Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Thrush:
Thrush affects the upper digestive tract. Symptoms include diarrhea, weight loss,
and slow growth caused by a Candida yeast-like substance that lives in the chickens' bowels.
You can prevent this disease by practicing good nutrition and sanitation. Treatment includes
isolating infected birds and cleaning and disinfecting coops, feeders, waterers, and bedding.
Clean mouth sores with an antiseptic such as hydrogen peroxide. A home remedy to help cure
your bird is to first do a “flush.” Add 1 pint of molasses per 5 gallons of water and offer it to
your bird for no more than eight hours. Or, give the bird an Epsom salt flush. Use 1 teaspoon
of Epsom salt in ½ cup of water and squirt the solution down the bird's throat twice daily for
two days or until recovery. You also can try using ½ teaspoon copper sulfate per gallon drink-
ing water every other day. Do not use a metal waterer with this mixture.
Twisted leg:
Twisted leg is also known as crooked legs, valgus leg deformity, or long-bone
distortion because it affects the long bones of the leg. The chicken may have a pointed protru-
sion at the hock joint, and affected birds sometimes walk on bruised or swollen hocks. The
cause may be nutritional, genetic, or possibly due to the environment they are raised in. There
is no treatment. Prevention includes raising birds on litter and not wire. Also, do not feed your
birds for rapid growth. This condition will not harm humans.
Ulcerative Enteritis:
Ulcerative Enteritis affects poultry including chickens, ducks, turkeys,
and game birds. It causes inflammation and ulcers in the intestines. This can be fatal, but 90
percent of the time is not. It appears in both acute and chronic form. It is caused by a bacteria
passed on through the feces. If another chicken pecks at feces that are infected with these bac-
teria, it can contract it. Sometimes, flies that have fed on contaminated feces can carry the
bacteria and pass it on to other birds as well. Symptoms include blood in diarrhea, listlessness,
and depression. Chickens can be treated for ulcerative enteritis by antibiotics such as strep-
tomyocin or furazolidone added to their feed.
Parasitic worms
Worms are a common problem in birds and poultry. The key to success is ridding the source
or host of the parasite so you are not continually treating a recurring problem. A host is any
living thing that provides an ideal environment for the parasite to survive. Treatment can be-
come costly and frustrating, and parasites can become resistant to medications. Prevention
and cleanliness of your bird's environment will be your best defense in this fight. Six common
parasitic worms found in chickens are:
• Nemathelminthes, a type of roundworm
