Failing Body Weight

This malady, no doubt, would go unnoticed in a commercial flock, being thought of as the normal and acceptable wastage or ill-thrift in growing poults or laying birds. In the individual show bird this 'natural wastage' will not be acceptable and the specific cause of the problem needs to be identified so that the problem can be corrected.

Any disease process that is affecting the birds will, of course, affect its general demeanor and capability to thrive and function efficiently. Any specific organ dysfunction, eg loose droppings in coccidial worm, bacterial, viral enteritis; gasping for breath in mycoplasmal respiratory disease or coryza; blood loss with chronic skin mites or lice; chronic lymphatic tumours with avian leucosis will cause the birds to be 'going light'. This classically noted syndrome in pigeons was traditionally thought of as being due to coccidiosis, and the common cure was the sulpha drug, 'sulphamezathine' (sulphadimidine), which worked very effectively against the coccidia and also had a useful action against the bacterium, Eschefichia coli, so commonly associated with loose droppings. The failure of pigeons to stop 'going light' will of course be due to the use of the wrong treatment following the assumption of the wrong diagnosis.

So the observation of a bird losing weight or not thriving is merely a symptom of another problem and should in no way be regarded as a diagnosis, as it could be simple, like they are being starved to become emaciated (deprived of enough food!) or serious, like salmonella enteritis or systemic avian leucosis. Either way the thin bird needs an accurate, definite and positive diagnosis before a course of action or a logical prognosis can be given.

The Skin and Feathers

An irritated skin causes self mutilation and feather picking and is usually caused by external parasites, such as lice and mites. These parasites are very common and since they are easily treated with dips, dusting powder or ivermectin (in the water or as skin drops) their detection and identification is thought to reflect a sub-optimal level of husbandry or management. Red mites will only be seen on the birds at night, since during the day, they are hiding in the bird's environment, not sucking blood, causing anaemia, egg drop or restlessness or irritation. Pecking by other birds is the first stage of cannibalism and reflects overcrowding.

The old saying 'warm for feathers, cold for fur' should be thought of when a normal bird grows poor feathers. Perhaps it is too cold?

A sticky bacterially infected skin may reflect an infected wound, an erysipelothrix infection or a bird with coryza (snotty nasal discharge!) that has been wiping its beak under itswing, on its wing or on its hackles.

A 'Iumpy' skin with nodules, especially on the legs is probably Mareks Disease.

CONTINUED IN THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE