It has been treated by surgical removal of the yolk sac followed by antibiotic therapy. Infected yolk sacs are a result of bacteria penetrating the egg shell. It should become a less common problem as egg gathering and sanitation practices improve. Chicks become listless, stop eating and drinking and die. The cause is unknown.
Impactions occur in birds of all ages.
Treatment can be surgical or non-surgical. Preventive measure include acclimation of chicks to a variety of substrates very early in life and avoiding sudden feed changes or sudden additions of high roughage feedstuffs. Both internal and external parasites affect ostriches. Ivermectin and other drugs given a 1-month intervals beginning at 1 month of age will prevent nematode infestations. Ivermectin also may be affective against quill mites and sucking lice with repeated dosing.