A-Z of chicken diseases

[OrpingtonManiac]

49. Chicken infectious anaemia
CIA is a disease affecting chicks (typically 2-3 weeks of age), caused by chicken infectious anaemia virus (CIAV). It is often complicated by secondary infections. It can also occur in adults, and in adults it causes immunosuppression.
High mortality is caused by either anaemia or secondary infections.

Transmission:
CIAV is spread vertically or horizontally. Infected chicks will shed the virus in their feces, which contaminates water, food and bedding. Other chicks will then ingest the virus.
In adults, CIAV can reactivate in sexually mature hens, resulting in the chicks from that hen becoming infected.

Symptoms:
Weakness; red to blue skin discolouration (as a result of haemorrhaging in the skin); loss of appetite; ruffled feathers; paleness; huddling under heat sources; reduced growth; weight loss; dullness; depression; lethargy

Prevention:
Good sanitation
Avoid overcrowding
Vaccinate breeding hens

Treatment:
There is no specific treatment for CIA, although secondary infections can be treated.

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

50. Choline deficiency
Choline is an essential nutrient. It is involved in building and maintaining cell structure, and is important for fat metabolism in the liver. It helps prevent fatty liver. It is also used in the production of acetylcholine, which is essential for the transmission of nerve impulses. Choline deficiency is most common in growing chicks.

Foods containing choline:
All foods with naturally occurring fats have choline. Egg yolk, legumes etc. are good sources. Corn is low in choline.

Symptoms:
Stunted growth; poor feathering; perosis; thick, short, bowed legs; in laying hens: Less eggs, and lower quality eggs; fatty liver syndrome

Prevention:
Feed a nutritionally balanced diet
Supplement with b-vitimans after hatching

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

51. Chronic respiratory disease
This a respiratory infection of the upper respiratory tract, caused by Mycoplasma Gallisepticum (MG). Young birds are often more severely affected. Antibiotics alleviate symptoms but do not get rid of the infection.

Transmission:
It spreads both vertically (from breeding parents to chick) and horizontally (from bird to bird, or host to bird). Horizontally, it is spread through the air, feed and water contamination, and contact with infected hosts. It can also remain in shoes, vehicles etc.

Symptoms:
Eye discharge; conjunctivitis; gurgling sounds; gaping; coughing; sneezing; nasal discharge; facial swelling; head shaking; tracheal rales.

Prevention:
Minimise contact with other birds
Quarantine all new flock members
Minimise stress

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Treatment and support:
If the prolapse is caused by egg laying, remove all pellets and instead feed a diet of mixed corn only until the vent has fully recovered. Limit the hens exposure to light.

Can you clarify this?
How long does it take to heal.
How much light exposure can a hen have?
What happens if you feed a diet of mixed corn only?
Will all of this make the prolapse go back in by itself?



Where are you getting this from - the British Hen Welfare Trust, Poultry DVM or a mixture of sources?

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

Can you clarify this?
How long does it take to heal.
How much light exposure can a hen have?
What happens if you feed a diet of mixed corn only?
Will all of this make the prolapse go back in by itself?



Where are you getting this from - the British Hen Welfare Trust, Poultry DVM or a mixture of sources?

I use a mixture of sources, including poultry DVM for the list of diseases and a summary of each, BHWT and MSDvet for more information, any other websites that have good, correct information on the subject, as well as scientific papers.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

52. Cloacal prolapse
This occurs when the inner tissues protrude outside the vent of a chicken. The longer the tissues remain outside the body, the higher the risk of secondary infections and tissue damage.

Symptoms:
Excessive straining; organs hanging outside of the vent; preening excessively; picking at vent region; soiled feathers around the vent.

Treatment and support:
Depending on the severity of the prolapse, it can take from a few days (in non-severe, small prolapses) to several weeks (for the vent to heal; it is unlikely a chicken can survive with the tissues outside the vent for that long) for the chicken's vent to completely heal

If the prolapse is caused by egg laying, remove all pellets and instead feed a diet of mixed corn only until the vent has fully recovered. This will cause a temporary imbalance of protein, causing a reduction in egg laying. Once the prolapse has healed completely, the pellets may be reintroduced to the hens diet. However, this method may cause nutritional deficiencies, so must be done for no longer than a week. A poultry drink/boost should be used in the water to prevent more nutritional deficiencies.
Avoid supplemental light, and place the hen in a dark area so they get less than 10 hours of sunlight a day. Hens need at least 14 hours a day to lay consistently, every day. Less than this will reduce egg laying.

In a minor prolapse that heals quickly with no intervention by the owner, this should not be necessary -though removing artificial lighting can be beneficial.
In more severe prolapses, reducing egg laying will prevent the prolapse from reoccurring before the vent has healed. The procedure below should be carried out:

Cleaning:
As soon as the prolapse is discovered, remove the chicken from the rest of the flock. All debris, fecal material or egg material should be removed. This can be done by soaking the chickens lower half.

If the tissues is contaminated with excessive fecal/egg material:
Do not attempt to push the tissue back inside the chicken. Apply a topical antibacterial to the area, such as honey, and call a veterinarian. Broad spectrum antibiotics may be used to prevent secondary infections.

If the tissue is damaged:
Do not push the tissue back inside the bird. Keep the bird separated in a warm, dry area away from any stressors. Call a veterinarian.

If the tissue is not damaged:
Apply a water-based lubricant and carefully push the material back inside the vent. Do not press to hard.

If the tissue does not remain inside the vent:
Calling a veterinarian is necessary. Additional procedures may be carried out by the vet, such as temporary sutures.

Causes:
Chronic straining from laying
Large abdominal masses
Peritonitis
Holding droppings for extended periods (eg in broody hens)
Constipation
Soft shelled eggs
Large eggs
Obese chickens
Calcium deficiency

Curious why you chose treatment option to Induce Molting (Force Molt) instead of other options that may be mentioned with various sources.
What are the consequences of forced molt, how long will it take for a hen with reduced light and feed to begin molt and how long will the whole process take before she is able to resume laying eggs?

"No intervention by owner" = can or will a prolapse heal on its own without any intervention?

Are there other treatment options available?

I realize you are trying to list conditions/diseases from A-Z and that's great. There's a lot to learn and the thread can definitely bring these to light. I also realize you are loosely following the "list" of A-Z diseases/condition mainly produced by Poultry DVM, along with research/changing up wording and/or adding/treatments from other sources. It is very good to read various sources and information pertaining to conditions. When showcasing "common" conditions that are often seen, you may want to take extra steps to include various treatment options because I'm sure many folks will eventually find this thread or a particular condition just by searching BYC or the web.

This is mostly for my own reference, but hopefully it may help someone else.

I use a mixture of sources, including poultry DVM for the list of diseases and a summary of each, BHWT and MSDvet for more information, any other websites that have good, correct information on the subject, as well as scientific papers.

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

52. Coccidiosis
This is caused by a Protozoan parasite belonging to the genus eimeria. There are 7 species that affect the intestinal tract of chickens. 3 of the these are considered most important in the commercial poultry industry.

Symptoms:
Reduced feed consumption; ruffled feathers; rapid and severe weight loss; watery droppings; sever diarrhoea; Bloody droppings (in some cases)

Transmission:
The coccidia oocytes are ingested by chickens, which become infected. The oocytes are then shedded in the infected birds faeces, which contaminate bedding, food and water sources.

Prevention:
Vaccination
Anticoccidials
High biosecurity
Good sanitation

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

53. Colibacillosis
This is an infection caused by the avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC).
It causes: acute fatal septicemia; subacute pericarditis; Airsacculitis; salpingitis; peritonitis; cellulitis. In laying hens, peritonitis and salpingitis are most common. In chicks, omphalitis (yolk sac infection) and swollen head syndrome are most common.
It is seen in all ages, but most common in adult layers.

Transmission:
It can occur horizontally or vertically. Horizontally, from chick to chick or adult to adult. Vertically from breeding parent to chick.

The below occurs due to colonisation in the reproductive tract:
Contamination of the egg before shell formation and from faeces in the cloaca are routes of infection, with the latter being the main route.


Rodent faeces are also a source. Beetles, pigeons, houseflies and wild birds are also sources.
The fecal-oral route, ascending route (through the cloaca) and respiratory route are all ways of infection.

Sources of Horizontal spread infections: Contaminated body fluids; contaminated aerosols; feathers; faeces


Symptoms:
Symptoms are nonspecific and vary depending on the age, concurrent diseases and affected organs

Diarrhoea; fewer eggs; depression; fever; death; higher mortality during the first week in chicks

Prevention:
Remove cracked eggs or eggs soiled with fecal matter
Clean waterers and feeders regularly
Good biosecurity
Do not crowd birds
Limit stress
Ensure adequate ventilation
Good sanitation

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

54. Crooked toes
Crooked toes (CT) in chickens are mostly caused by management or nutritional deficiencies. A riboflavin deficiency can cause the toes to curl inwards. Inbreeding and improper incubation temperatures can also cause CT, as well as Wire floors, cold floors (especially in chicks) and genetics.

Chickens usually get CT at an early age. It causes the chicken to walk on the sides of their toes.