CORRECTING ROLLED TOES
The toes of ostrich occasionally roll to one side. This is often the result of either incubation conditions or less than ideal flooring for the young birds during brooding. Although this is not a life threatening situation, it is not desirable and will often influence the price and value of the birds. The situation can be easily corrected.
We wait until he birds are at least 2 weeks old before attempting to correct these rolled toes. At this age the birds are usually active, eating, and mobile enough to attempt to correct this situation while younger birds may become more easily stressed
Place the toe that is rolled on a flat wooden stick (tongue depressor) and position it so that is it correctly aligned. Wrap the toe in this position with non-sticky tape (VetRap) being sure that it is aligned correctly. Place a second stick at the front of the first one forming a "T" and fasten the two sticks together with tape. The bird can now be placed back with other similar aged birds and allowed to walk on this "T" for one or two days. This is usually sufficient to correct most situations. Try to keep the bandage dry and free of fecal material. If additional correction is still needed, repeat the procedure, never allowing the wrap to be on for more than a few days. Do only one toe at a time on birds with multiple problems.
SEXING JUVENILE BIRDS
Because different plumage of male and female ostrich is not apparent until the birds are nearly two years of age, sexing young birds by visual examination of the phallus (present in both sexes) is necessary. Sexing ostrich can be done at any age but we have found that examination at 1 to 2 months is best. Examination of birds younger than this is often more difficult, and examining older birds usually involves both restraint and internal examination.
The birds can be examined while standing or while held by a second person. The examiner simply pulls up on the tail of the bird and with the other hand applies pressure on the cloaca area. By gently applying pressure from the bird outward, the cloaca will be inverted and the phallus (which rests on the floor of the cloaca) will be expressed. The male phallus (upper picture) is larger, curved and more cartilaginous than that of the female. In order to become proficient at this type of examination, do several birds and compare the difference. After a little practice, this procedure will become easily mastered and more than 95% of the birds of this age can be accurately sexed. In some instances, the difference will not be as notable and these birds should be reexamined at a later time to confirm your earlier decision.
There are companies that provide a recombinant DNA sex determination for ostrich. The company providing this service is:
Zoogen, 1105 Kennedy Place, Suite 4
Davis, California 95616
916-756-8089
IDENTIFICATION AND MICROCHIPPING
There are numerous options available to producers for identifying ostrich. The most common method of identifying young birds is by the use of plastic numbered leg bands. These bands can be placed on the birds at hatching and will be useful for several weeks. Larger bands are available for juvenile and adult birds that can be adjusted to the size of the lag as the birds grow.
Many producers use microchip identification as a method of identifying birds. Birds can be microchipped at hatching by implanting the small chip under the skin (often placed in the pipping muscle of the neck at this time). This method is useful in both identifying birds on the ranch and also for locating and identifying lost or stolen birds. Many insurance companies require microchip identification. Microchip birds at one month of age. Locations for implanting the microchip include the hip muscle, the muscle on the back just above the tail and the area between the wings.
Several companies produce both microchips and readers. Unfortunately, different products are not totally compatible. Consequently, different readers are required for different chips. The following is a listing of companies that produce this equipment.
Avid 155 Woodside Drive Mandeville, La. 70448 504-626-4167
Destron
Trovan Ratite Identification and Registry P.O. Box 310 Megargel, Texas, 76370 1-800-722-9353.
Texas Instruments.
There are now companies that provide DNA fingerprint identification. This procedure involves analysis of blood from your bird that is used to identify that bird from all other birds. Companies providing this service include:
Zoogen 1105 Kennedy Place Suite 4 Davis, California 916-756-8089.
DISEASES
The Following is a listing of all diseases and disease agents that have been positively identified and reported in the scientific literature. Because of the relative newness of this industry, this list will surely increase as more information is gathered. At the present time, tentative, but not confirmed, reports exist of other potential diseases that could effect ostrich. You should work closely with your Veterinarian and a state or federal diagnostic laboratory when ever you suspect disease problems or are concerned about the introduction of agents onto your ranch.
Nematode
Paronchocerca struthionus. A filariad nematode recovered from the lungs of an ostrich in West Africa. An incidental finding in a bird that died of other causes. Pathogenicity unknown.
Struthiofilaria megalocephala. Several reports of nematodes from body cavity of ostrich. Pathogenicity unknown but possible.
Lipostrongylus douglassi. Intestinal nematode of ostrich. Reported susceptible to antihelminthic treatment with fenbendazole.
Cestode
Houttuynia struthionis. Intestinal tapeworm of ostrich. Reporting of efficacy of fenbendazole.
Trematode.
Philophthalmus gralli (eye fluke) reported to cause severe eye irritation and discharge in captive ostrich in Florida.
Protozoa
Hexamitiasis. Reported identifications of intestinal infections with possible pathogenicity in young ranched ostrich in North America.
Arthropods.
Struthiolipeurus nandu (Mallophagan louse) infestation in ostrich causing feather loss.
Unidentified feather mite belonging to family Pterolichidae infesting ostrich in North America causing feather loss. Successfully treated with Ivermectin.
Numerous ticks of various life stages reported to infest ostrich.
Viral diseases
Newcastle disease virus in ostrich reported in ranched ostrich in Israel. High mortality reported with viral isolation from brain.
Pox virus recovered from skin lesion in Israel.
Spongyform encephalopathy in a ranched ostrich.
Crimean-Congo Haemmorrhagic Fever Virus. Report of virus isolation from human thought to have acquired infection from handling slaughter ostrich or ticks off the ostrich in South Africa.
Bacterial Diseases
Staphylococcus hyicus in an ostrich causing conjunctivitis.
Colobacillosis responsible for mortalities in young ranched ostrich.
Tuberculosis in ostrich and other ratites.
Pasteurella multocida infections in ostrich in Nigeria resulting in generalized and pulmonary infections.
Fungal infections
Aspergillus infections reported in Ostrich.
Nutritional and metabolic diseases.
Vitamin E and selenium deficiencies in ostrich from South Africa.
Parsley-induced photosensitivity in captive ostrich.
Anasarca and myopathy in ostrich chicks.
Nutritional muscular dystrophy in ostrich chicks .
MEDICAL MANAGEMENT
ANTIBIOTICS
There are no antibiotics that are available today that have been tested sufficiently on ostrich. As a result, the use of specific antibiotics should be the decision of your Veterinarian and should be based on a complete understanding of the problem, bacterial isolation attempts and antibiotic sensitivity testing. The following are a listing of some commonly used antibiotics that have been reported to be effective in some instances.
Amoxicillin (Smith Kline Beecham) 5mg/lb
Amikacin Sulfate (Aveco) 5 mg/lb
Batryl (Miles, Inc) 1.13mg/lb
Gentamicin (Schering-Plough) 2 mg/lb
Sulfadimethoxine (Burns Vet Supply) 12.5 to 25 mg/lb
Tetracycline 7.5 mg/lb
Tribrissen (Cooper Animal Health Inc) 2ml/kg
Trimethoprim/
Sulfadiazine 48% (Pittman Moore) 20 mg/lb
ANTHELMINTICS
A complete parasite evaluation should be performed on all birds on a routine basis. Anthelminthic treatment should only be conducted when specific parasites are identified and not used on a prophylactic basis. Complete examination for ectoparasites should include visual and microscopic evaluation for lice, mites, and ticks while both simple smears and concentration procedures (flotation) should be performed on feces for intestinal helminths.
As was the case with antibiotics, there are no anthelminthics that are approved for ostrich. Several have been evaluated in trials and shown to be effective.
These include ;
Fenbebdazole (Panacur 2.5%, Hoechst) 15 mg/kg . Efficacy against nematodes and perhaps cestodes.
Ivermectin (Ivomec, MSD/Agvet) 200 mglkg . Efficacy against nematodes and some ectoparasites.
Carbaryl dust (5%) (Security %% Garden Dust, Security Products Co,) Efficacy against lice.
CLINICAL PATHOLOGY
The use of hematology in determining the health status of birds is becoming a more routine practice as data is becoming available. Many insurance companies are requiring some type of testing prior to insuring birds and many Veterinarians are using a series of tests to identify both clinical and subclinically ill animals.
There are two groups of tests that are routinely used; 1) complete blood counts (total white blood cell, total red blood cell, hematocrit or packed cell volume, hemoglobin, and differential white blood cell counts and 2) clinical chemistries ( Glucose, blood urea nitrogen, cholesterol, triglicerides, ...). Complete blood cell counts are often useful in identifying ongoing infections, problems related to anemia and dehydration while serum chemistries are useful determining problems with specific organ functions, electrolyte imbalances, and to evaluate treatment effects.
Under most circumstances, the drawing of blood for these tests is not overly stressful for the birds and with good facilities and experience, little or no adverse effects will be noted as a result. The proper handling of the samples and the interpretation of the results are essential, however, for an accurate evaluation of the status of the bird.
Table 1 Provides normal complete blood values for adult ostrich while Table 2 lists normal serum chemistry values.
Although the interpretation of the information provided by these tests should be conducted by your veterinarian, several general rules should be noted.
Complete cell counts
White blood cell counts (WBC) over 14,000 are a general indication of ongoing acute or chronic infection. Counts over 20,000 may be the result of excitement during the handling process.
The packed cell volume (PCV) for adult ostrich ( 30-40 %) is generally lower than that seen in most other birds. Juvenile birds will have a lower PCV than adults.
Total Red Blood Cell Counts (RBC) for ostrich are slightly below the average for other birds.
Hemoglobin and hematocrit values for adult ostrich are higher than that seen in juvenile birds.
Clinical Chemistry
Juvenile ostrich have lower calcium and magnesium values than that seen in adult birds.
Immature birds have higher total protein, uric acid, and potassium levels than do adult birds.
Immature ostrich have higher uric acid levels than do adults.
Obese birds have trigliceride values in excess of 400.
Calcium levels in laying hens should be greater than 14.
Table 1. Hematologic values (Complete blood counts) for clinically normal adult ostrich.
PARAMETER MEAN VALUE
White blood cells (103/ul) 5.5 to
Total red blood cell (106/ul) 1.5
Hematocrit (%) 30-40
Hemoglobin (mg/dl) 12-15
Triglicerides (106/ul) 1.7
Table 2. Mean Serum Chemistry Values For Clinically Normal Adult Ostrich
PARAMETER MEAN VALUE
Albumin (g/dl) 1.3 - 2.5
Billirubin (umol/L) 6.0
BUN (mg/dl) 1.2-1.8
Cholesterol (mg/dl) 82-97
Glucose (mg/dl) 215-245
Phosphorus (mg/dl) 4.4-5.2
Calcium (mg/dl) 9.5-13
Total Protein (g/dl) 3.7-4.7
Triglycerides (mg/dl) 90-130
Urea (umol/L) 0.4
Uric acid (umol/L) 460-490
TOES & LEGS
ROLLED TOES
This is a condition usually seen in birds under 2 weeks of age where the toe itself is rolled to one side. In this instance, the toe nail points to one side.
This condition is usually the result poor substrate during brooding, Improper incubation conditions, or occasionally, improper nutrition in the hen.
Treatment is easy and usually 100% effective is delt with early. See the section on Care of Young Chicks for details on treatment.
DEVIATED TOES
This condition is one seen in growing birds that is usually the result of some form of trauma to the toe. Generally the bird can walk on the pad of the foot but the toe projects to one side at the joint.
This condition can usually be treated with good success by surgical manipulation. If diagnosed early, and if the break can be treated and cast so that the bird can walk, correction is usually successful. Early treatment is essential for success.
TURNED OR CROOKED LEGS
This problem involves the twisting of the entire bone resulting in the foot pointing outward. The appearance of this problem can often be quite rapid with notable rotation occurring within a few days. Although there are not good studies to document the actual cause of all cases, based on similar problems in other animals, it appears that the primary causes are related to nutrition, exercise, and growth rate.
There does not appear to be any good treatments available at this time. Surgical intervention has not proven useful and other efforts are equally unsuccessful. The prevention of the condition appears to be the best opportunity for the rancher. Limited feeding, feed with protein levels below 20%, a balanced feed suitable for proper bone growth, and proper activity levels for young chicks are all essential in preventing this problem.
SLIPPED TENDONS
The two most commonly seen tendon problems are with the heel and hock tendons. The problem arises when the tendon that runs down the back the leg, the back of the heel and to the tow (heel tendon) or the tendon that runs down the groove in the rear of the hock (hock tendon) slips out of the groove that hold them in place. The most common cause of this condition is some form of trauma, poor flooring or footing, or improper exercise.
Most cases can be treated successfully with surgery. Care must be taken to minimize the damage to the tendons after they have slipped out of their normal position. Wrapping the bird, minimizing the use of the legs, and early treatment will increase the chances of success.
BOWED LEGS
This condition is one in which the toes of the chick point in the correct direction but the leg bones bow either inward or outward. The condition us generally caused by improper diet especially excess vitamin supplimentation and perhaps too rapid of an early growth rate.
There is no suitable treatment other than to improve the diet and change the feeding program.
DIGESTION
IMPACTIONS
Impactions are one of the most frequently seen problems in growing chicks up to adult hood. There are two types of impaction problems. One being acute or newly acquired impactions and the other being chronic or long standing impactions.
Acute impactions are generally those that result from a bird eating too much unusable material vary rapidly. This type of impaction can occur on sand, dirt, rocks, gravel, grass, etc. Death in these instances is often quick due to the overextended and non-functional condition of the proventriculus.
Chronic impactions usually result from the bird having a partially impacted proventriculus which allows some material to pass through normally. This can result from consumption of material like grass, rocks, sand, etc. or some larger foreign body that would partially block the proventriculus. These birds do not gain weight normally, are often eat excess non-food material such as sand, dirt, etc. and often appear malnourished.
Many birds develop this type of problem when confronted with new situations. Moving into new pens, changing diets, excess stress including movement, feed changes, or diseases may initiate the abnormal eating habits and contribute to the problem.
Early treatment with some form of oral lubricant such as mineral oil, etc. can often help to breakdown some of this material and get the bird back to a normal diet. More commonly, surgical intervention is necessary to remove the impacted material. If diagnosed early, surgical intervention can be vary successful.
FOREIGN BODY INGESTION
Much like impactions, birds of all ages will often eat almost any type of object. In many of these cases, the objects are non-digestible and can sit in the proventriculus and impair normal food movement. Objects such as nails, plastic, knives, tools, etc. are eaten by curious birds. In most cases, as long as the object does not damage the intestine wall or puncture the proventriculus, the foreign object may be eventually digested and passed through the digestive tract. If it is too large and blocks the normal activity of the proventriculus, a chronic impaction may result.
Surgical intervention is usually successful in correcting this problem. Again, early diagnosis and surgery is essential.
Surgery generally requires a pre-anesthetic followed by gas anesthetics. After surgical preparation including clipping all feathers along the midline of the xiphoid (breast bone) cartilage, an incision is made along the midline starting at the xiphlid cartilage. The proventriculus, located on the left side, is pulled through the incision. The proventriculus in opened and the contents completely cleaned out. The contents of the ventriculus can also be removed by manual manipulation and pressure at this time. Care should be taken not to contaminate the abdominal cavity during the initial incision and the air sac during cleaning of the ventriculus and proventriculus.