How to treat broilers that fall to their feet
Many farmers face challenges in raising poultry. Why do broilers fall to their feet? Why do chickens sit up and die? We will analyze the most famous culprits of the disease and suggest the best ways to get rid of them.
Broilers fall to their feet and sit
Rickets
Vitamin D deficiency is the most common cause and treatment will help get the bird back on its feet. The disease occurs in acute hypovitaminosis and affects both young animals and adults. Disruption of calcium and phosphorus metabolism provokes a deterioration in bone formation, so the chicken falls to its feet. The result is a chronic weakening of the limbs, which also leads to deformation of the egg shell.
Rickets develops with a lack of sunlight and then broiler chickens massively fall to their feet. Vitamin D is the only trace mineral that is formed in the body under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. Chickens walking in the fresh air fall on their paws less often than those contained in cages.
The main signs of rickets in chickens:
- decreased appetite;
- ruffled feathers;
- low mobility;
- lack of coordination.
If within three weeks the farmer did not pay attention to the manifestations of the disease, then the condition worsens. Due to the lack of calcium, the beak becomes soft to the touch. The final stage is characterized by a complete breakdown and death of the individual.
If adult chickens begin to carry eggs in soft or fragile shells, then this is a sign of a lack of vitamin D. Further, the disease affects the legs and bones, as a result of which the bird can hardly climb on the paws of broilers, and often fall. In laying hens, the laying process is disrupted. Therefore, knowing why chickens fall to their feet and how to treat them is the primary task of every breeder.
Improper and proper nutrition
A balanced menu is the basis for the development of a healthy individual. Farmers make a common mistake and feed the herd exclusively compound feed... For the formation of the body, not only grain is needed, but also greens. You can add raw and boiled vegetables to the diet:
- beets;
- cabbage;
- carrot.
Chickens from the age of five begin to offer veterinary preparations containing vitamins A, D, E. They are mixed with feed or forcibly try to drink or drop it into the mouth of the chicks. Sprouted grains and greens are excellent natural sources of micronutrients.
Improper nutrition is the reason why broilers sit on their feet. Layers need a lot of nutrients, so they add to the menu:
- bone meal;
- seashells;
- a piece of chalk;
- salt.
Professional veterinary drugs are available in liquid form and are easy to mix with food. They are responsible for the normal state of the body of birds and do not allow disease to develop. Remember that an excess of trace elements is just as harmful as a deficiency, so all procedures are carried out according to the instructions.
Incorrect containment conditions
A sedentary lifestyle and limited space cause adult broilers to fall to their feet. According to the standards, no more than five broiler chickens or ten chickens can be marked on one square meter. The crowded content leads to the fact that diseases begin in the herd.
Ignoring hygiene rules is another reason the problem arises. Dirty paws ailment finds a good environment for development in an unkempt chicken coop. In diseased individuals, the joints visually increase and the temperature rises in the affected organ. If you do not start to treat birds in time, you can notice how their paws are moving apart and sick individuals sleep more.
Excessive sterility is bad for the health of the livestock. In utility rooms, beneficial bacteria are destroyed, as a result of which the natural microflora is disrupted and immunity suffers. broiler chickens lose their appetite and cannot stand on their feet, they simply leave.
Improper housekeeping also causes leg problems. If the broiler falls to its feet, urgently need to take emergency measures. In addition to ultraviolet radiation, the chicken coop should have optimal living conditions. Heat or cold affects the health of the herd, and lack of fresh air leads to illness. Excess moisture also becomes the source of many troubles.
Bird injury
If a laying hen or rooster sits on its paws, then this may not always be the cause of any internal problems. Often the bird steps on a nail or glass, resulting in a cut. Mechanical damage begins to hurt and fester, so the chickens stand still and sink to the ground. If this happens, you need to examine the bird and be sure to contact your veterinarian.
High perches can also provoke ailments of the limbs, therefore broilers often fall to their feet, this reason should be eliminated as soon as possible. According to the rules of maintenance, perches cannot be installed at a level of more than 90 cm from the floor. A careless laying hen or a heavy broiler will jump off, and the result will be a fracture, dislocation. As a result, the chicken sits on its feet. If a feathered pet falls from its roost, immediately provide first aid and show it to a specialist.
Before starting treatment, you need to carefully examine the paws, feel each joint. If the limbs are swollen and redness appears, then this may indicate the presence of an injury or fracture. Wounds on the skin, especially in the area of the fingers, are invisible at first glance, so everything must be checked carefully.
Arthritis
This is an unpleasant disease that occurs in both adult domestic individuals and young animals. Inflammatory processes in the joint capsules and adjacent soft tissues lead to the fact that the birds limp and fall on their paws. If the disease is not treated, the affected limbs will fail.
Sometimes the disease manifests itself as tendon inflammation. Tendovaginitis is most common in older individuals, while arthritis is characteristic of the young. The combination of the wrong content from the virus that has entered the body finds a favorable environment for the disease. Keep an eye on the inhabitants of the chicken coop, no matter how old they are, and they will always be healthy.
Compliance with hygiene standards in the hen house excludes the occurrence of a dangerous ailment. The affected individual has constrained movements, and because of the pain syndrome, she cannot sit on the perch and walk normally. Enlarged hot joints are the main symptoms of ailments. If the birds are not treated, they will soon die.
Small chickens of an early age: from a few days to a month can also be susceptible to this disease, and a veterinarian can tell how to cure it.
Marek's disease
Infectious paralysis or neurolymphotosis is a very dangerous disease. The virus infects the nervous system and eyes of chickens.Additionally, tumors form on the bones, organs and skin. In infected individuals, the motor functions of broilers are impaired; broilers are constantly falling and injured.
Those who are sick have a loss of appetite, as a result of which they are quickly depleted. The iris changes and the pupil narrows. The growths on the head turn pale, become colorless. All transport functions are weakened and the broiler collapses.
In the last stage, the disease deprives the corydalis of vision. She stands with her wings down or rolls over on her side. More often than not, infected broilers die. The disease is dangerous in that it is an infection and can quickly spread throughout the livestock. Within a short period of time - a month, an inexperienced farmer will lose the entire herd.
Broiler life
Meat breeds of birds are characterized by an increased appetite, therefore they grow very quickly. If broiler chicks fall to their feet, it is difficult to regain motor function. Treatment should be carried out immediately and not wait for the manifestation of other symptoms, the worst of all is the treatment of monthly chickens.
Broller chickens most often suffer from breach of keeping technology. Unlike egg breeds, they react painfully to a lack of vitamins A, D, E and calcium deficiency. Often the livestock is grown in closed pens, so there is not enough UV radiation, so everything must be done to avoid problems.
The crowded content of broiler chickens also negatively affects the immunity of the young. Chicks react painfully to excess moisture and low temperatures in the hen house. In addition to all of the above, excess weight becomes the cause of the problem. To prevent chicks from becoming fat and sedentary and painful, keep them in a more comfortable environment.
Treatment of diseases
What if the chickens sit down or limp? The first step is to isolate diseased individuals from a week to a month. Such a measure will exclude the possibility of transmission of infection to healthy livestock. Additionally, you will protect patients from the aggression of relatives.
We recommend that you carefully examine the fallen bird in order to try to find out the cause of the disease. If there are negative signs (legs are parted, a soft beak, and other signs), then you need to go to the veterinarian. The doctor will tell you what to do and what medications to take in your case. Self-treatment without prescriptions can have dangerous consequences.
If the chicken has sat down due to an improper diet, then we recommend that you immediately revise the menu. It is necessary to give daily both grain and soft mishmash with vegetables. Be sure to include grass in summer, and sprouted grains in winter. Veterinary vitamin preparations are inexpensive, but they help keep the livestock healthy.
Doctors recommend using tricalcium phosphate to get rid of problems with joints and limbs.
To combat arthritis and tendovaginitis, use antibiotics... Within five days, the agent is administered intramuscularly or added to food. In case of injuries and dislocations of the tendons, we recommend introducing more manganese and B vitamins into the diet. If there are wounds on the limbs, then it is necessary to treat the affected areas and isolate the patient.
To treat infections, specialists use antibiotics and antiviral agents. The professional prescribes medication by intramuscular injection or as a feed additive. The procedure is repeated for five days, after which the veterinarian is visited again.
If Marek's disease is diagnosed, then the diseased individual is killed. Dangerous ailment cannot be cured, so the source must be destroyed. Remember that the virus is very hardy and stays in the feather follicles. The only way to avoid the disease will be vaccination of young animals. The body of adult birds does not respond to vaccination.
Preventive measures
In order to prevent problems from arising, it is better to prepare for them in advance. Taking precautions can not only get you out of trouble, but it can also save your flock.We recommend revising the diet and adding components necessary for broilers. Proper nutrition from childhood is the key to the health of adults.
If the culprit of the disease is a violation of the content, then the problem must be eliminated immediately. Remember that the metabolic processes in the bird's body are very fast. Ignoring the requirements will lead to the death of the entire herd.
Egg chicken breeds need a lot of living space. If there is movement, then obesity can be avoided. Crowding is always dangerous: due to the close content, viruses quickly spread throughout the chicken coop, which causes massive deaths.
Housekeeping is the key to bird health
What should be done to prevent the bird from getting sick? The room in which the birds live must be ventilated daily and the garbage must be removed regularly. Meat breeds often live in cages, so we recommend that you spare no expense and purchase ultraviolet equipment. Irradiation once a day will prevent falling on the paws. They also increase daylight hours to 12 hours.
To prevent the birds from contracting the dangerous Marek's disease, they acquire young and adults in proven farms. All newcomers are first sent to quarantine, and only then are added to the main herd. Vaccination will eliminate possible problems.
Diseases in chickens proceed rapidly and if you do not pay attention to the symptoms, then you can lose all the livestock. Our recommendations will help you find the cause of chicks falling on their feet. It is better to entrust the treatment to professional veterinarians.
Now you know why broiler chickens fall to their feet and how to prevent broilers from falling on their legs and wings. If you do not have enough information, you can watch a video on the topic: How to do if broilers fall, how to cure them at home and how to help them?