Infected feather follicles in cage reared broilers.

A high incidence of feather follicle infection was observed in broilers reared in cages with wood slat floors. The incidence of feather follicle infection was significantly higher for males than for females within cage-reared broilers at 59 days of age. Male broilers at 50 days of age had a significantly lower incidence of the feather follicle condition than hatch mates at 59 days of age. Intact feather follicles were removed from freshly killed cage-reared birds and prepared for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Examination of infected follicles revealed surface detail about the lesions. Removal of the encrustations covering the infected follicles revealed numerous cocci type bacteria at the base of the follicle. Infected and non-infected follicles were also examined by conventional histological techniques. Gram positive cocci were observed at the base of the infected follicles.