We define our success as aviculturists in terms of number of young birds fledged. When we have a successful year, we think of ourselves as good aviary managers. To be able to define the term "good manager" is difficult, however there is a simple concept that is the cornerstone of all successful aviary systems - THE CLOSED AVIARY CONCEPT.
The Closed Aviary is the single most unifying theme in progressive aiviculture. The concept allows both clinical and subclinical disease to be controlled and monitored through the controlled flow of human, animal and supply traffic. Traffic control allows us to reduce the introduction of pathogens ( disease causing organisms ), which should lead to reduced problems and maximized production of young. The idea of the closed aviary is to prevent the introduction of disease. The closed aviary, also controls traffic flow in a regimented manner so that if a problem does sneak in it can be contained before infecting all the birds. A good understanding of the concept is fundamental to its success The records that are generated are used to clarify and monitor potential problems and management systems. Failure to understand the importance of controlling human or bird movements within the facility will lead to failure of the system and a return to ' hit and miss " management.

There are some basic principles that are the foundation of the closed aviary. These principles need to be understood before attempting to work with the closed aviary concept

AVICULTURE IS FARMING.
Farming is basically production oriented animal keeping. The avicultural ' farm' may vary immensely between individual owners. One farm may be a pair of Eastern Rosellas, another may be 80 pairs of budgies or it may be a million dollar collection of exotics.

PRODUCTIVITY IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE FARM
The product from the investment and effort in the farm is what keeps the farm 'alive ". Without production, difficulties arise (lack of money ) which may threaten the existence of a viable unit.

THE FLOCK HAS PRECEDENCE OVER THE INDIVIDUAL.
Flock health is directed at the group. Individual birds are diagnosed and treated but the emphasis in that diagnosis or treatment is the prevention of problems within the flock. The primary concern of the aviculturalist is the protection of the flock from infectious or management - induced disease. A single bird must not take priority over the entire collection

CULLING AND REPLACEMENT ARE NECESSARY.
All progressive animal industries use culling and replacement to improve production. Bird farms should be no different. Culling and replacement are based on the individual aviculturalist's production criteria. Those individual birds which do not meet the criteria should be culled and replaced. Culling means removal from the aviary by selling, gifting or destruction, it does not mean moving to another section of the aviary!. The point at which culling is done will relate to the availability or cost of replacement stock.

PRODUCTION CRITERIA DETERMINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS.
The effort that is put into management is influenced by the desired production goals. Declining productivity is a symptom of avicultural disease. Therefore declining productivity should be followed by critical evaluation ( with the help of an avian veterinarian it necessary ), an improved management system and monitoring. If this system is followed then a sophisticated, productive farm will evolve.

THE BEST PRODUCTION IS FROM A FEW SPECIES
The best intensive livestock farms are those that have only one or a few species under their management. Because bird species have widely varying disease susceptibilities, management requirements and nutritional needs, it is difficult to develop a streamlined, efficient system that supplies the best for them all. In multi-species aviaries, there are too many variables which can lead to complications and production failure

PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE IS CHEAPER THAN SYMPTOMATIC MEDICINE.
Without exception it is less costly to use preventative medicine than it is to treat a disease outbreak. Disease prevention through improved management efforts and timely application of medicines is less costly in terms of labor, medicine and lost stock than the traditional " fire brigade " approach.

MOST FLOCK DISEASES ARE SYMPTOMS OF MANAGEMENT FLAWS
The usual companion animal approach to avicultural disease must be seen as inappropriate. It does not address the interaction of management and disease. Once a diagnosis is made, records should be checked to find the link between management and the disease being treated. Failure to consider the link between management and disease will mean a recurrence of the disease, and will give the impression of treatment failures

SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS.
Short term goals should be prioritized and realized, so that long term goals can be attained. For example, an outbreak of disease in the brooder room must be controlled so that deaths cease to allow birds to flow on to the breeding aviary. Small steps in management improvement will add up to leaps in production

DRUGS ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR GOOD MANAGEMENT.
Drugs are tools, by themselves they will not solve aviary problems. When used in conjunction with good management, veterinary advice and the principles of the closed flock, the effect of the drug is much greater. Inappropriate use of medicine is a common avicultural problem. The result is an ever increasing spiral of background bacterial resistance and underlying disease. Background management flaws and the effects they create are frequently overlooked.

AVIARY DESIGN
The closed aviary requires designated areas for quarantine, breeding, brooding and isolation. For good results each area should have a separate location within the facility. All personnel must understand the purpose of the designated areas. It is the rules regarding traffic flow between areas that allow managerial control and disease prevention. Without these areas being understood improvements in management and production cannot be consistent.

article courtesy of Vetafarm