What to do if a chicken has a clogged goiter, causes and treatments
The goiter is a key part of a chicken's digestive system. It is in it that the process of food digestion begins. Obstruction of the goiter occurs quite often. If this part of the body of chickens is disrupted, a general deterioration in health can be observed. If a chicken has a clogged goiter, what to do in such a situation? This question interests many novice poultry farmers.
The main causes of the problem
The goiter is clogged in almost all types of chickens. However, the prevalence of the disease depends on the type of bird diet. If the owner feeds the chickens incorrectly, the likelihood of developing the disease is quite high. There are many reasons for the appearance of pathology.
The main provoking factors include the following:
- Diet disorders. The most common cause of problems is eating disorders. It is recommended to feed the chickens at the time allotted for this. Oftentimes, eating at different times of the day results in significant intervals between meals. This negatively affects the digestive organs of birds. Hungry chickens can swoop in and eat too much food. This provokes an overflow of goiter. If the chicken is healthy, the food will go straight to the stomach. In weakened or sick birds, food can accumulate in the goiter, which provokes blockage and inflammation.
- Not enough water. Dysfunction of the goiter is caused by a lack of fluid. It is the water that pushes the food into the stomach, where it is digested. Therefore, it is important to control not only the timeliness of feeding, but also the regularity of water supply.
- Poor feed quality. The blockage can be caused by feed containing large fragments. Sometimes chickens accidentally swallow large or tough stems and branches. In this case, the stems provoke a blockage of the goiter and can damage organs. In this situation, the owner is not always able to provide full assistance to the chickens. It will be possible to cope with the problem only in an operative way. In doing so, it is recommended to remove the stuck fragments.
- Lack of vitamins and minerals. The development of the disorder may be due to an insufficient amount of vitamins and other useful elements in the body of birds. The most common cause of problems is a deficiency of vitamins B2 and B12.
Blockage symptoms
In order not to miss the appearance of problems, it is recommended to control the behavior of the chicken. The development of pathology is evidenced by the following:
- spherical seal regardless of feeding;
- general weakness of the bird over a long period of time;
- lack of thirst and appetite;
- the smell of rotting from the beak;
- violation of respiratory functions;
- increased body temperature;
- death of birds;
- transparent discharge from the beak.
Diagnostic methods
It is possible to identify the blockage of the goiter by the appearance of the chicken. If the thymus sac of a bird is constantly enlarged, regardless of food, this indicates a violation of its patency. The easiest way to identify the violation is in birds that do not have thick feathers in the neck area.
However, in some breeds, you can see the swelling of the goiter to an impressive size. Breeds such as Pavlovskaya and May Day are distinguished by thick plumage in the collar area. Therefore, at the initial stages, the disease cannot be detected.
To spot problems, it is worth paying attention to bird behavior. They become lethargic, lose their appetite, and do not drink water. Such symptoms should make the owner pay attention to the condition of the goiter.
When blocked, the thymus sac acquires a firm consistency and resembles a dense ball. Little by little, the chicken develops respiratory problems. In this case, the bird begins to breathe noisily and intermittently. With inflammation, a clear liquid is released from the beak. It can also be yellowish. If you pick up a chicken with a clogged goiter, you can smell a sour, putrid smell from its beak. This indicates that the food that is stuck in the esophagus has begun to deteriorate.
What to do if a chicken has a goiter?
Blockage of the goiter requires timely assistance to the hen. If this is not done, there is a risk of dangerous consequences.
Conservative treatment
With an increase in goiter in a chicken, it remains mobile, but does not eat anything. This means that the bird is overeating. In this case, it must be isolated from the rest of the chickens and gradually soldered with warm water. Poultry nutrition is also important. It is recommended to feed her with extremely soft foods. Wet chopped porridge, boiled and mashed potatoes, small cottage cheese will be excellent options.
Twice a day, it is recommended to bury 10 milliliters of vegetable oil in the beak, and it should be combined with fish oil.
With the timely identification of the problem, it is worth trying to soften the food that is present inside. For this, it is recommended to take a syringe without a needle. It is also worth preparing vegetable oil and water. Then you have to do the following:
- pour a mixture of oil and water into the bird's throat with a syringe;
- perform a seal massage;
- position the chicken upside down;
- push the lump to the throat;
- shake gently from time to time.
If this method did not give the desired results, it is recommended to inject a weak solution of potassium permanganate into the throat. This should be done with a soft rubber tube. It is better to treat it with petroleum jelly. It is also permissible to use a syringe without a needle. For the procedure, prepare a glass of warm pink solution.
Surgical intervention
If a foreign object has been identified in the goiter sac, there is a need for surgical intervention. The procedure must be performed by a veterinarian. Sometimes experienced poultry farmers decide on it.
To carry out such an operation, it is worth preparing the following:
- alcohol-containing product;
- sharp scissors - they should be disinfected;
- hydrogen peroxide;
- iodine;
- cotton wool;
- tweezers;
- surgical threads.
To carry out the procedure, it is recommended to do the following:
- Fix the chicken, remove the feathers from the crop.
- Treat the opening area with iodine.
- Make a small incision and remove the contents with tweezers.
- Peroxide the incision.
- Sew up the area with thread - it is recommended to use absorbable.
After surgery, it is worth keeping the chicken on a starvation diet and monitoring its condition.
Diet
Poultry with clogged goiter is recommended to be separated from other chickens and put on a special diet. During the period of therapy, it should be fed only with soft foods. These include the following:
- mashed porridge;
- boiled eggs;
- mashed potatoes;
- kefir;
- cottage cheese.
Possible consequences of the problem
To cure the pathology, it must be identified in time and immediately taken appropriate measures. With prolonged presence of a violation, there is a risk of various problems.
The main complications of the disease include inflammatory lesions of the goiter and intestines. With the chronicity of the process, there is a risk of damage to the esophagus, impaired functioning of the kidneys and liver. Sometimes a swollen goiter provokes the bird to suffocate.
Prevention of blockage of goiter in chickens
Experienced poultry farmers recommend avoiding a blockage of the goiter. To do this, you should follow simple recommendations:
- Think over the diet of birds in advance. Chickens are best fed 2 times a day. This should be done in the morning and evening. Feed should be given at the same time. Thanks to this, the birds will not pounce on food and absorb it too quickly.
- Control the quality of food. Solid and coarse foods should be prohibited. If such food is present in the diet, it is recommended to grind it and mix it with soft foods.
- Add a couple of drops of apple cider vinegar to the water to improve digestive functions. In this case, the water should be systematically changed.
- Place troughs with sand and small pebbles near the feeders. In natural conditions, birds absorb pebbles and grains of sand, which help soften food in the crop.
The accumulation of food in the goiter is considered a fairly common problem that can cause negative consequences. To cope with the violation, it is recommended to carry out timely therapy. It includes conservative or surgical methods. In difficult situations, you cannot do without the help of a veterinarian.
