Crowshall Veterinary Services Gamebird Site
Introduction
Welcome to the Crowshall Veterinary Services Game Site. Please navigate around the site for resources including access to important information such as The Code of Practice for Game birds, general information on poultry disease, and to request services such as flock health visits, medications books etc. If you have any specific requests please fell free to pick up the phone and speak to our friendly team directly.
Medicines
Whilst there are very few medicines licenced for use in gamebirds they will be prescibed for birds under our care under the veterinary cascade system when a need is identified. This usually means that the use of these products incurs a 28 day meat withdrawal period. There is a legal obligation to keep copies of all prescriptions as well as to record the use of any medicines in a medicines book. These records could be requested by trading standards at any time so it is important to ensure that these records are maintained at all times. All Crowshall clients are entitled to free Crowshall Medication Records books. You can request your own copies by registering for our client access service here.
Crowshall Clients click here to register for Client Access Services
The Code of Practice for the Welfare of Gamebirds Reared for Sporting Purposes
The Code of Practice for the Welfare of Gamebirds Reared for Sporting Purposes was laid before Parliament for approval on 22 July 2010. The code provides game farmers with information on how to meet the welfare needs of their animals, as required under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. It can also be used in courts as evidence in cases brought before them relating to poor welfare of gamebirds.
Click the logo to download a copy of the code and to make yourself familiar with the content
Veterinary Flock Health and Welfare Plans
All gamebird keepers must have their flocks registered with a veterinarian. There is a professional obligation for prescribing veterinarians to have a working knowledge of the flocks under their care- this can be acheived through visiting flocks and establishing a Veterinary Flock Health and Welfare Plan.
The Veterinary Flock Health Plan is a formalised document that outlines the preventive measures such as biosecurity, vaccination programmes, medication programmes through to record keeping and action to be taken in the case of deteriorating flock health. The plan should be reviewed annually, reviewing data from the previous season and focussing on improvement actions for the forthcoming season.
It is recommended that a veterinary visit is conducted at the start of the season. Contact Crowshall now using the link below or alternatively contact us on 01953 455454
The Poultry Register
All flock producers who rear more than 50 birds have a legal obligation to register their flocks with DEFRA. This information may become critical in the event of a notifable disease outbreak (ie Avian Influenza or Newcastle Disease). If you have not already registered with DEFRA it is important that you do so as soon as possible. Click on the DEFRA logo to link to the online registration form.
Rapid Post Mortem Services
Crowshall Veterinary Services offer a rapid post mortem diagnostic service. Many diseases of gamebirds have a rapid onset and can lead to high levels of mortality. Birds can become sick very quickly and this can lead to poor water and feed intake. The faster a diagnosis is made the quicker action can be taken (for example the appropriate medication or supportive therapy). Treatments are usually administered through the drinking water or feed so if birds have become too ill before a diagnositic investigation is initiated it may be difficult to treat the flock as there will be no reliable method of ensuring the birds receive the medication.
Clinical signs of disease such as watery yellow droppings cannot be used as a reliable guide to a diagnosis. Such symptoms could be the result of viral challenge, coccidiosis or hexamitasis (Spironucleosis). Consequently a post mortem examination with microscopy is required to achieve a definitive diagnosis and ensure the birds are on the correct treatment.
Crowshall Gamebird Disease Guide
Whilst there are very few medicines licenced for use in gamebirds they will be prescibed for birds under our care under the veterinary cascade system when a need is identified. This usually means that the use of these products incurs a 28 day meat withdrawal period. There is a legal obligation to keep copies of all prescriptions as well as to record the use of any medicines in a medicines book. These records could be requested by trading standards at any time so it is important to ensure that these records are maintained at all times. All Crowshall clients are entitled to free Crowshall Medication Records books. You can request your own copies by registering for our client access service here.
To understand more about the diseases that you may see in gamebirds then please proceed to the pathology section. A full diagnostic work up should always be undertaken by a veterinary surgeon
Click on the button below to access the pathology learning centre
