Digestive tract impaction: An unusual cause of mortality in backyard chicken

Abstract

Repeated incidence of upper digestive tract impaction was observed in Gramapriya young chicks reared in open foraging system. The impaction was due to the ingestion of shade net strings. Accidental intake of shade net strings caused mechanical obstruction, inflammation and secondary bacterial infection resulted in mortality of young chicks. Mortality was also observed in birds in which the shade net string encircled at the base of tongue which caused strangulation and ischemic necrosis. Close monitoring and removal of shade net strings in the foraging area stopped the mortality in chicken.