The Poultry Podcast Show - #4 - Lessons learned on health challenges in small flock poultry

There are many differences between backyard poultry operations and commercial poultry systems. Backyard poultry can include pets as well as animals as a food source – such as eggs – and diseases can be introduced into the flock in many ways that are unnoticed by the owner. And besides, it’s often a challenge for backyard growers to recognize and associate different clinical signs with different diseases. Consequently, a good poultry diagnostician working in that sector must educate their customers and promote small flock health and preventive care. In today’s episode, I talk with Dr. Hailey Quercia about some of her findings on health challenges in small flocks. Dr. Quercia also shares her experience as Laboratory Director and Avian Diagnostician at the Harrisonburg Regional Animal Health Laboratory (Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services).

What you’ll learn:

1. Health challenges in small flocks throughout the years

2. Recognizing Marek's disease in small flocks

3. Services for backyard owners in Virginia

4. Working at an animal health laboratory

5. Improvements in backyard flock medicine

6. Interesting cases

7. Key aspects of small flock nutrition

8. Use of Antibiotics

9. Mentoring students

Meet the guest: Dr. Hailey Quercia’s interest in poultry began when raising chickens, ducks, and geese, which also piqued her interest in population level animal health. It was only after shadowing a mixed animal practitioner that she realized there were veterinary careers that focus on population medicine, and she decided to become a large animal veterinarian. After receiving her DVM from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, she was undecided on whether to focus on dairy, poultry, or pathology, but finally chose to become a poultry diagnostician. She thus earned a Master’s on and did a residency in avian pathology at Auburn University, subsequently accepting the position of Laboratory Director and Avian Diagnostician at the Harrisonburg Regional Animal Health Laboratory (Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services).