Symptoms Prevention, management and treatment • Drop off in egg production • Leg scales that are enlarged and start to lift are indicative of scaly leg mite • Deter mites and lice by painting the perches with a mix of lime and water every month • Regular use of a poultry lice control or dust will help to remove lice parasites which infest birds around the vent and neck • Enlarged, hard crop • Bad breath • Off food and water Can be fatal if not treated early. • Gentle massage of the crop to manually remove food • Veterinary treatment such as antifungal medication and antibiotics • Probiotics • Swelling in the area • Redness • Discharge • Feathers stuck to vent • Odour • Pecking at the backend Actual vent problems are serious and should be seen by a veterinarian. Treatment involves feeding the chicken back to full health, increasing immunity, reducing stress, and medications for any infection. • Poor condition i.e. dull feathers • Weakness • Weight loss • Pale comb, wattle or mouth • Watery, smelly droppings Worms are an easily preventable problem in chickens with routine treatment. Worming treatments should be given to the whole flock. Clean the coop thoroughly to remove worm eggs within infected droppings. • Missing feathers • Signs of blood • Withdrawal from the flock Small wounds • Trim feathers around the wound • Wash with warm sterile saline • Consider an approved antibiotic ointment Large wounds and with bleeding • Consult a vet THE CHOOK BOOK | 43