What are the prevention and treatment methods for potato poisoning in poultry?

Poultry such as chickens, ducks and geese are prone to poisoning when fed sprouted potatoes that have not been treated (such as by heating) or that have not been thoroughly treated. This is because sprouted potatoes contain potato poison, or solanine, in both the bud eye areas and the embryo. This toxin has a dissolving effect on cells, strongly irritates mucous membranes, and paralyses the motor and respiratory centres.

The symptoms of potato poisoning in poultry are: the sick birds are listless, completely lose their appetite, have impaired coordination, and develop diarrhoea. Body temperature is generally not elevated; in severe cases there is a rise in body temperature, coma, convulsions and difficulty breathing, and finally death from respiratory paralysis.

The treatment method is: for poisoned birds, feed them light salt water or sugar water, or administer by mouth an appropriate amount of 0.02% potassium permanganate or 0.5% tannic acid solution, and adopt other measures for symptomatic treatment.

The preventive measures are: do not feed poultry sprouted or spoiled potatoes. If sprouted potatoes are used as feed, the young sprouts must be removed and the potatoes thoroughly steamed or boiled. The young sprouts, stems, leaves and flower buds of potatoes also contain the toxin; if used as feed, they must be treated (such as by sun-drying or ensiling and fermenting) before being fed.