Microsoft word - backyard_poultry_and_waterfowl.doc

Backyard Poultry and Waterfowl
John Chitty BVetMed CertZooMed MRCVS,
Strathmore Veterinary Clinic, London Rd., Andover, Hants SP10 2PH
[email protected]

o Free-range o Enclosures o Arks o Runs o Intensive housing? o Aviaries o Artificial/ natural pond o Dishes? o Cleaning! o Environmental effects • SECURITY IS IMPORTANT! • Sourcing birds o Breeders – large and small-scale o Dealers o Sales – shows and commercial sales o Ducks – pair. Monogamous?? o Geese – harem system o Swans – monogamous pair o Peafowl and poultry – territorial males gather harem • In captivity poultry species bred for reduced seasonality and increased egg o Nutrition, husbandry, laying site o Production rate o Male: female ratios? o Devoice? Castrate? Hormone implants? o Management? Cull? Light? Time? o Mature – physical characteristics and behaviour o Rescues incl ex-layers o Consequences on life span? o Infectious disease a big problem o Closed flock concept o Quarantine? Disinfection? Cleaning? Barriers? o Enclose? Wing trim? Pinion? o Effects of territory? o Poultry – commercial feed? Corn? Scraps? Free-ranging? o Waterfowl- commercial feeds? Grazing? Dabbling? o Life-stage diets? o Texts – commercial poultry texts? Victoria Roberts? BSAVA? o Specialist/ hobbyist magazines ? o Keepers ? o Internet ? o Triage ! o Phone call to clinic- assess urgency ; assess owner perception • Important signs – altered droppings, anorexia, altered water consumption, altered attitude, fluffed, reduced vocalization, altered respiration, weight/ condition loss, swelling, bleeding, vomition, ocular/ nasal discharges • Bringing to the clinic • At the clinic – see quickly; keep in quiet place • Stabilization – warmth, dark, humidity, oxygen, nebulise • Examination o assess breathing BEFORE handling o reassess when bird relaxes o assess condition, check discharge, auscultate, check vent + staining o weight vs condition!! o Abdominal swelling • Fluids – UGA? Assess risk! Choose route • Samples o Do PM’s As many as possible from the group o Sacrifice birds? o Storage/ transport of bodies o In Spring consider Duck Viral Enteritis esp in Muscovies + their crosses o Many dead – few show illness first o Diphtheritic membranes pharynx and cloaca o Control methods • Financial concerns – discuss with owner according to purpose of bird AND their • Cascade applies – these are food-producing birds. MUST apply cascade rules and o Licensed for that purpose in that species o Licensed for another purpose in that species o Licensed for that purpose in another species o Use other drugs? o Anaesthetic agents? o REMEMBER – the license applies for formulation and dose rate!!! o MRLs Always ensure your data sheet is up-to-date STANDARD MRL – eggs = 7 days; meat = 28 days o discuss issues with the owner and make sure they record medications o record instructions and label properly o record batch numbers, etc • REMEMBER YOU ARE THE VET AND WILL CARRY THE CAN!!!! • Hospitalisation requirements o Poultry vs waterfowl o Feeds o Biosecurity o Newcastle Disease- PMV-1 o Respiratory disease +/- neurological signs o Egg drop o Death!! o Minimal signs? o How will you pick this up? o Consider when pigeons show disease on same premises o Consider the HPAI strains o Signs o Death! o Respiratory signs…then death o When to suspect? o Consider disease prevention plans o Vaccination? Syngamus trachea - gapeworm • Access to soil • Faecal screen • Signs? • Therapy Flagellates – Trichomonas, Hexamita, Histomonas D. gallinae primarily poultry mite but will feed on any bird • Clinical signs • typical history • Use of old poultry housing • Finding mites AT NIGHT! • Environmental control essential • Possible? • Use Primarily a poultry parasite but found on other spp Differences in life-cycle cf Dermanyssus mean Nymphs move to the plumulaceous barbs to moult • typical signs
• long winding burrows
• feather bulb swelling
• skin scrape
• biopsy
• response to therapy
• NB – favus = avian ringworm is an important
differential
• C. mutans -feet/ legs - poultry • Neocnemidocoptes gallinae -skin – poultry Burrowing mites stimulate hyperplasia/ hyperkeratosis Diagnosis – scrapes, biopsy – appearance! o Lice Chewing lice only - Mallophaga o Consider -Viral disease, Mycoplasmosis, Irritant/ FB problems o Common cause of URTD/ sinusitis o aka coryza o Signs o One eye or both? o Lameness? o Carrier state o Therapy? o Prevention? • LRTD – les common. Bacterial/ fungal disease usually secondary disease. o How many are affected o cf neurological disease o Causes of lameness –Trauma, Infection • Joints, Feet, Tendons, Neuropathy, Rickets?? o Herpesvirus o Affects nerves – legs and wings o Clinical findings o Control o All spp – esp waterfowl o Causes o Therapy o Diagnosis o Therapy – systemic AB + NSAID: joint flushing o Paresis/ paralysis o Incoordination o Distinguish from weakness!!! o Consider infections and toxins • Soft/ deformed eggs? Can be normal at beginning or end of lay • Thin ADR bird o Recent history of cessation of egg-laying? o Any age but often at beginning or end of lay o Aspirate infected yolk o Memo…some yolk can be normal!! o Broiler ascites o Ducks prone? o Genetic factors? o Diet? o Daignosis? o Therapy?? o Many affected? o Impossible to keep out? o Spread within group? o Human consequences?? o Signs o Diagnosis o Therapy? o Poor prognosis o Oviduct or cloaca?? o Causes? o Therapy

Source: http://www.staffsderbysvetclub.co.uk/downloads/Backyard_Poultry_and_Waterfowl.pdf