Morishita T Y, Aye P P, Harr B S
Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, USA.
Avian Dis. 1999 Jan-Mar;43(1):160-3.
Abnormal behaviors in commercial poultry, including feather pulling and pica, have been known to occur when birds are exposed to an unfamiliar environment. We report here the development of crop impactions resulting from feather ball formation. Twelve specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens were placed in one of three cages housed among a commercial layer flock in three different buildings on a farm site. Three weeks after placement, the birds were removed from the cages and given a physical exam. Chickens were thin, and one bird in each of the three caged groups had a palpable mass at the level of the thoracic inlet. At necropsy, a mass was noted in the crop. Upon further dissection, a wet, foul-smelling mass consisting of feathers and feed debris was recovered. Results from our case indicate that unfamiliar surroundings can cause pica in birds. Hence, avian researchers and veterinarians planning to introduce new birds into a flock, i.e., SPF birds, should consider the birds' previous environmental conditions prior to placement because sudden placement in unfamiliar surroundings can result in pica.
在家禽中，当鸟类暴露于不熟悉的环境时，已知会出现异常行为，包括拔毛和异食癖。我们在此报告因毛球形成导致嗉囊阻塞的情况。将12只无特定病原体（SPF）鸡放置在一个农场场地中三座不同建筑物内的商品蛋鸡群中的三个笼子之一中。放置三周后，将鸡从笼子中取出并进行体格检查。鸡很瘦，三个笼养鸡组中的每组都有一只鸡在胸入口处可触及肿块。尸检时，在嗉囊中发现一个肿块。进一步解剖后，发现一个由羽毛和饲料残渣组成的潮湿、有恶臭的肿块。我们病例的结果表明，不熟悉的环境会导致鸟类出现异食癖。因此，计划将新鸟（即SPF鸟）引入鸡群的鸟类研究人员和兽医，在放置前应考虑鸟类先前的环境条件，因为突然放置在不熟悉的环境中可能会导致异食癖。
