Treatment of Common Household Poultry Ailments

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 89, Issue 6, 15 December 1954, Page 591

Treatment of Common Household Poultry Ailments

DOULTRY of all ages are subject to - diseases, the majority of which do not warrant treatment by household poultry keepers. In this article H. K. Mullins, Poultry Instructor, Department of Agriculture, Hastings, discusses the treatment of some of the more common poultry ailments which cause concern to household poultry keepers. For those who rear chickens a disease common among young birds is also described. Crop Binding One of the more common complaints experienced • in household poultry flocks is crop binding. This trouble usually arises from the birds eating fibrous material such as long, dry grass or from swallowing large foreign bodies that block the outlet from the crop to the digestive tract, thus preventing passage of food to the gizzard. It is common practice among most gardeners to toss weeds and long grass into the fowl run, and as fowls have no teeth they must swallow the grass in whatever length it may be. Silver beet and other such succulent greens can do little harm, but coarse grass is tough and will readily form itself-into a hard fibrous ball in the crop. If the impacted mass is not too large and firm, it may often be removed by first introducing water into the crop through the mouth and then gently massaging the crop in order to work the mass out through the gullet a little at a time. This is more easily done if the fowl is suspended head downward. Do not spend too long over this expulsion or the bird, particularly an old one, may be asphyxiated. ' It will usually be found, however, that surgical treatment is necessary to remove the obstruction successfully. It is a comparatively easy operation and should provide no difficulties for even the amateur poultry keeper. The easiest method is to have an assistant

hold the bird securely on a table while the operator makes an incision through the skin and crop wall with, a sharp razor blade. The incision, which should not be more than approximately lin. long, can be made on the upper surface of the crop, thus eliminating any undue strain on the wound when the bird begins to feed. After the food mass is cleaned out the crop should be washed out with clean warm water and the incisions in both the crop wall and the skin closed separately by the insertion of several stitches in each. These can be made with ordinary cotton, and each stitch should be made and tied separately. The bird can now be placed in a coop, but food should be withheld for a day, after which soft food only should be fed until the wound is healed. Scaly Leg The condition known as scaly leg in fowls is caused by very small mites

which ' burrow under the scales on the shanks. The severe irritation. which is set up by the activities of the mites results in the accumulation o f greyish, dry debris under the scales which forces the scales to lift and loosen. If the condition is left untreated, the feet may become deformed, resulting in the bird going lame. Treatment for scaly leg is not difficult. The legs of the bird should be washed in warm soapy water to remove all dirt and foreign matter.

The bird is then stood in a tin containing a mixture of two parts of kerosene and one part of creosote. This is an effective cure, but care should be exercised to see that the mixture does not get on the skin above the hocks or burning may result. In severe cases of scaly leg a second treatment may be necessary a week later. Caecal Coccidiosis Coccidiosis is probably the most prevalent disease among young stock in New Zealand and causes heavy losses every year, particularly on commercial establishments. The disease, which is recognised by most poultry producers as being caused by faulty management, usually occurs from overcrowding in the brooder sheds, poor ventilation under the brooders, or housing the chickens on green concrete. Chickens about 3 weeks of age are most susceptible to caecal coccidiosis, but the adult form of the disease attacks birds slightly older. Symptoms Chicks suffering from caecal coccidiosis usually show droopiness and depression as the first symptoms. The chicks stand huddled, with wings dropped, feathers ruffled, and eyes closed. The droppings are usually loose and contain a good deal of blood in severe outbreaks. Losses occur after 3 or 4 days. A number of chickens may recover, but if infection has been severe the survivors are usually unthrifty and therefore uneconomic. Control There are various drugs on the market which are very effective in controlling coccidiosis. However, it is more important to eliminate the source of the trouble than rely solely on drugs as a cure. Thorough cleaning ana disinfection of all floors, feed

troughs, and watering utensils is imperative after an outbreak of coccidiosis. The frequent removal of droppings and litter is also necessary, and the cleaning of utensils must be repeated at frequent intervals. Stale ground should be limed and turned over in autumn. It should be remembered that the sun can accomplish far more than any disinfectant in killing the disease. The floor under the hover or brooding equipment should be checked for dampness. Damp floors can play havoc with young chickens and have been responsible for many outbreaks of disease. It is a wise precaution to place a square frame covered with Jin. netting under the

brooder for the chickens to sleep on where there is any risk of dampness. This frame can be covered with chaff for the first week, after which the chickens can sleep on the bare netting. By using these frames the chickens. are not only prevented from having access to their droppings but are ensured of improved ventilation. Young chickens should never be permitted to run with older fowls which may be eliminating oocysts through their droppings. Any attempt to control coccidiosis must have as its basis the employment of strict measures of sanitation.

Cannibalism Cannibalism, which is prevalent in many household flocks, can cause severe losses if immediate treatment is neglected. It may break out in various forms, but feather picking and vent picking are the more common forms. Generally. cannibalism originates from overcrowding, but greenfeed deficiency or lack of salt may also cause an outbreak of the trouble. It is most uncommon to have an outbreak of cannibalism in birds housed on free range or even on the semi-intensive system. Insufficient nests, particularly in flush of the season, may also contribute to an outbreak of cannibalism. Broody hens should be removed every evening, thus ensuring that all nests are available to the laying stock.

less milk, meat, eggs, or wool than it should, either from specific disease or because it wastes food by carrying a heavy burden of parasites, then it is not only uneconomic but also unwell. ... To the farmer or average owner of animals good health' is that state of his animals which allows them to give their maximum yield or highest performance. It is, therefore, important for the animal keeper or owner to know how the body of the animal works so that the effects of the many factors of management upon this working are well understood.” . Some allowance must be made for the fact that the author is an English veterinarian and that the book is written primarily for British farmers, of whom he says in the introduction: “They are justifiably proud of their reputation as animal husbandmen and will talk upon every aspect of their craft except that of ill health and disease. Ostrich like, they seem to believe that the problems associated with the development and maintenance of good health are simplified by endeavouring to belittle or forget them”. Obviously the author has not heard New Zealand farmers in full cry on the subjects of facial eczema, i sterility, bloat, or foot-rot. Some of the advice concerning treatment and control of specific diseases

“Farm Animals in Health and Disease”: W. R. Wooldridge “pARM Animals in Health and ■T Disease” is a good book. Part I contains chapters on good health, ill health, the cause of ill health, the control of disease, and livestock health in the future. Part II deals with , the diseases of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, poultry, and rabbits. Part I in particular can be recommended to New Zealand farmers because it presents, perhaps for the first time, a sound assessment of the impact of health and disease on the economics of animal production. The following extracts from Chapter 1 give a good indication of the author’s sympathetic understanding of the farmer’s philosophy and also indicate the general aim of the book: “From the angle of the farmer an animal is in good health when it makes good growth or produces well upon a normal well-balanced diet. If it does less work or is infertile or produces

is obviously. designed to suit British conditions and may not be so effective here as measures which have been devised in New Zealand. On the other hand New Zealand farmers can profitably read about the cost to their British confreres of scourges like foot and mouth disease, warble flies, and swine fever. The chapter on livestock health in the . future starts as follows: “In . the foregoing chapters we have considered the means by which the health of our livestock can be improved. The basic condition is that those caring for animals, shall be really interested in them and have a working knowledge of how the animal body functions. This interest must be founded upon a broad education and will perforce be related to some extent with the economic value of livestock and the demand for their products.” New Zealand farmers could well continue their “broad education” by reading this book. —J.F.F. Crosby Lockwood & Son Ltd. 30s. “Agricultural Botany”: J. S. Yeates and Ella 0. Campbell ANY book which can make the task of studying easier and the results of that study more profitable will be welcomed by students. “Agricultural Botany” is such a book. It is written in an easily read style, the subject matter being abundantly supported by examples taken from plants, most of which can be found throughout the country. The written work is well elaborated by the use of a large number of good line drawings appropriately interspersed with suitable photographs. A pleasing feature is the space that is given to the study of plant ■ communities, several contrasting examples being discussed in sufficient detail to create a desire in the reader to study others. Such studies are essential, because in them culminate the value of many of the other subjects dealt with. “Agricultural Botany” can be confidently recommended for use in high schools and agricultural colleges. The keen horticulturist and farmer will find it of interest, but should not expect to find in its pages detailed discussions on the broader aspects of horticultural or agricultural practice. —S.H.S. Government Printer. 255.