http://forum.poultry.ie/categories/feeding-health-care/categories/feeding-health-care/p3/feed.rss Fri, 03 Nov 2017 02:42:37 +0000 Feeding & Health Care - Poultry Ireland en-CA http://forum.poultry.ie/discussion/1042/layer-pellets Sun, 22 Jul 2012 20:38:55 +0000 chris 1042@/discussions http://forum.poultry.ie/discussion/1025/help-chickens-over-fed-on-gra-mix Tue, 12 Jun 2012 20:18:42 +0000 usherfarm 1025@/discussions
Is there any way we can speed up their recovery to get them over the effects of being overfed the Gra-Mix???

We're very worried. Any advice would be really appreciated.]]> http://forum.poultry.ie/discussion/1021/my-rir-has-a-swollen-stomach Tue, 29 May 2012 22:46:32 +0000 Lou 1021@/discussions http://forum.poultry.ie/discussion/1010/what-is-jiggers-giggers-the-vet-said-my-chook-has-it Tue, 08 May 2012 19:57:37 +0000 nia 1010@/discussions
so worrid we brought her to the vet who examined her aand checked for blockage or eggs in her tummy. he took her temperature and concludedthat she had an infection called jiggers/giggers. so he just gave an antibiotic to put in her water for five days.

i have searched the internet in hope of finding more info on this but i cannot find anything i could be spelling it wrong.has anyone any experience of this and if so did your chicken pull through it and would you know where i could get info on this?

unfortunately timenwas against us in the vets and we couldnt asi in depth qustions about this.

any input would be so appreciated as this is our first experience of a sick hen and honestly findng it upsetting to see poor flossy so down and out.

shes 7months.

THanks a million]]> http://forum.poultry.ie/discussion/78/lame-hen Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:56:29 +0000 FATduck27 78@/discussions All my RIR sleep in one nesting box on top of each other, so I was thinking her leg could have got squashed or sprained?]]> http://forum.poultry.ie/discussion/954/antibiotic Tue, 25 Oct 2011 07:37:30 +0000 ashthera 954@/discussions http://forum.poultry.ie/discussion/918/marek-s-disease Tue, 04 Oct 2011 18:40:47 +0000 Burrenchick 918@/discussions http://forum.poultry.ie/discussion/893/watery-eyes-what-can-i-do Mon, 26 Sep 2011 21:11:36 +0000 Brian 893@/discussions
Also a RIR has a 1 watery eye and has had this for sometime then she unfortunately got chased by my dogs and that eye has also swollen and she still eats and drinks normal but always has what looks like a layer of water on her eyes which is warm to touch.

and this morning 2 of my chicks who looked a bit quiet and to themselves last night were dead when i was letting them out.

i have swaped 2 hens and a cockerl lately but they came form a genuine person and the cock has very scaby and scaly feet and look very abnormal

i have about 50 hens and chicks also i have 10 ducks will they be of harm?]]> http://forum.poultry.ie/discussion/809/chicken-unwell-any-ideas-please Sun, 31 Jul 2011 10:39:20 +0000 emcatev 809@/discussions just hoping someone may be able to help me; one of our blackrocks hasn't been herself over the past few days, she doesn't seem to come out of the coop at all, even in the mornings for food and water. When i lifted her up this morning to have a better look at her I discovered that her breast is missing all its feathers?! I put her down and she appears to shake somewhat and her hair stands on end!! Quite worried about her, and I fear whatever she may have may affect the other chickens. Also there is a definite drop in egg production with the ladies in general.
Anyone help?? ]]> http://forum.poultry.ie/discussion/799/sick-silver-sussex Thu, 07 Jul 2011 13:22:25 +0000 sh8283 799@/discussions Got five new birds last week to go with four I already have. One of them, a Silver Sussex, is quite sick since yesterday. She's very listless, lying down all the time and has green diarrhoea. Anyone got any suggestions what this might be and what I can do to treat it. Worried also that it could be contagious.

Thanks.]]> http://forum.poultry.ie/discussion/793/very-sick-after-tylan-200-injection Thu, 30 Jun 2011 12:47:23 +0000 katherinesyme 793@/discussions http://forum.poultry.ie/discussion/787/new-stock Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:40:15 +0000 Thelord 787@/discussions
Have then 400ft away from the old flock(as far as room permits).
Can I worm them now or would it be best to wait a week or two ?]]> http://forum.poultry.ie/discussion/780/broiler-rations Thu, 16 Jun 2011 21:54:36 +0000 tormeymark 780@/discussions http://forum.poultry.ie/discussion/772/help-please Sun, 05 Jun 2011 21:13:40 +0000 Cluckie hen 772@/discussions So the events went as this...I was being helped by my sister as my chickens are not tame..they have a huge run all to themselves and its tucked away in the corner of a paddock..they were being hammered by crows and magpies so I netted above them and made a scarecrow..
We started on the big boy..and he is big and strong..gave his legs a go with vasileen and a dose of mite stuff on the back of the neck..next was the chucks turn..so 1 by 1 we caught them (by the legs first, then turned them over and into the clutch hold!!), checked them and gave them a dose of mite stuff and sprayed Peck Off...but on the last chuck when we were cornering her my sis put her foot out to block her and just at the same time the chuck took a run and ended up under my sis foot, who didnt put her whole weight on her but did give her a bit of a bash..the chook ran off still no bother, we caught her and gave her the treatment..
But now she is acting strange...not standing up right when she walks, keeps kinda falling to one side or the other when she is staying still..but then will suddenly just stand up straight and walk normally again..I caught her again and there doesnt seem to be anything broken...and now another of the hens that didnt get stood on is not standing up straight either but seems happy as larry, eating drinking and doing what hens do!!!
What is going on....please if you can help I would be so happy. I hate seeing them like this and if they are distressed would prefer to do the job on them than leave them in misery ;-(
Also I have already spent a fortune on them, for lotions and potions, trying to get rid of the mite problem, that I am told was probably carried in by the bleedin crows and magpies...and the money is so tight...
Any thoughts anyone..??]]> http://forum.poultry.ie/discussion/770/fattening-chicks Wed, 01 Jun 2011 23:05:11 +0000 tormeymark 770@/discussions http://forum.poultry.ie/discussion/768/loss-of-feathers Fri, 27 May 2011 13:46:06 +0000 wex70 768@/discussions ]]> http://forum.poultry.ie/discussion/724/feeding-advice-please Sat, 19 Mar 2011 20:36:52 +0000 dee 724@/discussions also should i be providing grit ???? and could i give them barley (which type rolled???) oats or corn ????? could anyone reccommend a good layers pellet ?
thanks all]]> http://forum.poultry.ie/discussion/760/unwell-chicken Fri, 06 May 2011 17:54:56 +0000 sallyhuggy 760@/discussions
Thanks in advance.

Sally]]> http://forum.poultry.ie/discussion/761/advise-again-please Mon, 09 May 2011 18:19:22 +0000 sallyhuggy 761@/discussions
Thanks again.]]> http://forum.poultry.ie/discussion/636/chickens-losing-feathers Sat, 06 Nov 2010 13:00:29 +0000 Jonartie 636@/discussions
Been away for a while as I lost my birds at the end of last March to a fox (I think). Thought the pen was secure but he found a way in and took 6 birds in one night (including my drake). Was distraught after that so held off on getting new birds. But glad to be back in action now and back on poultry.ie!

Recently I took 7 nice reds and a rooster from a farmer over the road, and they seemed to settle well in our pen. We got a few eggs the first couple of days but they have pretty much stopped laying now (apart from one). I assumed it was because of their new surroundings, new feed etc. But now I suspect there might be something wrong. A couple of birds are losing feathers and its getting worse. One theory I have is that they are pecking each other trying to re-establish the pecking order, but they all came from the same flock so not sure about that. I'm feeding them layers pellets and scraps from the kitchen. Anyway, I've included a picture where you can see one of the affected birds.
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated,
Jon.

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk283/Jonartie/IMG_0063.jpg]]> http://forum.poultry.ie/discussion/676/coccidiosis-or-mareks Thu, 20 Jan 2011 11:18:19 +0000 sally 676@/discussions http://forum.poultry.ie/discussion/651/freezing-weather Wed, 01 Dec 2010 10:28:54 +0000 cath 651@/discussions http://forum.poultry.ie/discussion/669/sneezing-hen Tue, 11 Jan 2011 20:26:55 +0000 zinzari 669@/discussions http://forum.poultry.ie/discussion/653/new-to-this Mon, 06 Dec 2010 17:00:55 +0000 dee 653@/discussions any help or advice greatly appreciated, also i have them at the moment in a sort of guinea pig cage (in the shed and am covering it at night with a blanket as its very cold) must buy an ark/ run type thing or try to make 1 any reccomendations also was thinking of getting another 1 or 2 marans are reccomended 2 me for egg laying ??????]]> http://forum.poultry.ie/discussion/630/apple-cider-vinegar Fri, 29 Oct 2010 20:57:07 +0000 marty 630@/discussions So picked up a gallon in the local Co-op, Anyone have a recommended amount to add per litre etc..]]> http://forum.poultry.ie/discussion/645/chronic-respiratory-infection Thu, 18 Nov 2010 01:26:04 +0000 FATduck27 645@/discussions
Chronic Respiratory Infection
(Mycoplasma Gallisepticum)
Mycoplasma Gallisepticum causes respiratory problems - coughing and sneezing, nasal discharge and runny 'bubbly' eyes in poultry. There are various forms of Mycoplasma, all are opportunist organisms that multiply when the bird is struck with another malaise like Infectious Bronchitis or have a stress trigger. In most instances the infection in poultry is aggravated by respiratory problems and is commonly called "Chronic Respiratory Disease" or "CRD".
The stress trigger can be small such as moving birds to different housing or adding new birds, a change in diet, mites or even a sudden change in the weather. Some birds unfortunately die, some birds are only carriers and some birds are sick and recover but repeatedly have bouts of illness (not normally as bad as the first time though). As it can be carried by wild birds, it is a problem with birds that are allowed to free range as they can come into contact with it easily.
Test for Myco or IB
A blood test can be done. The blood samples are usually sent to a specialist poultry laboratory for analysis. In Ireland, it is advisible to test all new stock that you buy since it is a notifiable class A disease and the Department of Agriculture in Ireland recommend culling all birds that test positive.

The whole flock can appear to be well but if you get some new birds in or introduce some youngsters they can fall ill because the it is being carried in the flock. It normally only takes a few days for them to fall ill as it spreads from bird to bird very quickly and once you have it, it is impossible to completely get rid of it, unless you are prepared to destroy your birds and start again, sterilising housing and runs as you go and leaving them to rest for a few weeks before re-stocking with new Myco-free birds. The infectious agent survives for only a matter of days outside of the birds. Commercial operations operate an ‘all in, all out’ system to ensure they do not have problems.

Vaccination
You can vaccinate the birds when they are young (Intervet now have a Mycoplasma vaccine) but it is expensive as it is only sold in doses for 1000 birds. What’s more, once you open it, it won’t keep and chicks have to be treated at a certain age so you end up needing fresh vaccine for every hatch which makes vaccination fairly costly unless you have large quantities of birds hatch at a time. The vaccine is given to the birds by very fine spray so they can breathe it in. The sprayer is a specialist piece of equipment and it isn’t possible to simply use a greenhouse hand sprayer or similar.
Symptoms
In many instances Mycoplasma Gallisepticum infection in poultry is aggravated by respiratory colibacillosis and the complex is designated "Chronic Respiratory Disease" The most common indicators are the gooey stuck together eyes or runny eyes. Runny nasal passages. Sneezing, coughing, wheezing and rattley breathing that can be described as “Darth Vader” breathing.

As the infection gets worse, a blue comb and wattles indicate it is severely compromising the bird’s respiratory system and the bird isn’t getting enough oxygen in to its tissues. There is a real risk of them dieing at this point quite suddenly.

Stress in birds is the biggest trigger for bouts of Myco or IB, changes in weather, home, new birds, lack of water, poor diet etc. cause stress so its best to avoid causing any unnecessary stress in your birds.
Treatment
The most common treatment for Mycoplasma that a vet will prescribe is a broad spectrum antibiotic given for 3 to 5 days. Tylan or Baytril are the most common. It is necessary to start treating them as soon as you notice the problem to have a good chance of pulling them through. Most of the antibiotics prescribed are soluble in water but injections are more effective. Tylan 200 is an injectable form.]]> http://forum.poultry.ie/discussion/646/coccidiosis Thu, 18 Nov 2010 01:27:21 +0000 FATduck27 646@/discussions
Coccidiosis
Life Cycle
Stages of coccidia in chickens appear both within the host as well as outside. The developmental stages in the chicken give rise to a microscopic egg (called an oocyst) that is passed out in the droppings.
Under proper conditions of temperature and moisture, the oocyst develops within one to two days to form a sporulated oocyst, which is capable of infecting other chickens. At this stage, the oocyst contains eight bodies (called sporozoites), each of which is capable of entering a cell in the chicken's intestine after the oocyst is eaten.
When sporozoites enter the cells, they divide many times producing either a few or many offspring (merozoites). The numbers produced depend on the species of coccidia involved. Each merozoite, in turn, may enter another intestinal cell. This cycle may be repeated several times. Because of this cyclic multiplication, large numbers of intestinal cells are destroyed.
Eventually, the cycle stops and sex cells (male and female) are produced. The male fertilizes the female to produce an oocyst, which ruptures from the intestinal cell and passes in the droppings. Thousands of oocysts may be passed in the droppings of an infected chicken; therefore, poultry raised in crowded or unsanitary conditions are at great risk of becoming infected.


How Birds Become Infected

Normally, most birds pass small numbers of oocysts in their droppings without apparent ill effects. Coccidiosis becomes important as a disease when animals live, or are reared, under conditions that permit the build-up of infective oocysts in the environment. The intensive rearing of domestic chickens may provide these conditions.
Young chickens pick up the infection from contaminated premises. These premises may have been contaminated previously by other young infected birds or by adult birds that have recovered from the condition. Wet areas around water fountains are a source of infection.
Coccidiosis occurs most frequently in young birds. Old birds are generally immune as a result of prior infection. Severe damage to the ceca and small intestine accompany the development of the coccidia. Broilers and layers are more commonly infected, but broiler breeders and turkey and pheasant poults are also affected.
Coccidiosis generally occurs more frequently during warmer (May to September) than colder months (October to April) of the year
How to Know When Chickens are infected
The most easily recognized clinical sign of severe cecal coccidiosis is the presence of bloody droppings. Dehydration may accompany cecal coccidiosis.
Coccidiosis caused by E. tenella first becomes noticeable at about three days after infection. Chickens droop, stop feeding, huddle together, and by the fourth day, blood begins to appear in the droppings. The greatest amount of blood appears by day five or six, and by the eighth or ninth day, the bird is either dead or on the way to recovery. Mortality is highest between the fourth and sixth days.


Control
Several anti-coccidials are available. Depending on the product used, the withdrawal periods and contraindications should be strictly followed. One example of an anti-coccidials is Sulphadimidine Soudium.]]> http://forum.poultry.ie/discussion/647/marek-s-disease Thu, 18 Nov 2010 01:28:54 +0000 FATduck27 647@/discussions
Marek's disease
Marek's disease is a highly contagious viral neoplastic disease in chickens. Occasionally misdiagnosed as an abtissue pathology it is caused by an alphaherpesvirus known as Marek's disease virus (MDV) or gallid herpesvirus 2 (GaHV-2). The disease is characterized by presence of T cell lymphoma as well as infiltration of nerves and organs by lymphocytes. Viruses related to MDV appear to be benign and can be used as vaccine strains to prevent Marek's disease. For example, the related Herpesvirus of Turkeys (HVT), causes no apparent disease in turkeys and continues to be used as a vaccine strain for prevention of Marek's disease (see below). Birds infected with GaHV-2 can be carriers and shedders of the virus for life. Newborn chicks are protected by maternal antibodies for a few weeks. After infection, microscopic lesions are present after one to two weeks, and gross lesions are present after three to four weeks. The virus is spread in dander from feather follicles and transmitted by inhalation.
Varieties of Marek’s disease
Classical Marek's disease or neurolymphomatosis causes asymmetric paralysis of one or more limbs. With vagus nerve involvement, difficulty breathing or dilation of the crop may occur. Besides lesions in the peripheral nerves, there are frequently lymphomatous infiltration/tumours in the skin, skeletal muscle, visceral organs. Organs that are commonly affected include the ovary, spleen, liver, kidneys, lungs, heart, proventriculus and adrenals.
Acute Marek's disease is an epidemic in a previously uninfected or unvaccinated flock, causing depression, paralysis, and death in a large number of birds (up to 80 percent). The age of onset is much earlier than the classic form, birds are four to eight weeks old when affected. Infiltration into multiple organs/tissue is observed.
Ocular lymphomatosis causes lymphocyte infiltration of the iris (making the iris turn grey), anisocoria, and blindness.
Cutaneous Marek's disease causes round, firm lesions at the feather follicles.
Atherosclerosis is induced in experimentally infected chickens.
Immunosuppression Imparement of the T-lymphocytes prevent competent immunological response against pathogenic challenge and the affected birds become more succeptible to disease conditions such as coccidiosis and "Escherichia coli" infection. Furthermore, without stimulation by cell-mediated immunity, the humoral immunity conferred by the B-cell lines from the Bursa of Fabricius also shuts down. Thus resulting in birds that are totally immunocompromised.
Diagnosis
The demonstration of nerve enlargement, especially with the ischiatic nerve along with suggestive clinical signs in a bird that is around three to four months old is highly suggestive of Marek's Disease. The presence of nodules on the internal organs may also suggest Marek's disease but further testing is required for confirmation. This is done through histological demonstration of lymphomatous infiltration into the affected tissue. A range of leukocytes can be involved, including lyphocytic cell lines such as large lymphocyte, lymphoblast, primitive reticular cells and occasional plasma cells as well as macrophage and plasma cells. The T-cells are involved in the malignancy, showing neoplastic changes with evidence of mitosis.
The lymphomatous infiltrates need to be differentiated with another condition that affects poultry known as Lymphoid Leukosis as well as an inflammatory event associated with hyperplastic changes of the affected tissue.
Control
Vaccination is the only known method to prevent the development of tumors when chickens are infected with the virus. However, administration of vaccines does not prevent transmission of the virus; i.e., the vaccine is non-sterilizing. However, it does reduce the amount of virus shed in the dander and hence reduce horizontal spread of the disease. Marek's Disease does not spread vertically. The vaccine was introduced in 1970. Before that, Marek's disease caused substantial revenue loss in the poultry industries of the United States and the United Kingdom. The vaccine can be administered to one day old chicks through sub-cutaneous inoculation or by in-ovo vaccination when the eggs are transferred from the incubator to the hatcher. In-ovo vaccination is the preferred method, as in does not require handling of the chicks and can be done rapidly by automated methods. Immunity develops within two weeks.
The vaccine originally contained the antigenically similar turkey herpesvirus, which is serotype 3 of MDV. However, because vaccination does not prevent infection with the virus, the Marek's Disease virus has evolved increased virulence and resistance to this vaccine. As a result, current vaccines use a combination of vaccines consisting of HVT and gallid herpesvirus type 3 or an attenuated MDV strain.]]> http://forum.poultry.ie/discussion/648/northern-fowl-mite Thu, 18 Nov 2010 01:30:23 +0000 FATduck27 648@/discussions
Northern Fowl Mite
The Northern Fowl Mite has been shown to cause economic damage on poultry farms by causing anaemia, lower egg production and even death to birds. Also of considerable importance, the mites will bite humans causing itching and irritation to the skin.
Life Cycle
There are 4 stages in the mite life cycle--egg, larva, nymph, and adult. The adult female mite lays eggs on the host bird. Depending on the temperature and humidity, the eggs will hatch in 1 to 2 days. The larvae which hatch from the egg do not feed and molt to the nymphal stage in about 8 hours. The nymph has biting mouthparts and pierces the bird's skin for a blood meal. The nymphs mature to adults in 4-7 days. Adult female mites take a blood meal and complete egg-laying in 2 days. The number of eggs laid average 2-5 per female mite. The complete life cycle from egg to egg-laying female can take place in 5-7 days or longer depending on temperature and humidity. Adult mites spend most of their lives on the host, but will also wander to the eggs and rafters. The mite prefers to remain on the host in the vicinity of the vent, although the back is also a preferred site. Although female mites do not lay large numbers of eggs, mite populations can rise rapidly after a bird has been initially infested. When conditions are optimal, newly infested birds may support mite populations in excess of 20,000 per bird in 9-10 weeks. Mite populations of approximately 200,000 per bird will cause death from blood loss or exsanguinations.
Economic Importance
Infestations of large numbers of northern fowl mites can reduce egg production in healthy chickens by 10%. Small to moderate populations do not affect bird egg production although egg handlers may complain of bites and irritation because of the presence of mites. Severe anaemia and death may result from birds infested with large mite populations. Death is usually the result of blood loss from the bites of 200,000 or more mites per bird. Mite-stressed birds usually reduce food intake, lose weight rapidly, and exhibit a pale pink comb. The feathers will also darken due to the excrement from large numbers of mites. Scabbing may develop in the vent region. Economically important populations of northern fowl mites normally occur from December through March. Mites prefer lower temperatures. Mites can survive for 2 to 3 weeks away from their host.
Transmission
Mites are normally transmitted from bird to bird by contact or by the mites simply crawling to new hosts. Mites may be introduced into a "clean" house by introduction of new infested birds, by wild birds, or from infected egg flats which are hauled from farm to farm. Northern fowl mites severely infest young wild birds in the nest. Young fledglings feeding in or around poultry farms may be an important factor in the transmission of mites from house to house.
Control
None of the recommended materials will kill the eggs of northern fowl mite. Since the mite will go through a generation in 7 days, it is necessary to re-treat the birds in 4-7 days to insure effective control. Some pesticides cannot be applied more often than once every 4 weeks or pesticide tolerances in the eggs will be exceeded. It is therefore advisable to alternate chemicals when scheduling miticiding operations.]]> http://forum.poultry.ie/discussion/650/my-hens-and-ducks-have-stopped-laying Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:05:39 +0000 dave64 650@/discussions
at the time i introduced a young flock of muscovy chicks and 2 bronze turkeys.im wondering has this anything got to do with the other poultry stopping.they were all laying perfectly and then one week they all stopped.]]>