Spontaneous Occurrence of Ascites in Commercial Broiler Flock and Its Management

Abstract

The present study was carried out on 100 broiler chicks that were reared in an organized poultry farm. From the above mentioned flock 28 birds died of unknown etiology. The clinical signs and post mortem changes were studied. Most of clinical signs were non-specific except a typical frog sitting posture with a backward leg extension noticed in all birds prior to death. Necropsy revealed accumulation of straw coloured fluid in the abdominal cavity which confirmed ascitic syndrome. After the diagnosis, effective control measures such as immediate withdrawal and replacement of leftover feed and provision of proper ventilation to the unaffected birds stopped further mortality in the flock.