What are the symptoms of a sick chicken?
9 diseases that threaten your chickens
- Newcastle disease or avian plague
- Marek’s disease
- Coryza
- Coccidiosis
- Gumboro
- Avian flu
- Avian pox
- Typhoid
- Colibacillosis
How to prevent the occurrence of diseases in your chickens?
- Quarantine before integrating into the coop 🚧
- Rigorous veterinary monitoring 🩺
- Use of highly absorbent litter 💧
Summary
Chickens are fragile animals, susceptible to diseases as well. A sick chicken will develop symptoms that should raise the alarm. We will first look at the most common diseases that chickens can catch and their associated signs.
Then we will see how to cure your chickens and anticipate the onset of disease within your backyard flock.
What are the symptoms of a sick chicken?
Owning your own family coop or poultry farm requires close monitoring of the health of your chickens. In the event of disease in your chickens, symptoms will usually appear quickly and have consequences if untreated.
💥Common signs that should alert you include:a decrease in appetite,a drop in egg production,a change in the chicken’s general behavior: such as lethargy or isolation from the rest of the group.
Physical symptoms such as:ruffled feathers,watery eyes,nasal discharge,diarrhea,or breathing difficulties
are also good indicators that a health problem has occurred.
9 diseases that threaten your chickens
The diseases that threaten your dear hens are numerous! Here are 9, well known to experts in the field:
Newcastle disease or avian plague
Newcastle disease is a highly contagious viral infection that affects chickens and other poultry. It manifests through respiratory symptoms such as: coughing, sneezing, and difficulty breathing properly, as well as neurological symptoms like tremors, twisted necks, and paralysis. The mortality rate is very high, especially in young chickens.
Vaccination is the main preventive measure against this disease. 💉
Marek’s disease
Marek’s disease is caused by an avian herpes virus and is particularly common in young chickens. Symptoms include paralysis of the legs and wings, tumors on internal organs, and progressive weight loss. This disease is highly contagious and is transmitted through skin flakes and feathers. Again, vaccination is essential to prevent the onset of Marek’s disease. Chickens are vaccinated at the chick stage.
Coryza
Not just reserved for cats, infectious coryza is a bacterial disease that causes upper respiratory tract infections.
Symptoms include nasal discharge, swollen and watery eyes, sneezing, and a decrease in egg production. This disease spreads quickly in damp and poorly ventilated environments. 💦
Treatment usually involves the use of antibiotics prescribed by a veterinarian.
Coccidiosis
Coccidiosis is a parasitic disease caused by protozoa of the genus Eimeria. It primarily affects the digestive system, causing bloody diarrhea, loss of appetite, and stunted growth in young chickens.
Coccidiosis is transmitted through the ingestion of oocysts present in contaminated droppings.
A good hygiene management program and the use of anticoccidial drugs can help control this disease.
Gumboro
Gumboro, or infectious bursal disease, is a viral infection that weakens the immune system of chickens, making them vulnerable to other infections. Symptoms include:
depression, diarrhea, depletion of pectoral muscles.
The disease is particularly severe in young chicks aged 3 to 6 weeks. Vaccination is the main preventive measure.
Avian flu
Perhaps the most well-known disease, avian flu is caused by various subtypes of the avian influenza virus, some of which can infect humans.
Symptoms in chickens include respiratory disorders, reduced egg laying, and high mortality. The disease spreads rapidly and can lead to significant economic losses. 💰 Strict biosecurity measures and, in some cases, vaccination are necessary to prevent and control avian flu outbreaks.
Note that avian flu can also potentially be transmissible to horses . Therefore, be cautious if you raise both species…
Thoroughly wash your hands with a hydroalcoholic solution when leaving the contaminated building or coop before visiting your equines and change your clothes.
Avian pox
Avian pox is a viral disease that manifests as skin lesions, usually on the comb, wattles, and legs. It can also affect the mucous membranes of the respiratory system, leading to breathing difficulties. The disease spreads through direct contact or mosquito bites. 🦟 Vaccination is the main preventive measure against avian pox.
Typhoid
Typhoid, or pullorum disease, is a bacterial infection caused by Salmonella pullorum. It mainly affects young chicks and is characterized by high mortality, white diarrhea, and lethargy.
The disease is primarily transmitted through infected eggs. Strict biosecurity measures and purchasing chicks from pullorum-free flocks are essential to prevent this disease.
Colibacillosis
Colibacillosis is a bacterial infection caused by Escherichia coli. It can manifest in various forms, including:
respiratory infections, septicemia, cloacal infections.
Symptoms also include reduced egg laying and increased mortality.
A clean and well-ventilated environment, along with judicious use of antibiotics, are necessary to manage this disease. This disease is the most common cause of death in chickens and has been observed more frequently in flocks living in litter systems and outdoors.
Did you know? 💡
Diseases are a real scourge, but there are others against which hemp litter can help improve things:
● Red mites, 🤏
● Mites, 🤧
● Worms, 👁🗨
● …
A highly absorbent litter should be your number one criteria.
How to prevent the occurrence of diseases in your chickens?
Simple solutions can slow down, or even prevent, the development of diseases in your chickens.
Quarantine before integrating into the coop 🚧
Quarantine is the first step to deploy to prevent the spread of disease within your chicken flock.
Upon purchasing new chickens or detecting the first signs of disease, the sick chicken should be isolated in a separate and secure area. This measure allows for close monitoring of its health and prevents contact with other chickens.
Remember to regularly clean the isolation area to minimize potential risks of spreading beyond the quarantine sector.
Rigorous veterinary monitoring 🩺
Consulting a veterinarian at the first sign of suspicious symptoms allows for precise diagnosis of the disease and appropriate treatment as soon as possible.
The veterinarian will perform tests to identify the pathogen responsible for the deterioration of your chicken’s health and will prescribe suitable medications, such as antibiotics for bacterial infections or antiparasitics for parasitic infestations.
But more generally, regular monitoring by a veterinarian will help detect early signs of disease and take appropriate measures.
Use of highly absorbent litter 💧
Using highly absorbent litter is vital to maintain a clean and healthy environment and reduce the risk of disease spread. Hemp litter is particularly recommended due to its exceptional absorbent properties and its ability to control odors.
It helps keep the ground dry, which limits the development of bacteria and parasites. 🐔
It is eco-friendly and compostable. 🌿
It is dust-free to over 99%, which is a key element in preventing respiratory infections. 🌬️
Aubichick litter is now appreciated by thousands of breeders and individuals! ✅
Summary
Maintaining the health of your chickens requires constant vigilance and appropriate measures.
- Quarantine
- Veterinary monitoring
- Highly absorbent litter
will allow you to prevent the occurrence of diseases and take care of your chickens.
