How to raise Backyard Chickens: Re: [CHICKENS-101] Re: Crop Problem

Hi Cathryn ,

In your studies did you find what causes canker or where do chickens/pigeons get it ?

I've only seen it many many years back after a couple birds had pox/wet pox and canker as you described it (in their throats) appeared .

This four way med you all were mentioning , what is it for ?

Hope you are doing good in this cold cold weather ..... we've had it down in the teens and 20's for a night or so (BAD ).

Thanks best To You ,

Shannon

----- Original Message -----

From: CathrynTherese

To: CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, January 08, 2014 6:16 PM

Subject: Re: [CHICKENS-101] Re: Crop Problem - advice please

Diane, People cannot catch canker aka T gallinae aka trichomoniasis from birds - it is a bird specific protozoa, and not a zoonose. Have you seen T gallinae under a microscope? I have. Sideways they resemble pack man. Full view look like a pear with tails. It's easy to prep a slide with a mucus or solid caseous specimen, bottled water, and a decent microscope. Canker has a short life span out of the bird's body and usually are spread by wild birds drinking out of water dishes and a chicken drinking out of the same dish within a relatively short time.

I did years of research after buying chickens I knew had canker and watched the breeder pull chunks of it out of a rooster's throat. Quarantine, treatment/medication allowed me to breed from these beyond gorgeous birds. This situation has also resulted in my doing years of research and testing new chickens that I buy. Canker is more prevalent than people realize in the fancy and wild birds. Poultry can live with some lesser virulent strains if they are not stressed. Extreme weather temperatures and other stresses can impair immunity and allow these lesser strains over come a bird's immune system. Virulent strains kill within a short time, and the in

between of course cause disease/roup. What I do not understand is someone not taking immediate intervention for sick birds/poultry/livestock/pets. Birds are especially vulnerable as you pointed out due to their many air sacks and their hollow bones. Protozoa, viruses, bacteria, and mycoplasmas hide easily in congestion (no blood supply to deliver meds in congestion) and in their hollow bones. Mycoplasmas not only do the same but can hide in cell parts too.

Cathryn rainbowsilkiesTM in Michigan