The Technical Advisor on Crops and Poultry at the Agribank, Hanks Saisai, has urged poultry farmers to vaccinate their poultry against diseases owing to the cold days of winter.

Saisai says that poultry needs to be fed to boost their immune systems and vaccinate them against infectious diseases such as Newcastle disease.

It is reported that last year, farmers experienced higher chicken mortalities between the months of April and August, demonstrating that chickens' are susceptible to disease, especially during the winter season.

Saisai defined poultry diseases as abnormal conditions that negatively affect the structure or functionality of an organism, which also applies to chickens.

Some of the signs and symptoms of this infection are a lack of appetite, behavioural changes, and sudden death.