Wisdom for Hen Keepers by Chris Graham;

Author:Chris Graham;
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781472915283
Publisher: Bloomsbury UK
Published: 2014-06-26T00:00:00+00:00

TIP 257: Droppings can tell you a great deal

A healthy hen produces a distinctive kind of dropping, which you’ll probably most easily find on the house floor. It’ll be fairly firm, rounded and with distinct white and dark-coloured sections. The larger of the two portions – the dark one – can be black, brown or grey and is the solid waste, while the white section is the urine. Droppings act as a great indicator for when all is not well with a hen, and can be regarded as a very useful pointer towards what’s ailing the bird. Variations also occur quite naturally. Intestinal lining gets shed every now and then, leading to a pink or red colouring. Coral-coloured droppings are often produced overnight, and are quite normal too. Mustard-coloured, frothy droppings are caecal droppings, and are typically expelled every ninth or tenth dropping. However, watery diarrhoea can be a sign of enteritis or anaemia; bloody diarrhoea points towards coccidiosis, while yellow-coloured can suggest respiratory disease or worms. Faecal analysis is the only way to be sure.

TIP 258: Parasite problems are common

The parasites that affect chickens either ply their trade on the outside of the bird (ectoparasites), or go about their business on the inside (endoparasites). Typical of the creatures you might find on a bird’s body are lice, ticks and mites; infestations of any of these will put a drain on resources, cause irritation, a reduction in laying performance and, in really severe cases, can prove fatal. The most commonly encountered internal parasites are: Ascaridia galli, the large intestinal roundworm; Heterakis gallinae, the caecal worm; Capillaria or hairworms, found in various parts of the digestive tract; Syngamus trachea or gapeworm, found in the wind-pipe; and Davainea proglottina or chicken tapeworm. Action should always be taken against parasites. There are plenty of treatments available for both external and internals types (see also chapter 9), but do consult your vet.

TIP 259: Leg problems can be really irritating

Chickens can suffer with an extremely irritating condition called scaly leg, which is caused by a tiny parasite that burrows under the scales on a bird’s leg, where it then lives and breeds. The condition tends to be more common in older birds, and those with feathered legs, and can be recognised by the appearance of lifted scales and dry, grey and crusty deposits. As a result, the shanks can become greatly enlarged and hot to the touch. This parasite causes intense irritation for the bird and, if left untreated, the feet will become deformed so much that walking will become difficult. There are a number of treatments available from specialist suppliers, but eradication is likely to be a long process requiring patience and perseverance. Never pull off the lifted scales in the hope of improving things; this will be extremely painful for the bird. Instead, they must be left to fall off and re-grow at the next annual moult.

TIP 260: Be aware of ‘bird flu’, and how to best protect from it

Avian influenza is a normally fatal disease for chickens.

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