Poultry Health Care in the Organic System - Humane and Healthy Poultry Production - page 43

Transmission —droppings of infected birds; spread on used equipment, feed sacks, feet of
humans and wild birds, etc.
Prevention —defies even the best sanitation; breed for resistance; hatch and brood chicks
early in season; raise chicks on clean, dry litter to expose them gradually and let them develop
resistance; avoid crowded, damp conditions.
Alternative treatments —give apple cider vinegar (1 tbs./gal.) in drinking water when
chicks first arrive and when a problem is suspected; provide a variety of greens and buttermilk
or raw milk to infected birds; fast birds for one day then give a senna brew with a few grains of
powdered ginger; provide young birds with soil and sod.
Homeopathic treatments —if birds are listless with bloody droppings give Merc. Cor. or
Ipecac; if comb is pale and there is a lack of appetite give Chellidonium or Nux vomica; if a
head remedy is needed give Merc. Sol.; if birds are emaciated with diarrhea give Aconite,
Merc., Podo, or Ipecac.
All Other Internal Parasites
Incidence —fairly common at low levels.
System/organ affected —all internal organs, particularly digestive tract.
Agent —round worms and flat worms (tapeworms and flukes); protozoa are also internal
parasites that cause diseases such as coccidiosis (see above) and blackhead.
Progression —under good management worms and chickens become balanced in peaceful
coexistence; through gradual exposure birds can develop resistance to most parasites; disease
or stress usually causes an overload.
Symptoms —birds might gradually lose weight as the worms interfere with food absorption
and other digestive processes; some worms, instead of invading the digestive tract, invade the
respiratory system, causing breathing difficulties and gradual blockage of airways; pale head
(anemia), droopiness or depression, reduced laying, foamy diarrhea, death.
Percentage affected —variable.
Mortality —limited except in very young birds.
Transmission —direct-cycle worms may be picked up on droppings or litter; indirect-cycle
worms require an intermediate host such as a grasshopper or another species of worm that is
consumed by the bird.
Prevention —maintain robust immunity and vigorous health in the flock; practice good
sanitation; eliminate intermediate hosts (impossible on range); rotate ranges of free-range birds;