Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Scaly Leg Mites


Scaly Leg Mites

Scaly leg mites are a sarcoptic mite of poultry (Knemidocoptes mutans).  They like to live under the scales of the chicken's legs. They burrow into the tissue beneath the scales causing the scales to become loose from the tissue. Infected birds usually have thickened, crusty legs and feet. Some birds may become lame due to the pain or discomfort associated with infestation. When scales are lost the legs may be tender. There can be redness and inflammation seen in some infected individuals. It is more often seen in older birds, perhaps because their scales are not as tight to the leg as those of younger birds making it easier for the mites to get beneath them.  The mites do sometimes attack the combs and wattles of severely infected birds.  The entire life cycle of the mite is carried out in the skin beneath the scales. The mites are transmitted through contact with infected birds.  Affected birds should be quarantined from the rest of the flock to prevent further infection.  The area should be cleaned and sprayed with a product effective at treating mites, such as malathion or a pyrethroid compound, Seven dust has also been proven effective. Individual birds should be treated with oral or topical ivermectin.  You can wash the legs with warm soap and water and using a toothbrush scrub away any exudate that has formed on the scales. Do not try to pick the scales off as that is damaging to the bird. You should allow the scales to fall off and regrow on their own. This will usually occur during the next molt, it can be up to a year before the legs look normal again. You can also apply Vaseline to the legs, getting up under and inbetween the scales as best as possible. This is supposed to help smother the mites.

There are some remedies talked about that recommend the use of Creosote or Diesel. These chemicals are not safe for your birds and I do not recommend their use.

Just a little tidbit of information:
Sarcoptic mites of dogs cause sarcoptic mange also known as Scabies to many people, the mite of the dog and that of the chicken are not the same mite though, so you don’t have to worry about you or your dog catching them from your chickens or vice versa.

Monday, August 13, 2012

Hatching Egg Contest


I'm doing a contest to get my "Likes" 

on my facebook page up... 

If I can get 250 likes 

by the end of the month 

I will give away some 

hatching eggs, 

winners choice, 

serama or buff orpingtons! 

Will ship if needed too, 

no charge! So share 

my page with 

your chicken 

loving friends!



Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Gout in Poultry

When you hear the word Gout
I bet your pet chicken isn't the first
thing that pops into your mind.
Well, guess what...
Chickens can get gout and it kills.

So what is gout?
Gout is a chronic and progressive disease.
It is caused by too much uric acid in the body.
The excessive uric acid leads to the 
formation of tiny crystals of urate that
lodge in the tissues and joints.
When these crystals lodge in the joints 
they cause lots of pain and joint destruction.
They can also lodge in the kidney, 
reducing kidney function and in poultry,
 it can lead to rapid death.

How does gout happen and affect my birds?
Birds excrete nitrogenous waste 
as urate bound with mucus in their urine.
Renal disease decreases the amount of uric acid removed from 
the blood causing an acute or chronic increase in uric acid in the body.
Most cases of gout in poultry are a result of dehydration,
eating laying feed before laying age (>3% calcium content),
renal infection by renal damaging strains of 
infectious bronchitis or infection by a 
avian nephritis (causes inflammation of the kidney) virus.
Chronic disease is less common,
but is seen in cases with chickens with hereditary defects in
uric acid metabolism or that are fed excessive protein.

Gout and Kidney Stones.
The same excess urate acid crystals that cause
gout can also build up in the kidney and create 
kidney stones
Kidney stones are common in older laying chickens.
Most cases are due to feeding 
high-calcium laying feed to hens not in egg production,
infection with infectious bronchitis virus, or
severe Vitamin A deficiency.
If the kidney stones cause a complete blockage
in both ureters the birds will die . 
If the blockage is incomplete or
only affects one ureter the birds will survive,
but in a compensated state, 
suffering with renal failure and chronic
urate deposits in the joint spaces.

How do I know if my chicken has Gout?
The symptoms of gout are pretty 
vague and could be similar to many other diseases.
Most birds are depressed and lose weight.
I have been told by some breeders that
their birds would crouch or sit and
their combs and wattles would be pale.
These birds usually died within hours of the 
onset of these symptoms.
The only way to know that your bird
has gout is to have them tested after they die
with a necropsy.
Some birds will develop malformed toes 
and feet from the buildup of urate crystals in the
joints of the feet.

Prevention
To prevent gout in your flock
wait to feed your birds laying feed until after they
have started laying. 
Don't start your birds on layer feed 
before they begin laying,
 it's not necessary, it wont make them 
start laying any sooner and is 
potentially very dangerous.
If possible, don't give your roosters laying feed.
Don't give your birds extra protein.
Feeding things like canned cat food or
game bird feed, both of which are very high
in protein, can be very dangerous for your birds.
Try to keep your birds secure and always
quarantine any new birds.
You don't want to introduce any virus or disease,
some of which are damaging to the kidneys.
Make sure your birds always have access to 
clean, fresh water. 
Dehydration, especially during these
hot summer months can be very damaging to the 
kidneys and result in sudden losses or 
chronic kidney disease.

I hope this post has been helpful,
if you have any questions or comments 
please email me!

Enjoy your feathered friends!

Monday, August 6, 2012

Serama Chick Hatching

I was able to get the very end of a 
chick hatching this morning and wanted to 
share it with yall. 
This is one of my little serama.
This was the last one to hatch out of this batch.
The others started yesterday morning and
finished up during the night.
When I got up this morning this little guy
was just finishing up.
Enjoy!


If you have just started hatching or 
your having trouble or have a question
go check out my page on hatching and incubating.
There is also information about caring for your
babies right after they hatch!

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Show Season is Coming!

I am so excited about the upcoming show season,
this is going to be my first year showing my own birds!
The following are some of the upcoming Serama shows:

Saturday, Sep 8 2012 All Day
Calhoun Fairgrounds
1050 Liberty Rd, SW
Calhoun, Ga 30701
Meets
District Meet
Special Meet
State Meet
State Meet Show 1
Special Meet Show 2
Special Meet
_____________________________________________
2012 American Serama Nationals
Paradise Seramas 
7955 Gilliam Rd, 
Orlando, FL
 Southern Serama Classic
Oct 13th 2012
Coop in Oct 12th
Judges Gary Overton 
2nd Judge pending
Show Manager Edgar Mongold
______________________________________________
Fancy Fowl Club Show
Saturday, Oct 20 All Day
901 Hwy 11
Monroe, GA
(Behind Britt's Dept. Store)
For information, contact:
Michelle(770) 466-3290
or
Heath(678) 625-7741
______________________________________________
Carpet City Bantam Club
Saturday, Nov 24 All Day
North Georgia Fairgrounds
500 Legion Dr.Dalton GA
For more information, contact:
Sonia Jenkins, Secretary
349 Bushey Head Rd
Cherry Log, GA 30522
(706) 276-6395
______________________________________________
Anderson SC All Breed Show
Saturday, Nov 17 All Day
TT Judge will be Tommy Lee
Show is held at
T. Ed Garrison Cattle Complex, Clemson, SC
Contact info
Anthony Ashley1-864-369-0909
2021 Hamby Rd
Honea Path, SC 29654
_________________________________________________
Sandlapper Poultry Association
Saturday, Dec 1 All Day
The Low Country Classic
Contact:Mark Beasley
1264 Old Allendale Hwy, 
Barnwell SC 29812
803-259-3752 - home
803-671-1920- cell