Ascites help needed

[sewhorsey]

Hi there,

I am raising my third small batch of meaties and have never had a problem with Ascites.

This new batch of ten birds is just over two weeks of age. I am noticing several of them with the swollen red abdomen and a runny clear-yellowish diarhea. The breathing of the birds also seems a bit labored, even for a meat bird.

If I begin restricting feed, will this help? Can the condition be managed until slaughter? Or it is an irrevocable early death for these guys?

Thanks so much, Amy

 

[dlhunicorn]

meat birds need to be fed differently as you yourself have stated.
Here is article on ascites in meat birds:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/500/understanding-and-controlling-ascites

 

[sewhorsey]

I have always really kept alot of heat on my broilers and this batch I was less aggressive about keeping them very warm...I think that might have cotributed to my problem.

Still, can ascites be reversed? Or just managed?

 

[dlhunicorn]

that has no simple answer but to my mind only managed.