The musculoskeletal system of chickens can be affected by various diseases - from rickets to paralysis of the curves and curly fingers. In order to provide the bird with the necessary medical care in time, you need to immediately respond to problems with its paws and begin appropriate treatment.
The main causes of disease
There are a large number of reasons that can lead to leg diseases in chickens, however, the main factors among them are:
- Unsuitable livestock. With crowded and cramped hens, the likelihood of developing various pathologies of the limbs increases significantly. It should be borne in mind that chickens are mobile birds, which mainly move on their paws. If they “knead” the paws less, they may experience various problems with the joints. Thus, chickens should be kept in suitable conditions by organizing free feeding and drinking.
- Limb injuries. Chicken paws are easily injured when stepping on hard debris and even on threads, therefore, in the chicken coop and on the walk, it is necessary to maintain cleanliness. In addition, clogging of the litter can cause not only traumatic pathologies, but also infectious diseases, which include scabies.
- Unbalanced diet. If the body of chickens does not receive the necessary substances from the feed, it tries to compensate for it with its own resources, so at first it will seem that everything is fine. However, over time, problems will make themselves felt, and vitamin deficiency can affect not only the musculoskeletal system, but also other organs.
If a chicken is noticed in the herd that is limping on one leg, falls on its paws, rarely gets up, it must be separated from its brethren and carefully examined. This should not be delayed, since chickens do not tolerate neighborhood with a sick individual. They will bite her and will not allow her to feed, which will subsequently significantly complicate her treatment.
Vitamins in chickens
The lack of certain vitamins can cause vitamin deficiency, which will manifest itself with various symptoms, including a violation of the musculoskeletal system. Various types of vitamin deficiency and their consequences are presented in the table:
Pathology | Features | Symptoms | Treatment and prevention |
Vitamin A | It is provoked by a lack of vitamin A (retinol), which is responsible for the normal functioning of the cornea, intestines and mucous membranes of various organs, especially the respiratory tract. In addition, it contributes to the rapid gain of live weight. | Initially, birds show apathy, and then their appetite drops and their body weight decreases. Over time, ocular pathologies develop, which can lead to blindness. In addition, paws are affected - sores are formed and the sole is damaged. Plaque forms on the mucous membranes. Digestion is disturbed in the bird, and it also lags behind in development. Symptoms develop slowly and go unnoticed for a long time. | In the chicken diet you need to add fish oil, which should be taken for several weeks. In addition, crystalline retinol must be dissolved in water. The menu needs to be supplemented with corn, carrots, pumpkin and ground alfalfa. |
Vitamin B1 | It affects most birds up to a month old. It leads to malfunctions of the nervous system (polyneuritis) and metabolic processes, causing disturbances in protein, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. | Manifested by progressive weakness and lethargy in chickens, hypothermia (decreased body temperature), frequent breathing (tachypnea), diarrhea. Sometimes the cramp is observed in the bird, it leads a sedentary lifestyle, it hardly gets on its paws, and when walking it falls and falls on the chest. In severe cases, paralysis of the neck, wings and legs occurs. | Treatment involves the introduction of a commercial drug at a rate of 50-100 mcg per individual and lasts about 3-5 days. For prevention, it is necessary to add to the diet feed and supplements that contain vitamin B1 (thiamine). These include brewer's yeast, bone meal, bran, sprouted wheat. |
Vitamin B2 | It is provoked by a nutrition error and causes disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system. As a rule, it affects a young chicken. | It leads to low activity, weakness and lethargy of the bird. Her appetite decreases and emaciation is observed, the formation and growth of feathers is disturbed. As a result of digestive disorders, diarrhea is observed. The bird crawls up with difficulty and walks staggering, because its coordination of movement is disturbed. In addition, her eye is damaged - cataracts or conjunctivitis develop. | To treat vitamin deficiency, high doses of commercial riboflavin (vitamin B2) must be introduced into the chicken diet. For prophylaxis purposes, the bird needs to be given ground alfalfa, sprouted grain and sour-milk products, since they contain riboflavin in large quantities. In addition, you need to increase the daily dose of proteins and lipids. |
Table continuation…
Pathology | Features | Symptoms | Treatment and prevention |
Vitamin B12 | Vitamin B12 or cyanocobalamin is involved in the metabolism and regulates blood formation. Its lack provokes vitamin deficiency in chickens at any age. | In chickens, activity decreases, they fall when walking and hardly stand on their paws. Signs of anemia develop like the pallor of the crest, catkins and mucous membranes. The wings sag, and the plumage becomes tousled. | Pharmacy cyanocobalamin is added to the diet of birds. For prevention, flour, waste of dairy products are mixed in the feed. |
Vitamin D | A lack of vitamin D or cholecalciferol leads to the development of rickets and disruption of mineral metabolism, especially calcium phosphorus. The disease develops in conditions of crowding in the house, high humidity and gas contamination. | In young animals, bone growth slows down, the formation and growth of paws is disturbed. They limp, wobble, constantly lie and reluctantly get up. The joints of the legs often swell and deform, and the nails and beak soften. Paws, keel, chest are deformed. The formation of eggs that have an excessively soft and thin shell is disrupted. Moreover, it may be completely absent. | To treat rickets in the diet you need to enter fish oil at the rate of 10-50 drops per individual. In case of sick livestock, all fat can be mixed with feed. In addition, you need to give the bird a pharmacy drug with synthetic analogues of vitamin D. For prevention, mineral supplements like grated shells of mollusks, slaked lime, bone meal or chalk should be added to the diet of birds. In addition, birds need a walk in the fresh air. |
Vitamin E | With a lack of vitamin E or tocopherol, muscle growth and development slows down, egg production worsens. Avitaminosis is observed more often in young animals. | Birds feel sluggish and weak, they are inactive and stagger while walking. There is a defeat of the paws with twisting of the fingers. Due to muscle weakness, chickens can fall when walking and rarely stand on their feet. | For treatment, synthetic tocopherol is introduced into food, and for prevention, chickens need to be given fresh herbs, sour milk waste, sprouted oats, corn and barley. |
With any type of vitamin deficiency, the ovipositor in laying hens is disturbed, and many eggs lose their ability to fertilize. Then, for example, the Ryabushka vitamin complex is added to the hen's diet. But if there are roosters on the farm, then their diet should be rich in proteins, fats and vitamin feed.
Useful supplements suitable for both sexes:
- Brewer's yeast;
- fish, bone and meat and bone meal;
- fish oil, necessary for a deficiency of vitamins D and A;
- ready-made premixes balanced in composition.
In addition, chickens need to be given vegetable feed:
- germinated wheat grains;
- mashed alfalfa;
- bran;
- oats;
- corn;
- barley.
Do not give chickens a complex of vitamins in combination with vitamin supplements, otherwise an overdose can occur, which is also fraught with negative consequences for the health of the bird.
Gout or urolithiasis
It belongs to metabolic diseases, therefore it is caused by improper feeding and metabolic disorders in chickens. The disease is characterized by the fact that uric acid salts are deposited in the joints and muscles. As a rule, it affects livestock that is on a cellular basis and receives an excess of animal feed (meat, bone and fish meal). In this regard, gout is often observed in representatives of egg and meat breeds.
The disease manifests itself with the following symptoms:
- enlargement of the joints of the fingers;
- the appearance of pineal growths on the phalanges;
- limp chickens and their fall on their paws.
Gout treatment requires normalization of metabolism and excretion of uric acid salts from the body. For this, it is necessary to reduce the proportion of protein products in the diet and begin treatment with Tsinghofen (Atofan), which has the following effect:
- dissolves uric acid salts and removes them through the blood;
- produces an analgesic effect;
- increases motor and nutritional activity of chickens.
Tsinghofen must be forcibly given to birds in the form of a “soda cocktail”. Its share is 0.5 g per individual. Such treatment lasts 2-3 days.
With gout, chickens should also be given baking soda for 2 weeks, adding it to the general drinker at the rate of 10 g per individual.
As for prevention, then chickens need to be given the right amount of protein, vitamins, amino acids and trace elements. In addition, it is necessary to monitor mycotoxins in the feed, that is, the absence of mold in it. For prophylaxis, birds should also be given vitamin A, yeast feed, chalk and root crops, but the proportion of animal-protein products should be reduced in favor of whole grains and greens.
Chickens will feel good if you provide them with a walk in the fresh air.
Rickets
A lack of vitamin D3 leads to the development of rickets, which affects not only the legs, but the whole body of chickens. In this case, the most noticeable curvature of the bones is observed on the limbs. It is worth considering that in young animals classical rickets develop, and in adult birds - decalcification of the shell of eggs and bones.
Pathology develops gradually and is manifested by the following symptoms:
- Chickens of egg-laying and universal breeds from 2 weeks of age feel weak and have poor appetite. Their plumage is poorly developed.
- After two weeks, the birds show apathy and lose interest in movement.
- Birds suffer from diarrhea and poor coordination. Their claws and bones become soft, and when palpated they miss.
- Before the death of the bird, they lose all strength, so they completely refuse to move. They lie motionless with outstretched limbs and die in this position.
It is worth noting that the symptoms of rickets in broilers can appear as early as 8 days. They develop problems with the hocks and are undernourished. In addition, birds lag behind in development, and their body weight drops by 50%.
In his video, the breeder shows on the example of his chickens what symptoms of rickets are:
If the pathology affects laying hens, then they begin to give eggs with a soft shell. They suffer from lameness, brittle bones and pain when moving. The ribs of chickens become excessively soft, and the claws and beak become flexible. Separate individuals may develop vitelline peritonitis.
Treatment of rickets is carried out by ultraviolet radiation or walking the birds on the street and introducing vitamin D into the diet. Its dose can be 2-3 times higher than the prophylactic one, but no more, since an overdose of vitamin A can lead to poisoning of chickens. Only the veterinarian can determine its correct dose, which will take into account a number of additional factors:
- oviposition intensity;
- the presence of walking;
- region of residence (the dose of vitamin D is maximum for the inhabitants of the northern regions);
- the presence of green food.
To reduce the risk of hypovitaminosis, you should regularly take the birds out in the fresh air and treat digestive diseases on time, because they lead to impaired absorption of the vitamin, and this is the reason for softening of bones and the formation of crooked legs.
Chicken lameness
Lameness of chickens can be a symptom of a serious illness, but it can also be considered as a separate pathology caused by such reasons:
- mechanical injuries - cuts, bruises, dislocations of the joints, sprains, etc .;
- damage to the nerves that innervate the limbs.
This defect can manifest itself immediately in full, or gradually. At the same time, the chicken behaves unsteadily, as it is lame and difficult to move around. In addition, she often flaps her wings and sits down to rest, even after short walks.
When examining a sick chicken, you can find expanded swollen joints, wounds, suppuration, etc. In this case, treatment involves such actions:
- Separate the lame individual from the herd, as healthy chickens can show aggression towards it. In this case, it is desirable to allow her to visually contact with relatives, so that she feels more relaxed.
- Treat cuts and wounds with a brilliant green solution to prevent infection and the spread of infection.
- Balance feeding by including vitamin supplements in the diet.
If during the visual examination of a lame bird no external injuries were found, it must be shown to the veterinarian, because lameness can be caused by a serious internal disease.
Arthritis and Tendovaginitis
Both pathologies have almost the same external symptoms, so they are often confused. In addition, in many cases, tenosynovitis is a complication of arthritis. In order to distinguish between these two diseases, at least in theory, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the following table:
Parameter | Arthritis | Tenovaginitis |
The concept | This is an inflammatory condition of the articular bags and adjacent tissues, which is also referred to as “joint aches” or a disease of dirty chicken legs. As a rule, it is observed in broiler chickens, which are actively growing and quickly gaining body weight. | This is an inflammation of the tendons, or rather the inner lining of their vagina. More common in older chickens. |
The reasons | Arthritis can develop due to mechanical damage, infections (bacteria entering the joints), gout. Quite often, the trigger for the development of arthritis is the unsuitable content of the livestock, for example, with crowded content or a rare renewal of bedding. | Tendovaginitis can be the result of microtraumas or bacteria that affect chickens when improperly maintained or kept in a dirty room. In addition, pathology can develop due to overstrain of tendons, which affects individuals with excessive weight. |
Symptoms | The bird limps on a sore foot and leads a sedentary lifestyle. The affected joint may increase in size. In severe cases, an increase in local temperature is observed, which indicates inflammation. | In the area of the joints, redness is observed, and less often - swelling. Cramps are sometimes possible. With an infectious onset, the bird rises in temperature and pain occurs. |
These diseases are quite difficult to notice at the beginning of development, as their symptoms become apparent in the later stages. If treatment is considered appropriate, it is usually administered with antibiotics. As a preventive measure, it is necessary to maintain cleanliness in the chicken coop, to prevent the litter from being moistened and to change it in a timely manner.
Knemidocoptosis or scabies
It is considered the only anthroposonic disease among animals, which at the same time has a high degree of infectivity. Popularly, it is also called the calcareous foot. It is provoked by a scabies mite, which penetrates the skin of the non-feathery part of the paws, gnaws passages there and multiplies, feeding on interstitial secretion. Infection can occur through common objects, which include feeders, drinking bowls, various tools.
The scabies mite on the legs of chickens is also dangerous for humans, therefore it is extremely important to observe personal hygiene rules.
Symptoms of knemidocoptosis can occur in chickens at the age of six months. They develop gradually:
- Rigid lumpy bumps appear on the bird's legs, which provoke skin itching and dermatitis. To calm the itching, the bird can peck the scaly cover up to the blood.
- Outgrowths appear, and the scales are covered with white coating, protrude and partially exfoliate.
- Chicken becomes restless and indifferent to food. She often freezes on one leg to frantically squeeze and unclench the fingers of a raised paw. In the evening, the chicken does not want to return from walking to the chicken coop, since at this time of the day the parasites become more active.
- The stratum corneum is completely covered with gray crusts, and after - with cracks through which blood seeps.
- The joints of the fingers become inflamed and phalanx necrosis is possible, which is provoked by the toxic decomposition of the parasite's vital products in the subcutaneous region of the affected limbs. They may partially or completely fall away.
The treatment of scabies in chickens at an early stage gives a good effect and may suggest the use of the following methods:
- Soak chicken paws in a soap solution for 15-20 minutes, and then treat with boron vaseline or Dorogov's antiseptic stimulator.
- To clean the affected limbs with the help of pharmacy hydrogen peroxide, and then apply Vishnevsky ointment.
- Dip chicken limbs for 15 minutes in a bath with birch tar. This is an effective way for small and large farms.
All these procedures must be repeated two times: first, after 2-3 days for the exact destruction of ticks, and then after 2 weeks to neutralize the offspring that left the egg.
If the disease is at an advanced stage, treatment does not guarantee the full restoration of the functions of the motor apparatus of chickens, therefore its effectiveness is evaluated in fact. In some cases, rejected individuals are killed.
Tendon displacement (perosis)
Pathology is mainly dangerous for birds with a large body weight, therefore it is often diagnosed in chickens and young laying hens of hybrid fast-growing breeds. The reason for its development is a rapidly increasing weight, as well as a lack of manganese and vitamin B.
Symptoms of perosis are as follows:
- birds eat poorly;
- the hock joints swell, and then turn unnaturally in the opposite direction.
If treatment is not started in time, the diseased individual may die. It is required to immediately adjust the diet by including additional doses of vitamin B and manganese. For prevention, it is necessary to use high-quality equipment, as well as provide birds with a balanced diet. Chickens should be given special vitamins for young birds.
Crooked fingers
After the first week of life, chickens may develop foot disease, which may be a genetic abnormality, so the feasibility of breeding such individuals is called into question. In addition to poor heredity, there are other possible causes of crooked fingers. These include:
- improper temperature regulation during the incubation period;
- concrete floor of the chicken coop, not covered with dry and warm litter;
- mechanical injuries of the feet;
- keeping young animals in drawers with a mesh floor.
This pathology can be recognized by the following symptoms:
- the phalanges of the fingers are bent;
- when walking, the chicken overloads and rests on the external lateral feet.
Unfortunately, the curvature of the fingers is not treatable. To prevent its development, young animals from the first days of life should be kept in comfortable conditions (the floor of the house must be even and warm, covered with dry litter).
For incubation, you cannot use eggs from laying hens that suffer from crooked finger disease. During the incubation period, all the rules must be strictly followed.
Curly fingers
Pathology affects young animals at the age of 2-3 weeks and is provoked by a lack of vitamin B2 (riboflavin) in the feed. Moreover, it can be a consequence of poor heredity.
The disease is characterized by paralysis of the fingers and torsion of the phalanges down “under the foot”. Bent fingers cannot be straightened even with strong pressure. Sick young animals have difficulty walking, as she has to tiptoe while leaning on the tips of twisted phalanges.
With curly fingers, early mortality of young animals is observed due to severe soreness. If single chickens manage to survive, then they are significantly behind in development and growth.
If the pathology is diagnosed in the early stages, in order for the young to survive, he needs to be given multivitamins with a high content of vitamin B2. In adults, the disease is not treatable.
In order to prevent the feeding of young animals should be balanced in vitamin and mineral composition. However, if the pathology is congenital, this indicates a genetic malfunction in chickens whose eggs were used for incubation. Such young growth is impractical to breed.
Preventative measures
Diseases of the hens in many cases can be prevented. For this, it is necessary to observe some preventive standards:
- Inspect birds daily for bruises, cuts, and microtrauma of limbs. They can be observed in absolutely any bird, even under good conditions, but it is important to identify and process them in time.
- Create a comfortable and safe living environment for birds. In the chicken coop and the place of walking should be free to prevent the effect of crowding of chickens. In this case, you must remove all sharp objects and threads, as they can cause injury to the paws.
- Keep the bedding in the coop fresh, clean and dry.
- Provide birds with a complete and balanced diet to prevent vitamin deficiency. At the same time, mineral vegetable fertilizers should not be allowed to enter the feed.
- Carry out artificial selection of birds, removing individuals that are prone to disorders of the musculoskeletal system, have curvature or curly fingers.
There are a large number of leg diseases in chickens, many of which are provoked by improper diet of individuals and their maintenance in unsuitable conditions. So that young growth was healthy and developed correctly, it is necessary to adhere to the rules of prevention. If there are signs of damage to the limbs of chickens, you must consult a veterinarian and begin appropriate treatment.