Paramyxoviridae which has a high viability rate, surviving long periods of time on faeces, dead organic matter, garbage, etc.

Its infection occurs directly, through the contact of infected material, being able to pass from a sick bird to a healthy one by means of nasal secretions, excrement or cannibalism of hens.

Although vaccines are still the right treatment to prevent the onset of the virus that causes the disease, in many cases, it can still occur, mostly due to vaccine failure. So it is suggested to reinforce the vaccines with natural remedies for Newcastle disease, supporting the entire immune system of the birds.

Let’s quickly look at some of the signs and symptoms of Newcastle disease in chicken.

Symptoms of Newcastle in Chickens

Signs and symptoms appear in a period ranging from two to twelve days after the chicken became infected with the virus, and spreads quickly to the rest of the flock.

The most common symptoms are related to the bird’s respiratory system, which can be:

• With very harmful paramyxoviruses, the first sign is sudden death.
• Other signs like weakness, depression, greenish diarrhea, lying down, swelling of the face and nervous signs will also be observed.
• Torticollis (twisting of the neck), leg paralysis, arching of the body
• In laying chickens, the laying of soft-shelled or shell-less eggs is an early sign, followed by total halting of egg production.
• Moderately harmful paramyxoviruses are responsible for severe respiratory problems. In adult chickens, there is usually obvious decline in egg production for many months. However, the mortality rate is low. The mildly harmful paramyxoviruses may not cause any disease or just a mild respiratory problem like constant gasps and cough.

All these symptoms are very similar to those of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu). However, a laboratory test is required to confirm the disease. Of all the signs of Newcastle disease in chickens, the most recognized is when the chicken places its head between its legs and begins to move in circles.

Organic or Natural Remedies for Newcastle Disease

Natural or organic remedies to eliminate Newcastle disease in laying hens or young chickens must be applied consistently, so that the effects can be positive and can fight viral infections. The following are home treatments for Newcastle disease that have worked the most.

1. Onion-Garlic Syrup

This is an organic treatment prepared using garlic and onion, these two ingredients have very powerful antiviral characteristics. This causes them to attack a wide spectrum of pathogenic viruses, including the Paramyxoviridae, which causes ND.

How to Prepare

1. Chop or grind the onions and garlic as finely as possible. You can also crush them with the help of a crusher or grater.
2. When the two are ready, mix in a large dish or container and add a few tablespoons of honey.
3. Place the mixture in a cool place, where there is air circulation and keep overnight to be ready for use.

The onion-garlic syrup should be given to each bird once a day for 10 days, one teaspoon is okay. This home remedy also serves to eliminate diseases of avian influenza, distemper and avian smallpox.

2. Oregano, Lemon and Rosemary

The mixture of oregano, lemon and rosemary creates a powerful organic remedy for ND. Each ingredient contains great antiviral, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties, reinforcing the immune system of the chicken, which helps to eliminate pathogens that cause various viral diseases of the respiratory system, including viruses of the paramyxoviridae family.

How to Prepare

1. Infuse the rosemary leaves and oregano leaves in hot water separately (using 250 ml of boiled water).
2. Add a tablespoon of oregano and a tablespoon of rosemary leaves, each at their respective rate of hot water. Leave to boil for 2 minutes.
3. Mix both infusions in a large container and the juice of 4 or 5 lemons should also be added. You can also add some honey.
4. Once the ingredients are mixed very well, mix the solution with clean water in a proportion of 150 ml per liter of water and serve the birds.

Another alternative is to supply the liquid directly to the beak of the hen, by the help of a syringe or a dropper, in this way it is recommended that the birds take 10-15 ml once or twice a day, for 5 days straight.

Other Recommendations

• When new chicks are purchased, it must be confirmed that they are vaccinated against Newcastle disease, and the booster vaccines must be applied within 7 days.
• Try to give them vitamins and electrolytes on a regular basis. This will strengthen the immune system of the birds.
• Any bird showing symptoms of Newcastle disease has to be quarantined immediately.
• The pen or coop should be cleaned and if possible disinfected at least once a week to prevent the spread of pathogens. It prevents flies from abounding where faeces are found, as they are carriers of the virus from one place to another.
• Chickens that die from this disease should be burned and buried, as viruses are still in their body and can infect other birds.

Here are some tips and organic or home remedies for Newcastle disease in chickens. However, it is always recommended to consult a veterinarian.