A current view of veterinary flock health management: Developing “growing pains”

• Published in: Seminars in avian and exotic pet medicine 2001-07, Vol.10 (3), p.105-111
• Main Author: Speer, Brian L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: facility map; financial statement; flock health program; Flock profile; mission statement; pathogen-specific management; record review; traffic flow
• ISSN: 1055-937X; 1558-3864
• DOI: 10.1053/saep.2001.24253

At the present time, avicultural medicine as the term is generally applied in clinical settings lacks a systematic means with which to evaluate and “examine” the nondomestic bird flock. These systematic evaluations are a key to developing a true flock health program. Without a proper physical examination of the flock, it is virtually impossible to make complete and balanced managerial recommendations for the individual patient as well as in the overall flock. The breeding collection of nondomestic birds in the private avicultural sector is in many ways the most important and most neglected patient in avian medicine today. Properly executed complete flock evaluation techniques will lead to sound flock management with proven value, resulting in documentation of optimal flock health management programs and techniques for future reference. Incompletely performed, flock medical intervention can become harmful if not devastating. This report will review the basics of proper flock evaluation techniques and itemize some of the more common specific errors encountered in flock diagnoses and veterinary intervention.