When Poultry are Sick By Megg Miller, Euroa, Vic. What do you do when faced with poultry that are not well? Perhaps this should be reworded to what signs alert you to a fowl that is ill? Unless it’s a respiratory infection with moist nostrils, bubbles in eyes and gurgling or bad scouring, it’s hard to discern when poultry are not well. Being prey creatures it’s not in their interest to advertise their vulnerability. Obvious serious conditions are best referred to the vet. Treatment may fix the problem or the bird may need to be euthanased to stop an outbreak of an unwanted disease. Many times birds just don’t look right. They may be mopey, disinterested in the treat you’ve bought, standing on their own or hiding in the nest. Often the hens that lay until the start of winter moult extremely quickly and display the behaviour described. Mopey or unwell birds are quickly picked on so remove to a hospital pen for observation. Check the Patient
Check over your bird before settling it into the new pen. Does it feel fat, fit and normal or so thin the breast bone has no flesh on it? Fat birds often go purple in the comb when handled, a sign there may be heart problems. A bird may be thin because it’s been kept away from food, is very stressed due to late, fast moulting or is suffering compacted crop and not absorbing feed or has a wasting disease. Examine eyes and nostrils, the latter should be dry and free of odour, and open the beak and check the mouth. Cheesy deposits may occasionally be found, an indicator usually that the gut is not operating properly. Check the vent area too, if feathers under it have lumps of faeces adhering or are soiled badly cut the messy parts off. Take the opportunity to check for the presence of lice
or mites, they favour under the vent and can be observed moving on the skin (glasses an advantage!) Dust if present. Don’t attempt to worm the bird, it may be too weak to cope with a purging. You could safely put a small crushed clove of garlic in drinking water, it may tackle worms mildly and will have a beneficial effect on the system. Do keep track of the state of the faeces, the colour, consistency and frequency. This is useful info if a visit to the vet becomes necessary and faeces play a role in identifying some poultry diseases. Assuming your bird has nothing serious, a quiet period and a build up in condition may expedite a return to the flock. Encourage Eating
When a bird’s appetite is poor it can be hard to tempt them to eat, so it’s important to actively encourage eating. By nature fowls are motivated by the sound and presence of fellow flock members eating, our efforts therefore have to be considered and creative. A popular recovery treat is thin bread slathered in yoghurt and cut up into tiny squares. Sprinkled with aviary bird seed, the pieces are hard to resist. Just gently pushing the beak or bill into the yoghurt G R A S S
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often encourages birds to sample the offering. At my place cooked spaghetti cut into short lengths proves irresistible. Again a little yoghurt added increases interest and benefits the gut. If scouring is occurring, mixing in some slippery elm powder with the yoghurt along with some eye-catching seeds will help a return to normal faeces. Cooked rice is another well received and tempting recovery item that helps clog the system. Don’t overlook greens; finely diced lettuce or other salad greens dotted with cut up grapes or watermelon tempt pecks from the most miserable patients. When recovery is on its way I introduce pots of young grass or greens. Old split buckets are filled with soil and planted with poultry greens and kept on hold until required. Handy with birds like turkeys and geese and with the collection I have a fresh bucket can be introduced every couple of days. Success and Recovery
Only return sidelined birds to the flock when fully recovered and able to cope with any bullying. What of malingerers? They become household pets with antics so entertaining you forgive them for their demand for special attention. T
