Chickens and chickens fall to their feet: causes and treatment

Problems with chick stability on their feet and other musculoskeletal disorders in chickens are associated with many causes. As the main factors creating favorable conditions for the appearance of deviations, experts call the lack of nutrients and vitamins in the diet, violation of the conditions for keeping birds and hereditary traits. In addition to the above reasons, the threat of the appearance of a violation is increased by the presence of parasites on the surface of the paws of chickens, excessive overcrowding of the livestock per unit area, and lack of sunlight, characteristic of the cage method of keeping.

If a pathology is detected, it is first of all necessary to isolate the bird that has deviations from the rest of the livestock and conduct a thorough examination of its limbs. If there is a violation of the integrity of the structure on their surface, the affected areas should be treated with an antiseptic and the bird should be placed in a cage with fresh litter during the healing of the damage. If other deviations are found, it is necessary to determine what type of disease they belong to, and then take the necessary measures to relieve pain symptoms and eliminate pathology.

Why chickens and chickens fall to their feet

Problems with the musculoskeletal system in chickens and layers are fraught not only with a decrease in livestock productivity and additional costs for the breeder to carry out therapeutic and preventive measures, but with the fact that chickens and chickens that have fallen to their feet will subsequently die. To reduce the time spent on diagnosing the cause of the disorder, experts offer the following classification of diseases of the paws and limbs in chickens:

• falling to feet in broilers and chickens;
• lameness in chickens;
• bird stand on one paw;
• patrolling the paws of chickens when trying to stand on them;
• sitting of the chicken on its feet and fruitless attempts to get up.

However, the diagnosis of the type of pathology in chickens is complicated by the fact that some diseases have several types of external manifestations. For example, joint inflammation in birds at different stages can be expressed in chickens and chickens falling to their feet or a complete loss of the ability to move. In this regard, it is recommended, in addition to assessing the external manifestations of the disorder, to carry out additional procedures, for example, probing to assess the density of bone structures and determine the temperature at the site of the problem.

Important! If in doubt about the accuracy of the diagnosis, you should immediately seek advice from your veterinarian.

Video: why chickens sit on their feet

Possible causes of chickens falling to their feet

In order to understand why adult laying hens and chickens fall to their feet and what needs to be done in this case, first we will single out several groups of reasons that cause the appearance of pathologies of the musculoskeletal system in chickens. They can be conditionally divided into the following:

1. Deviations associated with inflammatory processes in the area of ​​joints and ligaments in the quads.
2. Deviations due to a lack of vitamins and minerals in the diet.
3. Pathologies arising from violation of the conditions of keeping chickens and adult chickens.
4. Diseases caused by the presence of viruses in the area of ​​any pairs of limbs in chickens.
5. Diseases associated with mechanical damage to tendons and extremities in quads.

Let's look at each of the groups of factors that explain why adult chickens and chicks can give up their legs and fall or sit on them.

Diseases of an inflammatory nature

Among the reasons for the fall of chickens on their feet due to inflammation, experts distinguish:

• Arthritis, which is a viral infection that affects the area of ​​the joints and surrounding structures. This disease can be determined by probing the large bones in the bird, while the affected areas will be swollen areas and may have a higher temperature than the surrounding tissues. Experienced breeders cite deviations in laying hens, improperly formulated diet and the presence of viral infections in the body among the causes of arthritis.

Note! An external manifestation of arthritis is the fall of the chicken on its paws while walking. In the absence of a timely response from the farmer, the inflammatory process will spread from the area of ​​the joint capsule to the surrounding structures. With such a development of events, the probability of the transition of deviation to a chronic form is high.

• Tenosynovitis, which is an inflammation of the tendons in birds, causes chicks to sit on their feet and cannot stand up.

Note! A characteristic feature of this disease, which distinguishes it from arthritis, is the defeat and fall on the legs of mainly young broiler chickens, which are grown using intensive technologies (broilers).

Diseases associated with damage to joints and paws

A group of pathologies associated with injury or deformation of individual parts of the legs in chickens is also the cause of the immobility of birds. Among the most common deviations of this type, experts include:

1. Tendon displacementcalled perosisthat occurs in chickens and chickens with improper diet and insufficient amount of vitamin B in the body. A distinctive feature of this violation is the eversion of the legs in layers, which results in partial immobility, inability to stand on the feet of the bird and its refusal to walk.

Note! In most cases, this disease does not respond to therapy, since in the final stage it leads to complete failure of the legs in chickens. In this regard, the most common outcome in the presence of such a defect is the slaughter of poultry.

2. The same group of diseases should include curly fingers and their curvature, manifested in the fact that the chicken when walking rests on the side edges of the foot or adapts to move with the toes bent down.

Note! Such pathologies can occur in the presence of a genetic predisposition or appear with hypothermia of the extremities, injuries and, as a rule, do not respond to therapy.

3. Mechanical injuries of the paws, as dislocations, cuts, wounds and ligament ruptures occurs when a laying hen steps on a nail, broken glass, sharp metal parts or as a result of falling from a high perch. In the latter case, there is a high probability of limb fracture.

Important! When diagnosing the reason why the chicken falls to its feet, it is recommended to pick it up and examine it for damage. If in doubt about the accuracy of the diagnosis, you should contact your veterinarian.

Containment Diseases

Violation of the basic principles in the internal arrangement of the chicken coop and the organization of the system for keeping layers can also cause pathologies in the work of the musculoskeletal system. Among the main reasons for the fall of chickens on their feet and unwillingness to get up, experienced breeders highlight:

• Too dense planting of birds in the hen house, the normative indicators of which for adults are no more than 3-4.

Note! Some farmers note the possibility of using a smaller specific area when keeping broilers, but in case of doubt, it is better to use the classic recommendations.

• A negative effect on the musculoskeletal system of chickens can be deviation from the recommended values room temperature and humidity indicators.
• Quite common disease is infection of quadsscabies parasite, while there is a lesion of the paw in the area below the tail line. This type of pathology can be determined by the fact that the chicken constantly pecks at the area of ​​infection.
• One of the reasons for the appearance of deviations is lack of sufficient daylight hours, which in the winter period should be at least 14 hours.
• Critical to chicks isenough solar energy, in the absence of which it develops rickets, manifested in the weakening of the lower limbs and the inability to use them as a support when walking.

Ensuring the recommended regimes for keeping poultry, in particular the timely implementation of sanitary and preventive measures, will prevent the appearance of problems with leg failure in hens and chickens in the livestock.

Video: the broiler falls to its feet

Problems associated with lack of nutrients in the diet

Nutrition, without exaggeration, is one of the factors most often provoking the appearance of problems with chickens falling to their feet. A complex of problems associated with an insufficient amount of various groups of vitamins in the diet or associated with improper metabolism can lead to a decrease in the activity of chickens, softening of bone tissues, exhaustion and immobility. Among the main factors affecting the health of chickens, experienced breeders name:

1. Lack of vitamin D, the lack of which provokes a change in phosphorus-calcium metabolism, as a result of which chronic weakness of the musculoskeletal system is diagnosed in chickens. The appearance of this type of vitamin deficiency leads to the maintenance of a large number of chickens in a small area, high humidity and lack of air exchange in the chicken coop.

Note! In adults, D-hypovitaminosis can manifest itself in lack of shells on eggs or decalcification of the bones of the bird's trunk.

2. Disadvantage B1 It is characterized by a decrease in the productivity of laying hens, falling on the chest when moving, convulsions and paralysis in the stage of acute shortage.

Important! The most susceptible to the appearance of this type of pathology are chickens under the age of 1 month.

3. Lack of group B2 manifests itself in the fact that the chicken has difficulty getting to its feet, moves along a curved path, wings trembling is possible.
4. Lack of B12 can be identified by problems with raising on paws in chickens, sagging wings, decreased activity and productivity of the layer.
5. Group E vitamin deficiency can be identified by a staggering gait, the appearance of twisting of the paws in chickens, low activity of the bird and its frequent fall on its feet when walking.
6. Lack of A it is diagnosed by the appearance of ulcers on the surface of the paws, slowing down the development of chicks, various types of infectious eye lesions, which eventually leads to blindness of sick individuals.
7. The same group of pathologies can be attributed gout, in which, as a result of using an unbalanced diet, uric acid salts are deposited in the muscles and joints of chickens.

How and what to treat if chickens and chickens fall to their feet

Therapy of the listed pathologies, depending on the type of disorder, may include:

• Bringing conditions of detention layers in accordance with the requirements of regulatory documents.
• Checking for presence or absence injuries and injuries on the surface of the paws in a chicken and, if necessary, wound treatmentantiseptic (iodine, brilliant green) and isolating the injured individual from the rest of the herd.
• Upon detection rickets, traditional medicine methods provide for therapy using a few drops of vodka and supplements in the diet from 10 to 50 g fish oil per sick individual or synthetic analogue based on vitamin D.
• 
• In case of diagnosis as a violation problems with joints and ligaments drug recommended tricalcium phosphate, added to the food of a sick chicken in the amount of 1 - 2% of the total weight of the feed. With this type of therapy, the rise of the chicken occurs in a fairly short period of time.

Important! The drug has a balanced composition of mineral supplements and vitamins, its use restores the balance of nutrients in the bird's body.

• Upon detection tendovaginitis or arthritis, it is necessary to use a course of treatment based on antiviral drugs and antibiotics.

Note! Recommended medicines for use include M sulfate, sulfadimethoxine, benzylpenicillin, ampicillin, polymyxin. The listed drugs are given to sick individuals for no more than 5 days, observing the dosages recommended by the veterinarian.

• If during the diagnostics it was found dislocation of tendons, it is necessary to replenish the chicken diet with shock doses vitamin B and manganese.
• B1 deficiency eliminated within 3-4 days, for the purpose of therapy, special additives are used in the amount of 50-100 μg per 1 laying hen.
• Lack of diet riboflavin compensated by the addition of vitamin to food B2.
• Vitamin deficiency with a lack of B12 is compensated by the addition of pharmacy-made cyanocobalamin to the diet.
• If a nutritional deficiency is detected tocopherol, it is recommended to add to the diet synthetic analogs of vitamin E.
• If during the diagnosis a deficiency in the body is revealed vitamin A, it is necessary to add a small amount to the diet for several weeks fish oil.

Note! For the purpose of partial replacement retinol, necessary for the body of the bird, can be included in the diet of the laying hen chopped alfalfa.

• Treatment gout in affected layers can be done by adding to food atofana at the rate of 1/2 g 1 time in several days per individual.

Timely detection of deviation and the adoption of the necessary therapeutic measures increase the likelihood of restoring the motor function of the bird.

Note! If, after the treatment, the chicken's legs continue to fail, for some reason it still does not stand on its paws, you definitely need to consult an experienced veterinarian.

Video: chickens fall on their paws due to rickets

Features of the course of the disease and treatment in chickens and adult chickens

Experienced breeders highlight several characteristics of the course and therapy of falling chickens and chicks to their feet.

The specificity of leg failure in chickens and their subsequent treatment is manifested in the following:

1. Initial stage of flow rickets may manifest as ruffled feathers, poor appetite and weakness, but if left untreated for several weeks, the legs will weaken, causing the chick to fall to its feet and lose the ability to lift. To prevent its onset, it should be mixed into the feed chalk, crushed shellfish shells, hydrated lime, bone meal.
2. Avitaminosis with an insufficient amount of thiamine is detected during the first month of the chick's life; to prevent its onset, it must be added to the feed sprouted wheat, meat and bone meal, brewer's yeast, bran.

The specifics of the fall of adult chickens on their feet and their subsequent treatment:

• Lack of vitamin B2 most often it happens in young layers, it is recommended to add to the feed to prevent the appearance of pathology fermented milk products, chopped alfalfa.
• Lack of vitamin A develops in the body for some time, which complicates its diagnosis. Prevention measures include adding to food pumpkins, corn and carrots with a high concentration of retinol.

Important! If in doubt about the correct diagnosis, it is recommended that you consult your veterinarian.

Preventive measures

Measures designed to reduce the likelihood of damage to the organs of the musculoskeletal system and, as a result, prevent chickens and chickens from falling to their feet include:

• Throughout the year, it is necessary, if possible, to ensure daily walks on a specially designated area with access to sunlight.
• To provide sufficient amount of luminous flux in winter time, it is necessary to equip the chicken coop with fluorescent ultraviolet lamps.
• Indicators temperature in winter time should be in the range + 12 ... + 18 ° С with relative humidity in the range of 60-80%. To maintain the set humidity values, it is recommended to use an adjustable air exchange system.
• Cleaning from foreign objects, glass, sharp particles of metal objects in the area, used as a poultry area.
• By arranging perch for layers, it should be remembered that a height of more than 0.8 m poses a threat of injury for adults and death for young animals.
• Recommended add to feed or wet mash of substances that help to strengthen the musculoskeletal and immune systems of birds. Such products include greens, wood ash, sand, shell, salt, crushed chicken eggshells.

The health of the livestock can be achieved by periodically carrying out the listed activities while simultaneously meeting the requirements of the standards for the conditions of keeping and feeding the herd.

If the conditions for keeping and feeding the livestock are violated, the recommended ratios of the components are ignored when making up the diet, various disorders in the musculoskeletal system in layers may occur, which is why the hens and chickens will begin to fail their legs, and they will fall or sit on them. In most cases, the problem can be easily corrected with early detection and appropriate action. However, there is a group of pathologies, the development of which will most likely lead to the fact that immobilized chickens and chickens will begin to die. To prevent the disease, it is recommended to periodically carry out preventive and sanitary and hygienic measures.

Video: broilers fall to their feet - the causes and prevention of this scourge