Why do chickens fall to their feet
Many farmers face challenges in raising poultry. Why do chickens fall to their feet and what should be done? We will analyze the most famous culprits of the disease and suggest the best ways to get rid of them.
The chicken falls and sits on its feet
Rickets
Vitamin D deficiency is the most common cause and treatment will help get the bird back on its feet. The disease occurs with acute hypovitaminosis and affects both young animals and adults. Disruption of calcium and phosphorus metabolism provokes a deterioration in bone formation. The result is a chronic weakening of the limbs, which leads to deformation of the egg shell.
Rickets and vitamin deficiency develop with a lack of sunlight. 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 contained in cells.
The main signs of rickets in chickens:
- decreased appetite;
- ruffled feathers;
- low mobility;
- lack of coordination.
If, within 3 weeks, the farmer did not pay attention to the manifestations of the disease, that the chicken fell to its feet, 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, all organs fail and ends with the death of the individual.
If adult chickens begin to carry eggs in soft or fragile shells, 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 hardly gets up on its paws and does not even get up. In laying hens, the laying process is disrupted.
Poor nutrition
A balanced menu is the basis for the development of a healthy individual. Farmers make a common mistake and feed the herd exclusively with 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 food or forcibly poured into the mouth of the chicks drop by drop. Sprouted grains and greens are excellent natural sources of micronutrients.
Improper nutrition is the reason why chickens fall to 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 and treat. 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 adults and chicks to fall on their paws. According to the standards, per 1 sq. m you can mark no more than 5 chickens or 10 chickens.The crowded content leads to the fact that diseases begin in the herd.
Ignoring sanitary and hygienic rules is another reason why the problem arises, therefore the question of why chickens give up legs in this case is easily solved. Dirty paws ailment finds a good environment for development in an unkempt chicken coop. In diseased individuals, the joints visually increase and the temperature in the affected organ rises.
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. Chickens lose their appetite and cannot stand on their feet.
Improper housekeeping also causes leg troubles. In addition to ultraviolet radiation, the hen house 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.
Trauma
If a laying hen or rooster sits on its paws, it rarely gets up, 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.
High perches can also provoke limb ailments. 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.
Before starting treatment, you need to carefully examine the paws, feel each joint. If the limbs are swollen and reddened, this may indicate an injury or fracture. The wounds on the skin, especially in the area of the fingers, are invisible at first glance, so it is necessary to carefully check everything.
Arthritis
This is an unpleasant disease that occurs in both adults 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.
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.
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 on the skin. Infected individuals have impaired motor functions.
People who are sick have a loss of appetite, as a result of which they are quickly exhausted. The iris changes and the pupil narrows. The growths on the head turn pale, become colorless. All functions of movement are weakened: the bird walks poorly and practically does not stand on its paws.
In the last stage, the disease deprives the corydalis of vision. She stands with her wings down or rolls over on her side. Most often, infected chickens die. The disease is dangerous in that it is an infection and can quickly spread throughout the livestock. In a short time, an inexperienced farmer will lose the entire herd.
Broilers
Meat breeds birds are distinguished by an increased appetite, therefore they grow very quickly. If the chick falls on its paws, it is difficult for it to regain motor functions. Treatment should be carried out immediately and not wait for the manifestation of other symptoms.
Broiler chickens most often suffer from a violation of the technology of keeping. 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 the birds do not have enough ultraviolet radiation.
The crowded content of chickens also negatively affects the immunity of the young. Chicks react painfully to excess moisture and low temperatures in the chicken coop. In addition to all of the above, excess weight becomes the cause of the problem.
How to treat
What if the chickens sit down or limp? The first step is to isolate diseased individuals. Such a measure will exclude the possibility of transmission of infection to healthy livestock. Additionally, it will be possible to protect patients from the aggression of relatives.
It is recommended to carefully examine the fallen bird to try to find out the cause of the disease. If there are negative signs, then you need to go to the veterinarian. The doctor will tell you what to do and what medications to take. Self-treatment without prescriptions can have dangerous consequences.
If the chicken has sat down due to the wrong diet, then it is recommended to immediately revise the menu. It is necessary to give daily both grain and soft mishmash with vegetables. In the summer, be sure to include grass, and in winter - sprouted grains. 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.
Fighting poultry diseases correctly
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, it is recommended to introduce 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 5 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. The main thing is to remember that the virus is very tenacious and remains in 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.
Prophylaxis
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. It is recommended to revise the diet and add the components necessary for chickens. 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. It is important to remember that metabolic processes in the body of a bird 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.
Cleaning the chicken coop
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 it is recommended to 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 progress rapidly, and if you do not pay attention to the symptoms, you can lose all the livestock. Our recommendations will help you find the cause of birds falling on their feet. It is better to trust the treatment to professional veterinarians, because it is very difficult to help the birds cope with the disease on their own: there is a high probability of error. By following all the recommendations, you can close the topic of why chickens sit on their feet and have a healthy livestock of birds.