Perosis (Slipped Tendon)
Perosis (slipped tendon), is an irreversible condition affecting the hock joints of one or both legs of very young chicks. It more commonly occurs in incubator hatched chicks and is often a result of vitamin B deficiency in the parent birds. Perosis can also occur in the first few weeks of life to an otherwise healthy chick. The disease can be avoided by adding Poultry Tonic which is high in B complex vitamins to the drinking water for the chicks' first two weeks of life when they are most at risk.
Perosis causes the tendon to slip off the hock joint and this is evident in a flattened and thickened joint which gradually twists the leg at an outward angle and severely cripples the bird, seriously affecting their ability to get about.
If left, the chick will scuff the skin off the affected joint, leading to bleeding, pain and infection. Other chicks in the clutch will be attracted to the blood and peck at it, opening up a nasty wound. There is no cure and the best you can do for the chick is to cull it.
Perosis causes the tendon to slip off the hock joint and this is evident in a flattened and thickened joint which gradually twists the leg at an outward angle and severely cripples the bird, seriously affecting their ability to get about.
If left, the chick will scuff the skin off the affected joint, leading to bleeding, pain and infection. Other chicks in the clutch will be attracted to the blood and peck at it, opening up a nasty wound. There is no cure and the best you can do for the chick is to cull it.