ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST
1
Health Problems of Poultry and Game Birds
2
Compiled by Terry Smith
3
The best thing to do if you really want to effectively treat your birds is to consult your local vet or the diagnostic laboratory at your state agricultural college or university.
4
ProblemSymptomsTreatment
5
Aspergillosis (Brooder Pneumonia)Chronic form - Gasping, sleepiness, loss of appetite, emaciation, bluish and dark color of skin, central-nerve disorders such as twisted neck. Infected birds usually die with 2 to 4 weeks.None. Cull infected birds. Control the spreading of the disease by adding 1/2 teaspoon copper sulfate to drinking waters (do not use metal containers) for 5 days. Oxine can also be added to the drinking water. Prevent reinfection by cleaning facilities, disinfecting with Nystartin or 1/2 teaspoon copper sulfate per gallon of water, and replacing the litter.
6
7
BlackheadMostly affects birds 4 to 6 weeks of age which may display no symptoms or any of these: droopiness, drowsiness, weakness, ruffled feathers, increased thirst, loss of appetite and weight loss, darkened face, watery sulfur-colored droppings. The best treatment is prevention of cecal and earthworms. These drugs are FDA approved for blackhead: Carosep, Acidified Copper Sulfate, and Histostat-50. Flagyl (Metronidazole) is not FDA approved for poultry, but is widely used with peafowl and ornamental game birds.
8
9
Blue Comb (Greens, Mud Fever, Non-specific Enteritis)Depression, hunching up, loss of appetite and weight, distended sour-smelling crop, bluish comb, greenish, watery or pasty bad-smelling diarrhea, dehydration, sunken eyes, shriveled shanks, cold-feeling bodyInfected birds may respond to a molasses flush (3.2 oz. per gallon of water for no more than 8 hours) or being treated with 1/2 tsp. copper sulfate per gallon of water (use non-metal containers). Add BMD or Neo-Sol 50 to drinking water.
10
11
Botulism (Limberneck)Sudden death or leg weaknesses, drowsiness and flaccid paralysis of legs, wings, and neck. Has difficulty swallowing, ruffled, loose feathers; lies on side with outstretched neck and closed eyes; trembling sometimes, diarrhea; coma and death due to heart and/or respiratory paralysis.Remove source of poisoning (decaying vegetable and animal matter) and contaminated litter. Use molasses or Epsom salts (1 tsp. Epsom salts dissolved in 1/2 c. water*) to flush toxins from system. *Squirt down bird’s throat twice daily for 2 or 3 days.
12
13
BumblefootIn mature males, especially heavy breeds - lameness, reluctance to walk, rests on hocks with sores on hocks and/ or bottoms of toes, inflamed foot, hard, swollen, or pus-filled abscess on bottom of foot.Inject swollen area with 1/2cc penicillin. If abscess is large, wash foot, open abscess and remove cheesy core. Clean with hydrogen peroxide, pack with Neosporin, and tape bandage over area. Confine bird to deep litter. Dress abscess 2 or 3 days.
14
15
Canker (Trichomoniasis)Upper Form- Sunken, empty crop, stretching of neck, swallowing, open-mouthed breathing, and fetid odor. Lesions in mouth, esophagus, and crop. Lower Form- Depression, unthriftiness, watery yellow diarrhea, and weight loss.Metronidazole (non-meat birds), copper sulfate*, Carnidazole or canker tablets (pigeons). *Stock solution: 1 lb. copper sulfate, 1 c. vinegar, 1 gal. water. Add 1 oz. or 1 tbs. stock solution to 1 gal. of water in non-metal container for 4 to 7 days.
16
17
Capillary Worms Pale head, poor appetite, droopiness, weakness, emaciation, and occasionally diarrhea. Birds may sit with the head drawn in.No approved wormer is available, but Levamisol is often used.
18
19
CholoraSudden death, fever, loss of appetite, increased thirst, depression, drowsiness, ruffled feathers, head pale and drawn back, increased respiratory rate, mucous discharge from mouth and nose, watery white diarrhea later becoming thick and greenish yellow, bluish comb and wattles, death within hour of noticing symptoms. Control rodents, wild birds, and predators. Medicate with sulfa drugs or vaccinate to stop mortality. Prolonged use of sulfa drugs decreases egg production and can be toxic. It also leaves a residue in eggs and meat so do not use on birds intended for human consumption. Tetracycline may be used but it is not as effective.
20
21
Chronic Respiratory Disease caused by Mycoplaspa gallisepticumIn growing and adult birds - coughing, sneezing, ratting, gurgling, swollen face, nasal discharge, ruffled feathers, frothy eyes, squeaky crow, drop in egg laying, sometimes a darkened head, loss of appetite, weight loss, yellowish droppings. Resembles other respiratory diseases, but spreads more slowly. Lasts longer in cold weather. Tylan and LS-50 will reduce the death rate, but survivors are carriers. This is a reportable disease in most states since Mycoplaspa gallisepticum is carried through hatching eggs.
22
23
CoccidiosisIn young birds - droopiness, huddling with ruffled feathers, loss of appetite and desire to drink, weight loss, watery, mucous, or pasty, tan or blood-tinged diarrhea. In adult birds - thin breast weak legs, reduced egg production, and diarrhea. Yellow-skinned birds pale comb, skin, and shanks.Choice of drug depends on the identification of the coccidia involved. Sulmet, Corid, Di-Methox, and Amprol are used to treat Coccidiosis.
24
25
Gape WormInfected birds yawn, grunt, gasp, sneeze, cough, choke; have loss of energy, little appetite, are weak and emaciated, have closed eyes, and will frequently shake the head to dislodge worms from windpipe.Treat with thiabenadazole or levamisole. Reworm in 10 days.
26
27
Infectious BronchitisIn all ages of birds - gasping, coughing, sneezing, rattling, wet eyes, nasal discharge. In young & growing birds - watery nasal discharge, huddling near heat. In adult birds - wattles swollen sometimes. In layers - drastic reduction in egg laying; eggs can be soft shelled, misshapen, rough or with ridge shells and watery whites. (Egg production usually resumes in 6 to 8 weeks, but the quality and quantity will be less.) Starts suddenly, spreads through flock in 24 to 48 hours, birds recover in 2 to 3 weeks. Mortality is higher in chicks especially during cold weather.Add electrolyes to drinking water, keep birds warm, well-fed, and dry; avoid crowding. To avoid secondary bacterial infection, add Penicillin or Oxytet to the drinking water. Survivors are permanently immune, but are carriers. Chicks can be vaccinated with strains of bronchitis found in the specific area.
28
29
Infectious CoryzaIn chicks 4 weeks and older- nasal discharge, facial swelling, one or both eyes closed. In growing and adult birds - swollen face, eyes, and sinuses; watery eyes with eyelids stuck together; foul-smelling discharge from nose; drop in feed and water consumption as well as egg production; diarrhea sometimes; wheezing. Progresses through flock varies from a few days to up to 3 months. Recovered birds are carriers.Gallimycin is the best medication. If not available, use Sulmet or Albon (Di-Methox). Sulfa drugs are not FDA approved for pullets over 14 weeks of age. Birds can be vaccinated with Cocyza-Vac following a multi-vaccination schedule
30
31
Infectious LaryngotracheitisWatery, inflamed, swollen eyes, swollen sinuses & wattles, nasal discharge, drop in egg production, coughing (sometimes with a bloody mucus), breathing through mouth with neck extended during inhale and head on breast with exhale, choking, rattling, drop in egg production or soft-shelled eggs. Spreads through flock in 2 to 6 weeks. Birds die or recover within 2 weeks of becoming sick.No effective treatment. Vaccinate to keep disease from spreading. Survivors are immune, but survivors and vaccinated birds are carriers. This is a reportable disease in most states. Once a vaccination program is started, follow-up vaccination is necessary.
32
33
Marek’s DiseaseBirds 6 to 9 months old - enlarged, red feather follicles or white bumps on skin that fi\orm a brown crusty scab; lack of coordination, pale skin, wing or leg paralysis (one leg points forward & the other poins back under the body), rapid weight loss, coma, death due to trampling or inability to get to feed and water; in breeds having reddish bay eyes - cloudy, grayish dilated pupil.None, cull unless you’re breeding for resistance. Day-old birds can be vaccinated. Check with state poultry specialist for advice on vaccines.
34
35
Newcastle Disease (Exotic)Sudden, high rate of death without or with symptoms: in chicks - gasping, coughing, “chirping”; drooping wings, dragging legs, sometimes with twisted head and neck, circling, somersaulting, walking backward, paralysis. Birds may recover from respiratory symptoms but nervous disorders remain. In mature birds - listlessness, rapid or difficult breathing, egg laying totally stops within 3 days; loss of coordination, muscular tremors; sometimes, watery, greenish, blood-stained diarrhea; swollen, blackish eyes; bleeding through nose, death within 2 to 3 days of onset of disease.No effective treatment. This is a reportable disease. Infected flocks are quarantined and destroyed so avoid contact with illegally imported birds and contact with people and birds were outbreaks of Exotic Newcastle Disease have been reported.
36
37
Scaly Leg MitesRaised scales on shanks and feet. Legs thicken and crust over. Can attack combs and wattles.Use Ivomec to control scaly-leg mites in birds not kept for meat and eggs. Spray with Scalex.
38
39
Worming as indicatedFor worming: ~~~~Leviamisole Solution: Dissolve 52 gram (1.84 oz) pkt of cattle and sheep wormer in 3 quarts water to make a stock solution. Add 1 oz stock solution to 1 gallon drinking water. Effective at treating Capillaria (capillary worms), Heterakis (cecal worms), and Ascaridia (roundworms). The solutions contain .5 gram of leviamisole per gallon of water. Allow the birds to drink the solution for one day, then remove. In severe cases, the treatment can be repeated every 5-7 days. Dosing information from the Mississippi State University Web Site. ~~~~Mix 1 lb bag Safe-Guard pellets with 100 lbs feed. Feed free-choice for three consecutive days. Fenbendazole can be a very effective treatment for eliminating Capillaria (capillary worms), Heterakis (cecal worms), Ascaridia (roundworms), and Syngamus spp. (gapeworms). Toxicity from overdosing with fenbendazole is very remote. Research indicates that amounts up to 100 times the recommended dosages have been given under research conditions without adverse effects to the birds. Do not use during the molt as emerging feathers may be deformed by treatment.
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100