Are you concerned about your backyard chicken's health?

The increase in popularity in backyard chicken flocks over the last few years in undeniable. At the same time, there has been an increase in the number of medical presentations of humans due to Salmonella poisoning. The simple fact is that chickens and other live poultry can carry the Salmonella bacteria. These germs can spread from the bird to their eggs. Eating raw or undercooked eggs (or chicken meat) can then, in turn make you sick.

So where does Salmonella come from in chickens? The most common source is mouse and rat droppings, or the droppings of wild birds that come and visit, leaving a diseased pile to be ingested by a passing chicken that sees a nourishing feast... However, it can be treated if the flock is diagnosed and caught in time (ask your vet if Enroflxacin can help).

OK - what are the symptoms that your chickens might be sick? Salmonella in chickens can go undiagnosed, however the typical symptoms include:

• Weight loss
• Drop in egg production and activity
• respiratory symptoms (such as a cough or wheeze)
• Dehydration and Diarrhea
• In severe untreated cases, death.

So...

Based on the now familiar RAT test format, these new avian salmonella antigen rapid test is a lateral flow immunochromatographic asset for the qualitative detection of Avian Salmonella in faces from either a chicken's cloaca or on the ground. This quick, 10-minute test can give a quick diagnostic to let you know if it would be wise to seek further advise from your vet.