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Skeletal, Muscular & Nervous System

Skeletal and Muscular problems

This category contains information about poultry diseases and disorders that affect the skeletal, muscular or nervous system. Examples are crooked and curled toes, lameness and the crippling Marek’s disease that is a common disease affecting Silkie chickens.

Category Contents:

Skeletal & Muscular Problems

Articles about skeletal and muscular problems that occur in our poultry.

Lameness

Lameness can be caused by a number of different things. Sprains, infections caused by cuts or splinters in the foot, dislocation of the hip, muscle

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Mycoplasma Synoviae

Mycoplasma Synoviae bacteria often infect birds when their immune systems are low, such as when they have Infective Bronchitis (a cold) and seems to strike

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Crooked Toes

There are 4 known causes of crooked toes in chicks. Chicks get crooked toes at an early age, usually when they are a couple of

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Curled Toes

Curled Toe Paralysis is when the toes are curled and the chick walks on the tops of his curled toes, rather than the sides of

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Slipped Tendon

A slipped tendon is most common in fast growing hybrid meat chicks although it can affect pure breeds from time to time. Using out of

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Nervous System Disorders

There are a small number of disorders that affect the nervous system of our poultry. Marek’s disease is the most common and often occurs in Silkie chickens.

Marek's Disease

Marek’s Disease

Probably one of the most common problems we see is Marek’s disease in small flocks of birds. It causes great distress as it is often seen in

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Botulism

Botulism

A condition that sometimes, although not often occurs in domestic poultry is botulism. It has been seen in chickens, turkeys, pheasants and peafowl. However, for

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Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is quite rare. A laboratory test can identify it. It is usually kinder to dispatch birds with this condition because it usually ends in death

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Books

My recommendations

If you would like a good reference book on poultry health, these are the books I would recommend.

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External Problems

External Problems

Feathers, beak, skin, scales, spurs, eyes, comb, nails, legs and wings. Problems such as lameness, feather loss, external parasite infestation, frostbite, blindness, cuts and wounds.

Respiratory Diseases

Respiratory System

Respiratory problems including Avian Influenza, Aspergillosis, Gapeworm, Infectious Bronchitis and Mycoplasma.

Digestive-System-Thumb

Digestive System

Typical digestive system problems include internal parasites, loss of appetite, swollen crop, bad or sweet-smelling breath, diarrhoea, or messy bottoms.

Reproductive System

Reproductive System

Reproductive system problems include egg-laying problems (but not egg problems) in chickens and other poultry.

Wrinked Egg

Egg Quality

Common quality problems with eggs, such as soft or missing eggshells, wrinkled or misshaped eggs, watery whites, double yolks or blood spots.

Skeletal and Muscular problems

Skeletal, Muscular & Nervous System

Skeletal, muscular and nervous system problems.

Diseases such as Marek’s or Toxoplasmosis.

Cardiovascular and Organs

Cardiovascular & Organs

Diseases and disorders relating to major organs or the cardiovascular system include acute heart failure and Avian Leukosis.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to provide accurate information about poultry diseases and illnesses, and it is provided in good faith; however, content on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for veterinary advice. Reliance on any information provided on this website is solely at your own risk.