A chicken has a clogged goiter: what to do, methods of treatment and causes

The crop is a key part of the chicken's digestive system. This is where the digestion process begins. Quite often there is a blockage of the goiter. If this part of the body of chickens is disrupted, a general deterioration in he alth can be observed. If the chicken has a clogged goiter, what to do in such a situation? This question interests many beginner poultry farmers.

Main causes of the problem

Goiter is clogged in almost all types of chickens. However, the level of prevalence of the disease depends on the type of bird food. 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:

Violations in the diet. The most common cause of problems is eating disorders. Chickens are recommended to be fed at a clearly allotted time for this. Often eating at different times of the day results in significant intervals between meals. This negatively affects the digestive organs of birds. Hungry chickens can fly into food and eat too much food. This provokes an overflow of the goiter. If the chicken is he althy, the food will immediately enter the stomach. In weakened or sick birds, food can accumulate in the crop, which provokes blockage and inflammation.
Not enough water. Violation of the functions of the goiter is due to a lack of fluid. It is water that pushes food into the stomach, in which it is digested. Therefore, it is important to control not only the timeliness of feeding, but also the regularity of the water supply.
Poor feed quality.The blockage can be caused by food containing large fragments. Sometimes chickens accidentally swallow large or tough stems and branches. In this case, the stems provoke blockage of the goiter and can damage the 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 operational way. At the same time, it is recommended to remove the stuck fragments.
Lack of vitamins and minerals. The development of a violation 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.

Clogged symptoms

In order not to miss the appearance of problems, it is recommended to control the behavior of the chicken. The following indicates the development of pathology:

ball seal regardless of feeding;
general weakness of the bird over a long period of time;
lack of thirst and appetite;
rotting smell from beak;
impaired respiratory function;
increased body temperature;
fall 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 goiter bag of a bird is constantly enlarged, regardless of food, this indicates a violation of its patency. The easiest way to identify a violation 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 dense plumage in the collar area. Therefore, at the initial stages, the disease cannot be detected.

To detect problems, you should pay attention to the behavior of birds. They become lethargic, lose their appetite, do not drink water. Such symptoms should make the owner pay attention to the condition of the goiter.

When blocked, the goiter becomes hard and resembles a dense ball. Little by little, the chicken develops respiratory problems. At the same time, the bird begins to breathe noisily and intermittently. With inflammation, a clear liquid is released from the beak. It may also be yellowish. If you pick up a chicken with a clogged goiter, you can smell a sour, putrid smell from the beak. This indicates that the food that is stuck in the esophagus has begun to spoil.

What to do if a chicken has a goiter?

Clogged goiter requires timely assistance to the chicken. If this is not done, there is a risk of dangerous consequences.

Conservative treatment

When the goiter increases, the chicken 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. Bird nutrition is important. It is recommended to feed her only soft foods. Moist chopped cereals, boiled and mashed potatoes, small cottage cheese will be excellent options.

Twice a day it is recommended to instill 10 milliliters of vegetable oil into the beak, and it should be combined with fish oil.

When a problem is detected in time, it is worth trying to soften the food that is present inside. To do 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:

put a mixture of oil and water into the bird's throat with a syringe;
perform compaction massage;
place 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 introduce 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 Vaseline. It is also acceptable to use a syringe without a needle. For the procedure, it is worth preparing a glass of warm pink solution.

Surgery

If it was possible to identify a foreign object in the goiter, 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:

alcoholic product;
sharp scissors - they should be disinfected;
hydrogen peroxide;
iodine;
cotton wool;
tweezers;
surgical sutures.

For the procedure, it is recommended to do the following:

Fix the chicken, remove the feathers from the crop.
Treat the dissection site with iodine.
Make a small incision and remove the contents with tweezers.
Peroxide the incision.
Sew up the area with a thread - absorbable thread is recommended.

After surgery, it is worth keeping the chicken on a starvation diet and monitoring its condition.

Diet

Birds with clogged goiter are recommended to be separated from other chickens and put on a special diet. During therapy, she should be fed only soft foods. These include the following:

mashed porridge;
boiled eggs;
mashed potatoes;
kefir;
cottage cheese.

Possible consequences of the problem

To cure a pathology, it must be detected in time and appropriate measures taken immediately. If there is a violation for a long time, there is a risk of various problems.

The main complications of the disease include inflammatory lesions of the goiter and intestines. With a chronic process, there is a risk of damage to the esophagus, impaired functioning of the kidneys and liver. Sometimes a swollen crop provokes suffocation of the bird.

Prevention of clogged goiter in chickens

Experienced poultry farmers recommend preventing the appearance of blockage of the goiter. To do this, you should follow simple recommendations:

Think about 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. This will prevent birds from attacking food and absorbing it too quickly.
Control the quality of food. Solid and coarse food should be prohibited. If such food is present in the diet, it is recommended to crush it and mix it with soft foods.
To improve digestive functions, add a couple of drops of apple cider vinegar to the water. In this case, the water should be systematically changed.
Put troughs with sand and small pebbles near the feeders. Under natural conditions, birds absorb pebbles and grains of sand, which help soften food in the crop.

The accumulation of food in the crop is considered a fairly common problem that can cause negative consequences. To cope with the violation, timely therapy is recommended. It includes conservative or surgical methods. In difficult situations, you will not be able to do without the help of a veterinarian.