Backyard poultry, including waterfowl: problems and solutions Flashcards
Name the 6 parts that make up the reproductive tract in hens
Infundibulum
Magnum
Isthmus
Uterus
Vagina
Cloaca
What happens to the egg at each part of the reproductive tract?
Infundibulum - capture ovum
Magnum - albumin added
Isthmus - shell membranes added
Uterus - egg shell added
How long is incubation of eggs in chickens?
21 days
Describe the correct conditions for egg storage
- Over 24 hrs but < 7 days old
- Storage at 10 C, turn eggs daily
- Washing with warm water
- Some fogging with Virkon
Describe candling eggs and its purpose
- 9-10 days after incubation
- To determine the fertility of eggs
- Use small bright torch, held at broad end of the egg in dark room
What are the key components needed in the management of chick rearing
Warmth
Food
Water
Litter - wood shavings, newspaper, commercial litter
List some common problems/infections of breeders/layers
- Oviduct infection
- Egg peritonitis
- Infectious bronchitis virus
- Egg bound
- Pyometra
What are the consequences of IBV infection?
Mis-shapen/weak eggs, watery whites, rough shell, cystic/atrophic oviduct
What is the cause of chickens being egg bound?
Lack of calcium
List the poultry viruses that can be vertically transmitter from mother to young
Reovirus – viral arthritis
Retroviruses – lymphoid leucosis
Adenoviruses
Astroviruses
List the poultry bacteria that can be vertically transmitter from mother to young
- Salmonella
- E coli
- Staphylococci
- Mycoplasma
List the non-infectious causes of urinary tract problems in poultry spp
Water deprivation
Water/feed quality - Minerals, toxic substances, Excessive salt
List the infectious causes of urinary tract problems in poultry spp
Infectious bronchitis virus
Infectious bursal disease
Marek’s disease
Bacterial infections
‘Splayed leg’ is seen in birds with which infection?
Marek’s disease - sciatic nerve infection
List some causes of poultry welfare issues
- Housing, Husbandry, Nutrition
- Deformities, Diseases
- Breeding
- Hygiene and sanitation
- Biosecurity
List some analgesic drugs that can be used in poultry spp
- Buprenorphine
- Carprofen
- Meloxicam
- Ketoprofen
Describe the considerations of anaesthetics recovery in poultry spp
- Keep warm, position not restricting breathing
- Quiet environment.
- Oxygen supplementation as needed
- Fluid – subcutaneous, iv or intraosseous
- Crop feeding with electrolytes, probiotics, medications
What is the biggest problem of vaccinating backyard flocks?
Unavailability of no small quantity doses
Describe euthanasia of poultry spp
Pentobarbitone
- IV – wing, jugular
- IM breast muscle after masking down
- Intracardiac, long needle via the thoracic in-let
When can neck dislocation be used as a euthanasia method?
Animals under 3Kg
Describe the access to water needed for waterfowl spp
- Not only for drinking
- Also to be able to get their head under water at least
- Pond (s) – natural or artificial
- Easy to clean and move
Name some geese breeds
Greylag
Toulouse
Where needs to be clinically examined in waterfowl spp?
- Temperature
- Mouth
- Oropharynx
- External parasites - Skin, feathers or scales
- Vent
- Abdomen
- Feathers
Which vein is used for blood sampling waterfowl spp?
Medial metatarsal vein
List some neonatal problems of water fowl spp
- Starving
- Yolk-sac infection
- Yolk-sac retention/rupture
- Chilling
- Leg and wing deformities
- Infections e.g. E.coli, Aspergillus
What is angel wing?
Deformity
- Excessive protein intake during rearing can cause urates to be deposited in soft joints –the carpal area seems to be the last to ossify
- The primary feathers are the last to be produced and at peak primary feather growth the carpal joint deforms with the weight of the blood quills making the primaries eventually point outwards
How does rickets present in poultry spp?
Lameness
Slow growth
Twisted bones
How is rickets treated?
Check diet formulation/management and supplement vitamin D
List some viral infectious diseases of waterfowl spp
Duck viral enteritis – Herpesvirus
Duck viral hepatitis – Picornavirus
Goose viral hepatitis (Derzy’s disease) – Parvovirus
Haemorrhagic nephritis, enteritis of geese - Polyomavirus
Avian influenza – Orthomyxovirus
What diseases/conditions in waterfowl may present with lameness? (11 possible)
- Soft tissue injury
- Foreign body
- Joint infection
- Osteoarthritis
- Fractures
- Mycoplasma
- Renal/gonadal neoplasia
- Renal coccidiosis
- Heavy metal toxicity
- Bumblefoot
- Avian TB
What are the 4 most common clinical signs of disease in waterfowl?
Lameness
Lethargy
Weight loss
Sudden death
List some non-infectious conditions of waterfowl
- Bumblefoot
- Oil contamination
- Amyloidosis
- Fishing line and hook injuries
- Grass ball under tongue – dropped tongue
- Wet feather – mould spores
- Peritonitis
- Frostbite
List 5 toxicities seen in waterfowl
- Botulism
- Heavy metals
- Mycotoxins
- Algal toxins
- Plants
Describe the steps in fracture treatment in waterfowl spp
- First treat the shock
- Rigid stabilisation of fracture site
- Rotational alignment
- IM pin and ESF – to ensure rigidity, resist all shearing, torsion and bending forces (to enhance healing)
- Restoration of the bone length
- Clean swimming water for rehabilitation
List 4 reasons for penile prolapse in waterfowl spp
- Venereal disease
- Trauma
- Significant cold weather
- Excessive sexual stimulation
What is pinioning?
Tip of the wing is removed to stop flying
When is pinioning allowed?
Allowed in ducklings and goslings for up to 7 days old
Describe a safe anaesthetic protocol for waterfowl spp
Ketamine and medetomidine - reversal with atipamezole
Maintenance with isoflurane
