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Health Problems of
Poultry and Game Birds compiled by Terry Smith |
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Other Health Problems |
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Problem |
Symptoms |
Treatment |
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Capillary
Worms |
Pale head, poor appetite, droopiness,
weakness, emaciation, and occasionally diarrhea. Birds may sit with the head
drawn in. |
No approved wormer is
available, but Levamisol is often used. |
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Botulism
(Limberneck) |
Sudden death or leg
weaknesses, drowsiness and flaccid paralysis of legs, wings, and neck. Has
difficulty swallowing, ruffled, loose feathers; lies on side with
outstretched neck and closed eyes; trembling sometimes, diarrhea; coma and
death due to heart and/or respiratory paralysis. |
Remove source of
poisoning (decaying vegetable and animal matter) and contaminated litter. Use
molasses or Epsom salts (1 tsp. Epsom salts dissolved in 1/2 c. water*) to
flush toxins from system. *Squirt down
bird’s throat twice daily for 2 or 3 days.
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Bumblefoot |
In mature males,
especially heavy breeds - lameness, reluctance to walk, rests on hocks with
sores on hocks and/ or bottoms of toes, inflamed foot, hard, swollen, or
pus-filled abscess on bottom of foot. |
Inject swollen area with
1/2cc penicillin. If abscess is large, wash foot, open abscess and remove
cheesy core. Clean with hydrogen peroxide, pack with Neosporin, and tape
bandage over area. Confine bird to deep litter. Dress abscess 2 or 3 days. |
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Gape Worm |
Infected birds yawn,
grunt, gasp, sneeze, cough, choke; have loss of energy, little appetite, are
weak and emaciated, have closed eyes, and will frequently shake the head to
dislodge worms from windpipe. |
Treat with thiabenadazole
or levamisole (Tramisole).
Reworm in 10 days. |
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Scaly Leg
Mites |
Raised scales on shanks
and feet. Legs thicken and crust over. Can attack combs and wattles. |
Ivomec can be used to
control scaly-leg mites in birds not kept for meat and eggs. Spray with Scalex. |
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References The Chicken Health Handbook by Gail Damerow Penn State Poultry Health Handbook. Grower’s Reference on Gamebird Health by L. Dwight Schwartz The best
thing to do if you really want to effectively treat your birds is to consult your local vet or the
diagnostic laboratory at your state agricultural college or university. |
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