Purdue University Agricultural Extension Service
Mimeo P-36 January, 1952 (1M)
Thirty-five Questions on Newcastle Disease
J. W. Sicer, R. L. Hogue, and R. W. Detwiler Extension Poultrymen
1.	WHAT CAUSES NEWCASTLE DISEASE?
It is caused by a virus, a member of a group of the smallest of "germs" that are also responsible for such other diseases as infectious bronchitis and laryngotracheitis.
It takes anywhere from 2 to 14 days for the disease to show up after chickens are exposed. The average time is about five days.
2. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? IN CHICKS? IN GROWN BIRDS?
In chicks, especially up to four weeks of age, the disease usually starts off as a "cold". Chicks cough, gasp, gape, rattle and some have a peculiar chirp. They "go off feed" and many may die. As the disease progresses the nervous system is affected. Chicks can not control their muscles, some show paralysis of the leg muscles, and many may twist their heads and necks so that they look up at the ceiling or down between their legs. As high as 1/2 of the chicks may show this nervous condition.
After chickens reach broiler size the disease usually shows up as a bad "cold". They "go off feed" and generally look sick. In a laying flock egg production goes down to practically zero in about a week's time. Many of the eggs will have poor shells and brown eggs will turn white. There has been practically no death loss in the older birds in the United States.
Each outbreak of this disease may show any of the above symptoms or any combination of these symptoms,
3. IS THERE A CURE OR REMEDY?
There is no cure or remedy for a flock sick with Newcastle disease. The only thing one can do is to give the sick birds extra good care. With chicks, turn the heat up a few degrees. Give them anything which they will eat when they "go off feed". That means chick grains, wet mash, or grains and condensed buttermilk. Keep them eating and keep them comfortable! That is all you can do.
The same goes for older birds. When they go into a feed slump, "nurse" them thru with pellets, scratch grain, wet mash or condensed milk. Set water fountains and feeders on the floor to make it easier for sick birds to eat and drink. Sick birds are sometimes too weak to jump up on the high places,
4. HOW LONG DOES THE DISEASE USUALLY LAST?
The disease will last from two to four weeks or even longer. It will usually last longer in the young chicks than in older birds.
It will take from four to six weeks for egg production to return to nearly normal after the disease was first noticed. Small eggs, thin shell eggs, and watery whites may persist for many months.