GOOD AVICULTURE / GOOD VETERINARY CARE
By Paul Dye
At first glance one sees no incompatibility between good aviculture and good veterinary care, but as most experienced practitioners in both
fields know, that's not always the case. To attain a good level of proficiency in most fields one needs to have developed a mode of
operation that works for them, and then be stubborn about sticking to it. Unfortunately, that inflexibility can make it really difficult in
dealing with another, equally opinionated person.
Most successful aviculturists, especially when dealing with difficult species, have found a way to satisfy the needs of their birds, while
adapting to the limitations imposed by their local environment. Methods of
combating parasites, fungus, viruses, bacteria and predatory birds
and mammals must all be found. By the time a breeder is truly successful he/she may find they've become "set in their ways".
Finding a good avian veterinarian is getting somewhat easier than it was 10 years ago in most areas of the US, but can still present quite a
challenge. Unless a vet school graduate comes from a background of interest in birds, or developed that interest while at University, the
more lucrative household pet trade can be irresistible. Some, probably the more energetic, manage to combine a mix of the two, while somehow staying current on the differing technology involved in each. It's no
wonder then, that after being bombarded for years with all the technical and clinical info that they must master in order to graduate, that this
clinical approach to problems becomes automatic, as well it should be. Just a basic understanding of all the pathogens (bacteria, fungus,
parasites and viruses) that can play a part in any animal's health is an overwhelming undertaking, and once the cause of a problem is diagnosed,
the path to recovery must be pursued, or at least recommended.
As with all accomplished scientists, a veterinarian should seek to accumulate all pertinent evidence (clues) as to the nature of the
problem presented, whether it be for a single bird or for the entire flock, if affected.
By the very nature of their training and responsibility this discourages "shotguning", or the helter-skelter use
of antibiotics or wormers without proper analysis, as is so often practiced by small private aviculturists, with a small flock, or with a
larger flock of inexpensive birds. Depending on the initial symptoms, this may involve fecal analysis, blood tests, physical inspection of the
mouth, sinus, throat and/or vent area, and possibly even x-rays, or a necropsy of the first flock members to die.
Blood and/or tissue samples
may need to be sent to a laboratory for isolation of the pathogen to blame, and to identify the treatment with the most
likelihood of
success.
If the sounds expensive, it may well be, but remember that "expensive" is a relative term that depends on the monetary value of the bird, and
the seriousness of the aviculturist to do a thorough job of caring for his/her charges.
Remember also that thoroughly understanding a problem today often leads to husbandry changes that eliminate or lessen the
future impact of the same, or similar pathogens. Examples of such husbandry improvements would include a war against rodents and/or
earthworms and constant attention to water and waterer cleanliness, as well as constant vigilance for fungus or filth buildup.
Human nature
being what it is, most people at one time or another, get complacent or careless, sometimes letting
a condition get out of hand. Getting "back on track" often results from a serious consideration of your veterinarian's findings and advice. Wise also is the aviculturist
who invites their veterinarian out for an annual facility review, with an emphasis on improvements needed.
This is one of the big advantages Zoos have over private aviculture; as staff members their veterinarians
are free (and available) to make recommendations regarding husbandry and facilities.
Occasions arise where good husbandry and good veterinary care come in conflict. This can seriously strain the aviculturist/veterinarian
relationship unless a mutual respect for each other's point of view is kept in mind, and an effort is made to reach a compromise with a good
chance of success. Several examples we have experienced are provided here as follows:
1. Franklin Spruce Grouse and Ptarmigan are two species of
Gallinacious birds that can tolerate very little handling.
Cardiac arrest can easily result simply from the chase, capture,
transport and resultant handling of a bird suspected of a
problem, such as worms or a bacterial infection. Usually the
symptoms observed by the aviculturist are listlessness, diet
loss, or even an inability to fly up to their accustomed perch.
In this case trundling the bird off to the veterinarian's office
is likely to lead to it's demise. Simply spreading plastic
sheeting under its roost will often result in a fecal that
can be analyzed by a veterinarian. If the cause is isolated,
it can be a simple procedure to provide, either by injection
or orally the required medication, by gently but swiftly
catching the bird by flashlight at night, and after medicating,
returning it to its roost. Come morning, the bird won't even
have any recollection of this trauma if properly done.
Fortunately, the healthy weights of these species is fairly
uniform, allowing proper dosing. If when caught, the bird is
found to be underweight, a postage scale can be rapidly employed
to weigh the bird and adjust to the
reduced dosage.
2. Sensitive goose species, such as Brant, especially when parent
reared, can be uniquely susceptable to weakening from coccidia
or parasites. In these cases the veterinarian may recommend
immediate isolation of the sick individual to prevent the spread
of the illness and to get it back up on its feet before leg
muscle atrophy occurs. In some species simply isolating a
bird from its family or flock can seal its fate as a result
of stress. One solution often successful in such a case is
to isolate the sick individual in a small (4' x 4') pen right
in the middle of the larger enclosure where its family or flock
is housed. If supplemental heat is recommended a heat lamp
can be installed under a cover in one corner of the pen. To
assure that the flock doesn't contact contaminated fecal material
when the bird is better in the pen area, put 6" to 10" of clean
sand under the pen and dispose of it when the bird is released
back into the flock.
3. Certain sensitive species that do best in a flock situation
are often susceptable to stress related problems. In this case
where one member needs to be treated for a problem, such as
an eye infection, fungus, parasites,etc, its important for the
aviculturist to stress the need for a treatment that can still
be effective if given only once a day. If possible, this has
the effect of limiting the stress on the other flock members
to just once each day, while the patient is being caught.
4. Unfortunately, there are still a few avian maladies that
defy treatment. One of these we experienced early in our work
with Atlantic Brant was Ameloidosis. Little is known about
this disease, however it's widely believed that it is somehow
related to, or caused by, stress. It usually results in liver
malfunction, and a buildup of a protein fluid in the abdominal
cavity. It only seemed to affect about 10% of our Atlantic
Brant and was difficult to combat, as no cause or outward sign
of stress could be detected. One of my ideas was that since
excessive protein fluid in the abdomen was one of the symptoms,
why not try cutting back severely on the protein content of
the feed provided. Doug (my veterinarian) couldn't verify that this
would help from the medical literature, but agreed that it was
worth a try. Ten years later, all other factors being equal,
we have to agree that it seems to have greatly lessened the
incidence of Ameloid in our Brant. We now restrict our Brant
flock to less than 14% protein except during breeding season.
These are four examples of the kind of result that can be achieved when an aviculturist and a veterinarian negotiate a solution to a medical
problem. Without having visited your facility the veterinarian may experience difficulty in picturing the procedure and setup you propose,
and it's here that good communication skills really pay off.
When Doug and I first tried to coordinate proper treatment of sick birds from the Northwest Wildfowl farm we had a few rocky sessions. What
helped us through initially was patience with each other, and than the friendship and trust we developed. We both soon realized that we were
approaching some of the same problems from opposite sides, and needed to listen to each other. We were really pleased when, on many occasions
very practical solutions fairly "jumped out" at us. At present we can look back at
20 years of far more successes than failures, with an enjoyable friendship to boot.
Each year the veterinary graduating class from WSU brings the members who are interested in avian medicine out to Northwest Wildfowl to see
and discuss our husbandry techniques. It's a great learning experience for all of us, and offers me a chance to learn about some of the latest
developments. A few years ago we started combining the field trip with my inspection for my NPIP
(National Poultry Improvement Plan) certification, allowing the students an opportunity to take blood & fecal samples in the field. The benefit to
me is that it becomes a little easier to obtain permits to legally ship my birds internationally and to other states.
If you'd like more information about Northwest Wildfowl Farm feel free
to checkout the remainder of our web pages.