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The modern avian practitioner may be called upon to manage disease outbreak in aviary or zoologic bird flocks. Traditionally, managing these types of disease events has been based on avicultural production principles, which may require modification to adapt to the modern leisure, educational, or exhibition aviary. We discuss how principles of avicultural medicine and disease investigation may be adapted to the aviary flock and illustrate these modified principles with real-world examples.

There are many intersecting aspects to the avicultural management of a captive flock. Extensive knowledge of the natural history of the species kept is key to fulfilling the environmental, social, nutritional and behavioural requirements of the birds, whether in a mixed or sole-species aviary. Species compatibility with the environment, climate and other co-occupants plays a role as well, as does hygiene, good avicultural management and veterinary involvement and consultation. In understanding and meeting these requirements, optimal health can be maintained through the reduction or elimination of stressors and the maintenance of normal physiological function.