Backyard poultry problems Flashcards
How many caeca do chickens have?
2
What are the most common digestive tract problems for poultry?
- sour crop/crop mycosis
- impacted/pendulous crop
- impacted gizzard
- bacterial infections
- viral infections
- nutritional diarrhoea
- nutritional disorders
What is the agent responsible for causing the condition crop mycosis?
Candida albicans, fungus
What is the pathophysiology of crop mycosis?
Normal coexistence of Candida albicans bacteria with poultry commensal flora.
- > increased stress/AB overuse helps fungus to outcompete bacteria
- > crop mycosis
What are the risk factors predisposing to an impacted gizzard?
- food is too dry
- insufficient water intake
- bullying affecting water intake
- excessive hay/grass intake
What are the different bacterial agents causing digestive tract problems?
E. coli
Campylobacter
Salmonella
Clostridium
What are the different viral agents causing digestive tract problems in poultry?
- Rotavirus
- Reovirus
- Coronavirus
- Astrovirus
What are the potential treatment options for an impacted gizzard?
Surgical correction
Euthanasia
Improve water intake
Improve moisture content of food
What condition is Campylobacter infection responsible for?
Spotty liver
What are the clinical signs associated with spotty liver?
D
Depression
Downer birds
Potentially fatal
What is the cause of fatty liver syndrome?
An excessive fat content within diet, resulting in abnormally pale liver
What are the effects of fatty liver syndrome?
Abnormal pale liver colour
Drop in egg production
What effects does an E. coli infection have on a chicken’s body?
Yolk sac infections if enterotoxic Joint problems Respiratory problems Diarrhoea Air sacculitis Pericarditis Hepatitis Tracheitis Overall state of illness
What specific clinical sign will an E. coli infection induce in poultry?
Diarrhoea
Which species of Salmonella have the ability to infect poultry?
- S. typhmurium
- S. enteridis
- S. pullorum
- S. gallinarum
