CAGE'N BIRD

Bacteria in the Nursery

by Wanda Barras

Bacteria is found practically everywhere. It is unrealistic and even unnatural for the nursery environment and babies being hand-fed to be entirely bacteria free. Maintaining a completely sterile nursery. is virtually impossible The only situation where chicks would be sterile and free of all bacteria would be immediately post-hatch, emerging from an uncontaminated egg. Hand-fed chicks establish their intestinal microflora by ingestion of bacteria present in their environment and diet. A chick develops a healthy bacterial flora as it is exposed to bacteria in the nursery environment, including food, feeding equipment, hands, housing, air, water, etc.

HYGIENE IS VERY IMPORTANT

I am not implying to be lax when it comes to hygiene or to disregard day to day sanitation practices. What I am saying is, it can be counter productive and in the long run a waste of time and money for breeders who hand-feed to over use and sometimes misuse disinfection products. The goal of a completely sterile environment is impractical, particularly for most hobbyists. Good management and husbandry techniques, with emphases placed on fundamental hygiene practices, are invaluable in establishing a clean and healthy pediatric environment.

1. Make sure nutrition is sound and use fresh formula for each feeding.
1. Provide a stress free, clean, and un-crowded environment.
2. Different sets of feeding tools should be provided for each chick. They should be washed, rinsed and soaked in a disinfectant (such as Wavicide), or disinfected rinsed again, THOROUGHLY dried after each use and safely stored.
3. Babies, particularly species, should be kept separate, separate clutches, if all possible.
4. Clean brooder and bedding frequently. Wash hands before touching chicks.
5. Monitor chicks often. Check for any signs of illness or stress. Quarantine if needed.
6. Keep up to date records and logs. They are essential in tracking down the source of problems as well as identifying recurring problems.
7. Keep nursery and babies off limits to visitors.
8. Use air cleaners to keep dust and dander to a minimum.
9. Routine microbiological cultures of chicks are a way to monitor the chick and the nursery environment.

"A big factor in raising healthy babies is keeping their housing from contamination. This is especially important for chicks prior to feathering. Most effective method is to use disposable products whenever possible. This keeps down the cost of labor and eliminates the possibility of contamination"---Psittacine Nursery Management, by Katherine Kay Muser, Association of Avian Veterinarians 1991 Avian

Disease Can Be Caused By a Varety of Factors....

At hatch, a neonate lacks a fully developed immune system and is more susceptible to disease. Extra care must be taken at this time. During this critical period even microorganisms that would usually be considered harmless can, under the right conditions and circumstances cause disease. Disease is frequently not caused by one single infectious agent, but rather a variety of factors. Stress, nutritional deficiencies, and a less then ideal environment can lower a chicks defense system and allow infectious agents to multiply and take hold. Bacterial disease within the nursery can often be the result of unsatisfactory management, hygiene and sanitation practices

BACTERIA CAN BE HELPFUL

As chicks are exposed to their surrounding environment, healthy numbers of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria become associated with various developing organ systems such as the GI tract. Bacteria, a one-celled organism and a member of the plant family, helps establish a normal microflora within the body. It can aid digestion, help in vitamin production and improve disease resistance. Many of the bacteria found in, on and around our baby birds are harmless and even necessary. They are considered harmless and beneficial as long as they remain in their normal place in the body and remain at healthy concentrations. Bacteria can overwhelm its host by sheer numbers or can produce toxins that are detrimental to the well being of the host.

Dirty, Unsanitary Conditions Will Cause Disease

There are many microorganisms that are opportunistic. Under unsanitary conditions, in high numbers or when the chick is stressed or in a weakened condition, bacteria will cause disease. In general, when dealing with avian species, we once believed all gram-negative bacteria were "bad" and all gram-positive bacteria were "good". Gram-negative bacteria are often blamed for illness in neonates. The presence of low levels of gram-negative bacteria, such as E. coli, in juvenile psittacines, appears to be normal and should not require treatment. Higher levels or a chick showing signs of illness would require treatment.

Microflora May Directly Reflect the Microorganisms Present in the Nursery

Gram-positive bacteria may cause disease as well as gram-negative bacteria. Certain gram-negative bacteria can cause digestive problems, stunting, malnutrition, respiratory infections and even death. A low-grade bacterial infection can be hard to detect. Bacterial infections even occur in the cleanest of nurseries. Routine microbiological cultures of chicks are a way to monitor the environment of the chick; such as sanitation levels, husbandry practices and the presence of disease. A chick’s microflora may directly reflect the microorganisms present in the nursery environment. Cultures taken of nursery surfaces, hand-feeding formulas, equipment, etc. can indicate the source of dangerous bacterial imbalance or infection in the nursery.

E. COLI IS A NORMAL GUT BACTERIA

The flora within the digestive system of a healthy baby is predominantly gram-positive (streptococci, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Corynebacterium, Micrococcus with a variable number of Bacillus and Lactobacillus spp), but low numbers of gram-negative bacteria such as E. coli and Klebsiella and Enterobacter species, may or may not be pathogenic (cause disease) in the chick or in the nursery environment. The presence of low levels of gram-negative bacteria does not necessarily warrant treatment in a normal chick, but their presence in a sick chick would be a cause for concern. For instance, E. Coli is a normal gut bacteria which has essential functions in the digestive system and when present in low levels, normally, does not cause disease in the intestinal tract. Outside the body under certain conditions, E. Coli is frequently responsible for dangerous infections. Stressed or ill birds can shed potential pathogens, such as E. Coli, and may spread disease to other birds. A veterinarian visit, including a series of tests, cultures and gram stains would be advised. When a bacterial infection is suspect. A culture will identify the organism, then a sensitivity test will indicate a recommended treatment

Labrotory Tests Can Be Useful

Nutritional deficiencies, unsanitary conditions, a stressful environment and other factors can lower a chicks defense system and allow infectious agents to take hold. Microbiology is often used as a diagnostic tool in pediatric medicine. Laboratory tests can be useful in diagnosis, in developing treatments, in proving suspicions and in monitoring progress. Many diseases occur for a reason and may represent a need for an improvement in nursery management or may indicate the presence of other diseases. The indiscriminate use of antifungal therapy, disinfectants and antibiotics in food and water can prove counterproductive, cloud test results and can be harmful to a chicks developing system. To persistently use these agents as prophylactics can create strains of bacteria that are resistant to all available antibiotics and disinfectants. Good and bad bacteria is everywhere. Through good management the birds we hand-feed should remain healthy and co-exist with them.

1. KIM JOYNER, DVM, MPVM, JANET SWANSON, JANET T HANSON: from "Psittacine Pediatric Diagnostics" Proc assoc. Avian Vet, Phoenix, 1990, pp. 60-82 and "Operation Headstart: Pediatric Preventive Medicine", Association of Avian Veterinarians Aviculture Seminar, Chicago, 1991, pp. 45-59
1. SUSAN CLUBB, KEVIN CLUBB, ALICIA PHILLIPS, SHARON WOLF: "Psittacine Aviculture" Psittacine Pediatric Bacteriology, Avicultural Breeding and Research Center, 1992, pp. 19-1 to 19-8.
2. KATHERINE KAY MUSER: 6th Canadian Parrot Symposium, "Psittacine Nursery Management" , 1991, pp. 62 -77.
3. C.E. SPAULDING, DVM: "A Veterinary Guide for Animal Lovers" , Virus or Bacteria, Rodale Press, Inc. pp. 363-365, 1976,
4. CLAYTON L. THOMAS, M.D., M.P.H., editor: "Tabers Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, F.A. Davis Company, Phildelphia, 1993

Copyright © 2001 Wanda Barras. All Rights reserved. WWW users are granted the right to download a single copy of this catalog and Mrs. Barras articles for archival on electronic media and/or conversion into a single printed copy for personal use. All commercial or educational use or reproduction of this material is strictly prohibited. It may not otherwise be reprinted or recopied, in whole or in part, in any form or medium, without express written permission of Wanda Barras.

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