High Blood Pressure ? Purple Comb ?

[Anonymous]

Hi does anyone have any tips on treating high blood pressure in poultry. As i have a cockerels who has developed a purple comb when he gets excited. His comb is normal redish when he's calm but turns dark purple if he gets exited by anything. I understand there in no cure for heat troubles but though someone might know some tips that might help him ?

I have stopped giving him any treats like corn to make sure he's not overweight as i know corn can make the birds fat. I also add ACV in his water to try & help with his short breaths. Just wondered if anyone had any other tips that might help him ? I also have re-housed him away from my other cockerels so he don't sparing with the others through the wire as this made his comb dark & purple.

Thanks John

 

[Tim]

Hi John,

I used to have some LF Buff Orpington cockerels that were an exhibition strain and I used to have to keep 3 because at least 1 or 2 would suffer with heart failure after a couple of years. After speaking with some other breeders, we put it down to their large size. Sometimes they would get a purple comb in similar circumstances to what you describe.

The utility Buffs I kept didn't have a problem but they were about 500g lighter.

Chickens naturally have a high blood pressure but I think these guys hearts were just under even more strain due to their large size.

Tim

 

[Anonymous]

Hi John,

I used to have some LF Buff Orpington cockerels that were an exhibition strain and I used to have to keep 3 because at least 1 or 2 would suffer with heart failure after a couple of years. After speaking with some other breeders, we put it down to their large size. Sometimes they would get a purple comb in similar circumstances to what you describe.

The utility Buffs I kept didn't have a problem but they were about 500g lighter.

Chickens naturally have a high blood pressure but I think these guys hearts were just under even more strain due to their large size.

Tim

Hi tim thanks for your reply. I'm sorry to hear about your Buff Orpingtons & agree i think i have the same sort problem that you experienced. The ACV seems to help him slightly with his breathing troubles so i will keep him on that for a while. I just wanted to try & give him the best life i can as he seems pretty normal when he's not sparing about. Thanks again for your help tim.

John

 

[Tim]

Another thought I've had with you saying about the breathing - it's a long shot - but is he wormed? I ask because Gape worm can cause the bird to get out of breath quickly and hold the beak open. I saw a cockerel once who had a 'respiratory problem' and had been given several Tylan treatments for this by the vet. He had this problem for close to 6 months and I suggested worming him for Gape Worm and within a week, he was right as rain! My friend was over the moon - but not so with the £80 in vets bills!

There's a new area I'm working on for poultry diseases and disorders on the site which has more information about Gapeworm if you're interested.

Tim

 

[Anonymous]

Another thought I've had with you saying about the breathing - it's a long shot - but is he wormed? I ask because Gape worm can cause the bird to get out of breath quickly and hold the beak open. I saw a cockerel once who had a 'respiratory problem' and had been given several Tylan treatments for this by the vet. He had this problem for close to 6 months and I suggested worming him for Gape Worm and within a week, he was right as rain! My friend was over the moon - but not so with the £80 in vets bills!

There's a new area I'm working on for poultry diseases and disorders on the site which has more information about Gapeworm if you're interested.

Tim

Hi Tim yep he only gets short breath when his comb turns dark red/purple. Other times he don't seem so bad. I did worm him for 7 days with Flubenvet incase it might help about a month ago. But so far the ACV seems to help him a little with his breathing but only a little bit. I'm now trying to workout if i can help reduce his weight a bit to see if that might help him ? I have stopped him having any bits of corn for now & have him on regular mash or layers pellets. Not sure which is the best non fattening feed to give him to help reduce any extra weight ? Any ideas on this would be great ? Not sure if he can have some extra bits of greens or not ? Thanks for the link to your diseases & disorders section that will be very useful reading to everyone on here !!

Thanks John

 

[Tim]

Hi John,

You are right = The layers mash or pellets and exercise / free range should keep him trim - you could hang greens to make him jump a few inches?

Chickens will only take what they need of these but corn will fatten him for sure.

ACV is good for clearing mucus in the throat. You might also consider crushing fresh garlic in his water to help boost his immune system - Garlic seems to be good for respiratory problems and things like 'respite' contain alot of garlic I've noticed.

Tim

 

[Anonymous]

Hi tim i normally use garlic as an extra wormer. I will add a small amount of garlic in the mash as you are correct respite does smell like it has garlic in the mixture. I will also hang up a few greens to try help him. He does free range but does not run about like my other birds do. He just slowly walks about at his own pace.

Thanks Tim
John