What is the best prevention against coccidiosis?

• A. Vaccination
• B. Feeding antibiotics
• C. Isolating birds
• D. Keeping the mews clean

Answer: (D)

Preventing coccidiosis relies on limiting exposure to the parasite by keeping the birds’ living area clean and dry. Coccidia are shed in droppings and their oocysts can survive in litter for a long time, so removing feces regularly, cleaning cages and perches, and maintaining dry bedding disrupts the parasite’s life cycle and lowers infection risk. While vaccines exist for some poultry, they aren’t the main preventive tool in falconry settings; isolation can help during outbreaks but doesn’t address ongoing exposure, and antibiotics don’t prevent infection. Keeping the mews clean is the most effective preventive measure because it directly reduces the environmental load of infectious oocysts.