What will you find here? Show

Gizzard inflammation in chickens (inflammation of the gizzard)

Sporadic diseases in chickens:

Ingluvitis hen Bielefelder.

What is crop inflammation?

It is called ingluvitis or the disease from a collapsed crop to an organic condition of the crop characterized by an increase in the organ's volume; it is very common in hens. Ingluvitis affects only the crop.

Food contaminated by soil, seeds spoiled by moisture (which can cause fungal growth), and feeders and waterers that do not meet normal hygiene standards—when ingested, this contaminated food causes indigestion, remains in the crop, and leads to bloating.

The majority of the times we will not be able to find out where the problem is coming from, but with cleanliness and hygiene, will surely be sporadic cases.

The crop is a part of a bird’s stomach where food is stored and softened (remaining there for about an hour) before moving on to the glandular stomach (proventriculus) and the muscular stomach (gizzard), where digestion begins. If the crop is damaged, it leads to poor digestion accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, and changes in appetite.

The crop has no glands; the process of softening grains or food relies on water, secretions from the salivary glands, a slightly acidic broth, and the hen’s body heat.

It is more prevalent in birds fed a diet of grains or concentrated feed; the microorganism thrives in it Saccharomyces telluris(a combination of fungi and yeasts) when included in the diet Cerelosa (glucose or dextrose), which produces a large amount of gas and is believed to be the cause of crop distension.

Birds with candidiasis, if left untreated, gradually lose weight until they die.

Appears an enormous distension of the crop, an organ that is in a hanging position.

On palpation, it can be seen that food residues always remain in the stomach, and there is sometimes slight distension due to the presence of gas inside.

The fermentation of the contents of this organ and the bird’s absorption of the toxins it produces lead to a range of general symptoms, such as lethargy, ruffled feathers, thirst, loss of appetite, etc.

The best approach is to massage the crop until the trapped food is expelled. To do this, follow these steps:

What steps will we take to treat tonsillitis?

Esophageal probe and syringe

Nasogastric tube

First step: Using a syringe fitted with a rubber extension, we will introduce warm water (20 ml to 40 ml) and insert the tube about 8 to 10 cm into the crop (nasogastric or drip tube (see photos) and syringe; these are available at the pharmacy). This will allow us to flush the organ.

With the help of another person to hold the bird, carefully insert the tube through its beak (use your finger to check that it is entering the neck), reaching all the way to the crop, and making sure not to insert it into the hen’s respiratory system, as liquid in the lungs will cause the bird to drown.

Second step: Gently massage the contents of the crop so that the water you've added mixes well with the food inside.

Step three: When we feel that the contents are well mixed, we will turn the hen upside down, holding it by the tarsi, and squeeze the crop toward the neck, letting it hang freely—since this is the natural way for all the liquid to drain out—and induce vomiting.

Repeat two more times, until we see that the content is removed.

Step four: Once the crop has been cleaned, it is recommended to administer (using the same method with the tube), mixed with water, a bactericidal antibiotic, such as enrofloxacin, and if the infection is fungal, an oral antifungal medication, such as fluconazole.

But we must always consult with our vet before, to tell us the dose of the drug. Then, place the chicken separate from the group, in a warm place and closed.

Step five: Now, to recover our bird, we will only give water to discretion, in the following twenty-four hours, without any kind of solid food.

The next day, we can give him a small amount of soft food—bread soaked in water—and water for another 24 hours. On the second day, we’ll give him the same portion every 12 hours.

Over the next few days, we will gradually increase the portion size, adding dry food little by little, so that by the sixth or seventh day, the portion will be back to normal.

Finished and seeing their improvement, we can incorporate the hen to the group in the chicken coop.

Ingluvitis front

Ingluvitis side

Literature review:

MERCK & CO. (1995). Manual Merck de Veterinaria. Rahway, N. J., EE. UU.

BUXADÉ, P. (1987). The laying hen. Ed. Mundiprensa. Madrid.

DORN, P. (1987). Manual of avian pathology. Ed. Acribia. Zaragoza.

HOFSTAD, M. S. (1984). Diseases of Poultry. Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa.

ZARZUELO, E. (1982). Vade mecum of the pathology, infectious poultry. Ed. Aedos, Barcelona.

CASTELLÓ, F. and CASTELLÓ, J. A. (1960). The New Art of Raising Chickens. Aedos, Barcelona.

OROZCO, F. (1989). Breeds of chickens Spanish. Ed. Mundiprensa. Madrid.

LACADENA, J. R. (1998). Genetics. Ed. AGESA

PUERTAS, M.J. (1992). Genetics: Fundamentals and Perspectives. McGraw-Hill Interamericana.

SANCHEZ-MONGE, E. (1969), Genetics. Espasa-Calpe S.A.

OROZCO, F. and ROBLA, F. (1986). Genetic aspects of the León rooster. 24th Symposium of the WPSA (Spanish Section): 199–212.

HILL, J. L. (1973). Genetics, general and applied. Ed. UTEHA.

CASTELLÓ, J. A., LLEONART, R., FIELD, J. L., OROZCO, F. (1989). Biology of the chicken. Real Escuela de Avicultura.

LLEONART, F., ROCA, E., CALLÍS, M., GURRI, A., PONTES, M. (1991). Poultry Hygiene and Pathology. Royal School of Poultry Science.

STURKIE, P.D. (1968). Fisiología aviar, ed. Acribia. Zaragoza.

LOHMANN ANIMAL HEALTH (2012)

You may be interested in these other sections

Glossary of Hens and Roosters: Essential Poultry Farming Terms

Discover Francisco Dieste y Buil's economic treatise

Discover the history of the Castilian Black Hen

Do you want to share or comment on your social networks?

Scan to visit TRI-TRO
Escanea para visitar. TRI-TRO