POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 44, 15 November 1941, Page 13

POULTRY NOTES

Prevalence Of Coccidiosis

TREATMENT AND CONTROL (By New Laid.) ‘‘Coccidiosis is one of the most destructive diseases of poultry and is probably the most prevalent infectious disease attacking poultry in’New Zealand. This disease has been reported from many districts in both islands and the annual loss among infected birds is heavy.” The above are the views of Mr. E. C. Bobby, head of the Poultry Division of the Department of Agriculture, in the course of an article in the department’s journal which seeks to show poultrykeepers how to recognize an outbreak of coccidiosis and the steps to take to bring an outbreak under control. There are, says Mr. Bobby, two main forms of coccidiosis among poultry. The more acuteform attacks chickens between the ages of approximately two to eight weeks and is known as caecal coccidiosis, as the internal parasites causing this disease attack mainly the two caeca or blind guts. Often the first sign is one or two dead chicks in a pen, and later the remainder become loose in feather, tend to huddle, droop their wings, and close their eyes. Careful examination will reveal droppings containing blood and if the dead chick is opened the caeca will be found inflamed and distended with blood. In outbreaks where the disease is less acute, birds may not die so rapidly, and merely show ruffled feathers and general unthriftiness. On opening such birds it is often difficult to detect blood in the caeca, though they are usually enlarged. The second form of coccidiosis is encountered in older birds and is not so easy to recognize. This form usually attacks well-grown pullets before coming in to lay or when they have been in lay for a few weeks. Birds so attacked show signs of looseness of feather, a false moult, or a drying up of the comb. These symptoms may be accompanied by lameness in one leg and a loss of eye colour. If such birds are left in the pen they lose condition and gradually “go light.” While mortality is not necessarily heavy, birds affected in this way rarely recover and are a real source of danger to healthystock. This form of the disease is termed duodenal coccidiosis as the parasites attack the lining of the small intestine or duodenum. It is not always easy, to recognize this disease by an inspection of the small intestine with the naked eye. It is, therefore, essential to send typically unhealthy birds to the laboratory for a microscopic examination whenever this disease is suspected. Of the two forms of the disease described, duodenal coccidiosis is the most dangerous and may mean the loss of many valuable pullets. Treatment and Control.

No entirely satisfactory medicinal treatment for either caecal or duodenal coccidiosis has yet been found. Medicines which are strong enough in chemical action to destroy the coccidia will also destroy the delicate lining of the intestine. On the other hand it is thought that if an acid condition is set up in the intestines of infected birds the multiplication of the coccidia is checked, while a mild scouring of the bird is set up which causes a large number of the organisms to be carried out in the droppings. These organisms are not able to infect healthy birds for two or four days after leaving the infected birds, so that if these coccidia are removed by the careful cleaning of the house they can be burnt before again becoming dangerous It has been found that this method of attempting to overcome an outbreak is more effective against caecal than duodenal coccidiosis.

While it is not intended to suggest that treatment for caecal coccidiosis in this manner is always effective, the following method has been found useful on a number of occasions under practical conditions. Success depends to a great extent upon noting an outbreak at an early stage and acting ipimediately. Confine the young chickens to their brooder house pen and remove all food for 12 hours. Next- supply a liberal amount in ample'. , hopper space of a chicken mash.-containing -40 per cent.' dried milk powder) Leave this special mash before the birds for 24 hours and then remove. Now feed in the ordinary manner for 24 hours; and clean out the pen thoroughly at .the end of this time. Starve again for 12 hours, give the 40 per cent, milk mash for 24 hours, and two days later give a second thorough cleaning to the pen. While carrying out this treatment kill off any birds which arp obviously heavily infected with the disease. Such birds are unlikely to recover, and are the main source of danger to the healthy ones. Remember, the whole chance of success depends upon cleaning the pen and equipment after each feed of the milk mash. Properly soured milk' may be used instead of the milk mash described. In this instance, the sour milk is given as the only drink available to the chickens fbr 24 hours, and then a thorough clean-out of the pen made 48 hours after giving the milk. This may be repeated twice, but because of the acid condition of the milk it should not be given in metal drinkers. It is claimed that treatment with vinegar or Epsom salts has a similar effect to the “milk flush” described above. While vinegar and salts are cheaper than milk powder, the latter has a very definite value as a food, and is particularly helpful to birds suffering from a check due to disease. The main point to note in ■this type of treatment is not so much whether milk, vinegar, or salts is used, but the success depends essentially upon the efficient and regular cleaning out at the times stated. Only by the removal of the coccidia which infect healthy birds, can this disease be properly controlled. Medicinal treatment is rarely satisfactory in duodenal coccidiosis. Poultrykeepers must realise that the best method when well-grown pullets are attacked is that of rigid culling and strict sanitary measures. Any attempt to retain and treat infected bjrds is not a sound policy, and will in most cases result in greater total losses finally, than if an early attempt is made to cull out every sick bird. The infected flock should be confined to their house, and the litter changed frequently until the 'infection dies down. Wire-netting must be placed in front of and under the perches to stop the birds having access to the droppings which accumulate during perching hours. Drinking and feeding equipment should be kept clean and thoroughly disinfected from time to time. Poultry-keepers who are in the habit of feeding dry mash are advised to use the wet mash system .during an outbrea, and all troughs should be picked up aud placed out of reach of the birds immediately a wet mash has been completed. Grain should be fed in a clean trough and not in the litter.

EGG-LAYING CONTEST Massey College Results Results of the thirty-second -week of the egg-laying contest being conducted at Massey College, are as (follows: — SINOLH PENS. Section A (AU W.L.).—G. Clark, No. 2, 184; A. G. Munuby, No. 3, 174; A. O. Oakley, No. 1, 171; G. Glark, No. 1, ItiS; A. J. Shaller, No. 2, 107; W. K. Yeweu, No. 2, ICOx; J. Wilson, No. 1, 101; A. G. Mumby, No. 2. 103; B. ,-E. Wilkinson, No. 2, 163; J. T. Saunders, 162; -J. .Mold, 155 x; J. Annan, 153; A. A. Hoare, m 3; ,T. Wilson, No. 2, 149; W. H. Barker, 147; B. A. Ciirvell, No. 1, 1-1-1; W. ID. Yewen, No. 1, 140; A. G. Mumby, No. 4, 135; A. O. Oakley, No. 2, 134; B. B. Wilkinson, No. 1,131 x; A. J. Shaller, No. 1, .121; W. ID. Yewen, No. 3, 103; E. A. Carveil. No. 2,

Section B.—K. .Mullixis, R.1.K., 17-tx; B. Pimm, A.O. No. 1, 101; 11. P. Ahrons, A. 0., 103 x; W. A. Earsen. A.O. No. 2, 159; B. Pimm, A.O. No. 2, 15Sx; It. Holmes, A. 0., j"il; E. W. Stephenson, A. 0., 150; .1. CuNvon. A.O. No. 2, 145: W. A. Larsen, A.O. No. 1, 132; ID. O. Collier, Lang., 126; K. K. Cunning-ham, A. 0... 125; J. D. Wealleans, A.O. No. 2, 124; J. Carlyon, A.O. No. 1, 123; J D. Wealleans, A.O. No. 1, 124 ; A. A. Hoare. R.1.R., 106. TEAMS RESULTS.

Reetion C (<Aill W.L.).—F. P. Lougbottom, 131, 1-11, 192 x, 461; G. Clark, 152, 152, 159, 4121: Mrs. F. L. Gread, I+2, 143, 174 x, 461; J ivilaon, 143, 136, 171, 4;>0; G. I. Bews, 118 139, 166, 42.3; W. F. Stent, 112, 139, 140 411; A. j. Severn, 169, 72, 163. 404; A. 0. Oakley, 116, 113, 141, 370. / Section D.—G. A. Edge, R.1.K., 186, 1.15, 167 468; B. E- Wilkinson, A. 0., 167, 132, 130, 4.35*' W. A Larsen, A. 0., 174 x, 1426, 1:41. +10; 11. P. Alirens, A. 0., 80. 159, 1.61, 403; P. Mummery, 8.R., 157. .U 9 ',.,^ 1 -',:..,? ' <•,!?' Wealloans, A. 0., 84d, S>, 101. 300; K. .Mullins, 11.1. R., 14". 71. 107, 29.); G. I. Bews, K.I.R. 145, 100 X, 43, 294. ‘d’ Bird dead. ‘x’ Disqualified agg-weignt clause.