Acidosis is a condition caused by heat stress in chickens. You can prevent acidosis by providing your chickens with proper ventilation, fans, put frozen bottles of ice in their water to keep it cool or even by air conditioning in their chicken coop or hen house.
What is Acidosis?
Acidosis is a heat stress related illness that often affects cattle and sheep. Chickens who are exposed to temperatures of 75F degrees or higher for an extended period of time can contract acidosis due to improper breathing which causes carbon dioxide to build up in the body and a pH imbalance occurs. Scroll down to see signs symptoms, and treatments for Acidosis plus find out some great heat stress prevention tips.
What is Acidosis?
Acidosis is a heat stress related illness that often affects cattle and sheep. Chickens who are exposed to temperatures of 75F degrees or higher for an extended period of time can contract acidosis due to improper breathing which causes carbon dioxide to build up in the body and a pH imbalance occurs. Scroll down to see signs symptoms, and treatments for Acidosis plus find out some great heat stress prevention tips.
How chickens contract Acidosis
Chicken contract Acidosis when they are exposed to high temperatures for long periods of time and they begin to dehydrate. When chickens get hot they start panting and this causes a reaction excessive panting leads to a PH imbalance. This PH imbalance can cause illness and even death. The best way to handle heat stress is to prevent it, watch for signs and symptoms and use available treatments if you notice that your chickens have signs of heat stress (see below).
Causes of Respiratory Acidosis in chickens
- Heat stress
- Diseases of the airways (such as asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease)
- Diseases of the chest (such as sarcoidosis)
- Diseases affecting the nerves and muscles that "signal" the lungs to inflate or deflate
- Severe obesity, which restricts how much the lungs can expand
Symptoms of Acidosis in Poultry
The symptoms of acidosis are:
- Chest deformities, such as kyphosis
- Chest injuries
- Chest muscle weakness
- Chronic lung disease
- Confusion
- Easy fatigue
- Lethargy
- Shortness of breath
- Sleepiness
- Check the depth and rate of breaths
- Weakness and overall deteriorated condition of the bird
How to prevent your chickens from contracting Acidosis
Find out how to prevent your chickens from getting heat stress. Detailed tips to help you keep your chickens from developing acidosis.
Water additives to keep poultry cooler during hot weather
During moderate hot weather start adding these additives to their water to prevent heat stress:
- Ascorbic acid-62.5 mg per each litre of water
- Acetylsalicylic acid-62.5 mg per each litre of water
- Sodium bicarbonate -75 mg per each litre of water
- Potassium chloride (KCl)-125 mg per each litre of water
What to do if your chickens are already showing signs of heat stress
The following is a list of treatments you can use if your chicken is already showing the signs and symptoms of heat stress.
- Add Vitamin C-400 mg per each liter of water
- Add Electrolytes according to package directions
- Add Acetyl salicylic acid tablets-1 tablet per each 5 litres of water
- Add Sodium bicarbonate 1 gram per litre of water
Treatment for Acidosis
- Oxygen treatments via an oxygen cage ( covered or enclosed cage where oxygen can be administered without a face mask)
- Bronchodilator drugs
- Use of a breathing machine
Reference: Heat stress and associated problems in poultry. Poultry industry. http://en.engormix.com/MA-poultry-industry/management/articles/heat-stress-in-poultry-t2186/124-p0.html