Taking good care of your feathered friends is quite satisfying. The soft clucks and fresh eggs are enough to warm up any yard. However, even the healthiest flock can become sick, sometimes displaying symptoms that are easy to overlook.
Most of the time, early observation of unusual changes and prompt handling will make recovery much easier.
This article describes the most common health problems that afflict chickens, including what to look for, how to manage each issue when it occurs, and how to prevent reinfection. Remember, though, the best course of action is always to consult a veterinarian, especially in severe cases.
Signs That Your Chicken Might Be Sick
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Pale comb or wattles
- Loose or watery droppings
- Difficulty breathing
- Ruffled feathers
- Staying away from the flock
- Fewer eggs than usual
- Noticeable weight loss
Monitor these symptoms of infectious diseases, either singly or in combination, along with injuries or changes in droppings. Isolate the affected bird for closer observation.
Pasty Butt
Pasty butt is also referred to as vent gleet, and it's popular among chicks and young pullets. The condition arises when feces stick to the feathers and skin around the vent, thereby making it difficult to clean the area. If left unattended for several days, it may become a serious issue.
Causes
Vent gleet may be associated with:
- Dehydration
- Poor water sanitation
- Low-quality feed
- Digestive problems
- Overcrowding-related stress
- Overheating
Warning signs
- Droppings are firmly attached around the vent
- Lethargy
- Weak chirping
- Swollen or red vent area
- Lack of appetite
At worst, poop can harden and block the vent entirely, making egg-laying or waste excretion difficult.
Treatment
It's best to:
- Clean the vent with warm water and a soft cloth.
- Dry the area thoroughly and apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to keep it protected and clean.
If symptoms persist or a foul odor develops, consider adding probiotic water additives to your routine. Seek veterinary advice regarding antifungal treatment.
Preventive measures
- Keep brooder temperature between 95°F (35°C) and 100°F (37°C) for week-old chicks, reducing by 5°F each week as they grow.
- Don't give scraps too early.
- Add a probiotic supplement to support gut health.
- Provide clean water daily and foods that don't contain soy, corn, or GMOs.
Bumblefoot
This disease often starts as a minor laceration in the footpad. If left unattended, bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus enter the wound, resulting in inflammation and abscess formation.
The heavier breeds are the most commonly afflicted with bumblefoot, such as Jersey Giants, Brahmas, and Orpingtons, because their body weight bears down on their feet. Obesity increases the risk.
Primary causes
- Poor litter hygiene
- Limited space to move around the coop
- Uneven or rough perches
- Sharp objects like razor blades and wires that may cause splinters
- Vitamin A deficiency
Warning signs
Look out for:
- Warm or swollen foot pads
- A calloused bump or black scab under the foot
- Visible lesions
- Limping
- Reduced foraging activity
Treatment
- Reduce swelling by soaking the affected foot in lukewarm water mixed with a small quantity of Epsom salt for 10–15 minutes.
- Clean the area with a poultry-safe antiseptic.
- Apply antibacterial ointments or sprays, such as Vetericyn or Ichthammol, and cover it with sterile gauze.
- Replace the dressing daily until the wound has healed.
If the swelling worsens or your chicken begins struggling to walk, contact a veterinarian immediately. Avoid removing scabs or attempting to treat deep infections on your own, as this can cause nerve damage or lead to serious systemic illness.
Prevention
- Provide stable roosting surfaces no higher than 2 feet.
- Add dust-free bedding materials such as Pine Shavings and Chicken Hemp Hurd.
- Keep litter clean and dry to minimize bacterial growth.
- Remove objects that may lead to injuries.
- Trim nails and inspect footpads regularly.
External Parasites (Lice, Ticks, Fleas, House Fly, and Mite)
Lice, ticks, and mites are small, wingless insects that feed on blood, skin, or feather fibers. Common species include the chicken head louse, the fluff louse, and the red chicken mite.
Flea infestations are uncommon unless your backyard companions come into contact with wild breeds.
Ticks are especially difficult to control because they hide in shaded areas, such as roosts and cracks. These parasites are capable of causing severe anemia and secondary infections in young birds, such as chicks. They may also reduce the egg production rate in older birds.
Additionally, chickens can become infected with tapeworms, Salmonella, or avian influenza by ingesting infected house flies.
Causes
- Shared bedding
- Absence of dust-bathing areas
- Cramped and humid coop
- Poor sanitation, including spilled feed or broken eggs that attract flies
- Lack of pest control measures
- Warm temperatures that favor lice and mite breeding
Symptoms
- Persistent scratching
- Restlessness, especially at night
- Feather loss
- Pale combs
- Mites may be seen under the wings or near the vent
Treatment plan
External parasites may be a tough group to eradicate, but the following steps have proven effective:
- Isolate the affected birds to prevent the parasites from spreading.
- Replace bedding and disinfect roosting and nesting areas.
- Use licensed permethrin spray or diatomaceous earth as directed for red mite control.
- Apply pyrethrum-based powder to dust-bathing areas.
- Follow-up treatments should be conducted seven days later to catch newly hatched eggs.
Prevention
Here's how:
- Inspect roosts and nesting boxes regularly for mites.
- Keep the coop dry, well-ventilated, and clean.
- Store feed in sealed containers.
- Prevent contact with wild birds.
- Provide food-grade diatomaceous earth in dust-bathing areas to support natural parasite control.
Internal Parasites (Worms)
Roundworms, gapeworms, tapeworms, and cecal worms are prevalent in domestic flocks. They live in the gizzards, trachea, and intestines. A small number of internal parasites may not do any harm.
However, when large amounts enter the body, they interfere with digestion, block or damage intestinal tissues and may cause death.
Factors
Chickens can pick up parasite eggs directly through:
- Contaminated feed, drinkers, litter, or droppings
- Consuming snails, earthworms, grasshoppers, or other carriers
- High poultry density
Stress can also disrupt digestion and encourage the presence of intestinal parasites, such as worms.
Symptoms
- Weight loss
- Diarrhea
- Indigestion
- Gasping or extending the neck while breathing
- Stunted growth
- Hemorrhage
- Reduced egg production
- Worms are visible in the waste
Treatment procedure
- Use approved poultry dewormers such as flubendazole or flubenvet, following label instructions with care.
- Consult a veterinarian for the dosage and duration of treatment
- Include dark green vegetables in their diet to support healthy vitamin-A levels after deworming during the winter months.
- Rotate grazing areas and remove droppings regularly to limit reinfection.
Prevention
- Deworm twice a year or as advised after fecal tests.
- Keep the feeders off the ground and elevated.
- Isolate the domestic birds from pigeons or any wild species likely to carry parasite eggs.
- Keep the area clean and dry at all times.
Respiratory Infections
Respiratory infections spread quickly and are typically caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, or mycoplasma species. They affect the air sacs, lungs, and trachea in chickens.
Common examples include Avian influenza, Newcastle disease, Infectious bronchitis, Fowl pox, Mycoplasma synoviae, and Infectious coryza.
Avian influenza
A viral infection known as bird flu, which is acquired through direct or indirect contact with contaminated materials or birds. It affects various body systems, including the respiratory tract, digestive organs, nervous system, and skin.
Primary causes
- Exposure to infected objects, such as clothes and shoes
- Contact with rodents and insects carrying the virus
Signs
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite
- Breathing issues
- Lower egg production
- Facial swelling
- Dehydration
- Discolored wattles (bluish tint)
- Red or white leg patches
- Coughing or sneezing
- Conjunctivitis
- Bloody discharge
- High mortality
Treatment
Currently, there is no specific treatment for avian influenza. However, supportive care can help chickens recover from mild infections and prevent secondary complications. Providing a diet rich in vitamins A, D3, and E, as well as minerals zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids, helps strengthen the immune system, aiding in recovery.
Products like Flaked Oyster Shells or Chicken Scratch help supply these nutrients naturally, as they contain ingredients such as flaxseed, pumpkin seed, and sea shells, which are good sources of vitamins, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, and minerals.
Broad-spectrum antibiotics prescribed by a veterinarian can help manage secondary bacterial infections such as pneumonia or sepsis.
Newcastle disease
Like avian influenza, newcastle disease is a viral infection that occurs in three forms: lentogenic (mild), mesogenic (moderate), and velogenic (severe). The mortality rate can range from 10% to 100%, depending on the strain and overall health of the chicken.
Transmission
The virus spreads through air or contact with:
- Infected feed sacks
- Filthy coops
- Contaminated eggs, feathers, or carcasses
- Body fluids
- Waste and secretions
Lentogenic symptoms
- Slight gasping
- Ocular discharge
- Airsacculitis (related infection)
Mesogenic signs
- Rattling noises
- Twisted neck
- Muscle tremors
Velogenic symptoms
- Convulsions
- Intestinal ulcer
- Paralyzed wings and legs
- Sudden death
Symptoms can vary across species and may need confirmation from laboratory testing. The above examples are general indicators.
Treatment
Newcastle disease, unfortunately, has no cure at this time. Keeping the brooder temperature consistent and reducing it by 5°F each week may reduce chick mortality.
However, you can treat secondary bacterial complications, such as E. coli, with antibiotics prescribed by an avian veterinarian.
Fowl pox
This viral condition typically occurs on the unfeathered areas of a chicken, including the mouth, eyes, and air sacs. It may appear at any age, typically during warmer seasons.
Transmission
Fowl pox can be contracted through infected mosquitoes, birds, or skin wounds.
Signs
- Lesions on the head, mouth, leg, or vent
- Stunted growth
- Decrease in egg production
- Trouble breathing
Treatment
There is no established cure. Since this disease progresses slowly, vaccination reduces the outbreak. Veterinarians often use the wing-web method, which requires pricking the skin on the wing web with a two-pronged needle dipped in the vaccine.
Mycoplasma synoviae
A bacterial infection that impairs the respiratory tract and bones. Many reports suggest it is common among birds aged 4 to 16 weeks, while others indicate it can occur within one week. Unlike fowl pox, it spreads very fast.
Transmission
Mycoplasma Synoviae can disperse by two means:
- From parent to chick
- From one infected chicken to others
Signs
- Swollen joints
- Blisters on the breast
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Unsteady gait
Treatment plan
Your vet can prescribe antibiotics like chlortetracycline, erythromycin, and lincomycin. It can be administered via injection, drinking water, or feed.
Infectious coryza
Coryza is a contagious bacterial disease affecting the upper respiratory tract and the face. The causative agent is Avibacterium paragallinarum.
Transmission
- Nasal discharge
- Contaminated water
- Direct contact
Treatment
You can manage this condition with water-soluble antibiotics, such as sulfadimethoxine and tetracycline. Consult a veterinarian for dosage, duration, or possible alternatives.
Prevention Tips for Respiratory Diseases
Most respiratory conditions have no cure, therefor, it's best to prevent them from ever happening:
- Chickens can be vaccinated against infectious coryza subcutaneously under the neck with Coryza-Vac.
- Eradication is the most effective way to deter Mycoplasma synoviae; never use replacement breeders.
- You can control fowl pox outbreaks by Reducing mosquito populations using chicken-safe insecticides unless it's endemic, in which case vaccination is the better option.
- Always keep the coop, feeders, and drinkers clean and free from debris.
- Ensure there's sufficient ventilation.
General Health Checks (Daily)
Here’s what to look out for each day:
- Monitor droppings: Healthy droppings are usually dark gray, greenish-brown, pasty, or chocolate-colored. Milky white, red, or unusual shades can suggest early illness.
- Watch appetite and energy levels: Sudden drops often signal something is off.
- Inspect vents and feathers for signs of mites, lice, or irritation.
- Listen and observe during evening roost checks: Labored breathing at night is an early warning sign.
Monthly Maintenance
Set aside time each month to keep the environment clean and safe:
- Disinfect the coop with poultry-safe, natural solutions, such as: diluted vinegar, lemon juice, or neem oil. Please refrain from using bleach; it's harsh and potentially harmful.
- Replace bedding.
- Trim nails and beaks when they become overgrown.
Vaccination and Recordkeeping
Keep a simple log of treatments, deworming schedules, and vaccines. It makes it easier to notice recurring patterns and take remedial actions accordingly.
Vaccines differ by region, but usually include:
Marek’s disease vaccine (for day-old chicks)
Marek’s disease is a non-respiratory viral condition that leads to tumors in several organs, including the eyes, skin, liver, kidneys, lungs, spleen, gonads, and pancreas. In advanced cases, pale combs and severe weight loss can appear.
This vaccine is given once, right after hatching, just under the skin at the back of the neck.It doesn’t stop infection but prevents paralysis, tumors, and fatal complications associated with Marek’s.
Newcastle and infectious bronchitis vaccines (adult flocks)
Infectious bronchitis is a coronavirus that attacks the kidneys, gut, and digestive system in chickens. It often reduces egg quality by causing misshapen shells. Secondary bacterial infections can escalate rapidly and be fatal.
Contaminated items, such as feed bags and carcasses, lead to its spread. Since there’s no standard treatment for bronchitis, timely vaccination is essential.
The Newcastle and infectious bronchitis vaccines are usually combined. A veterinarian can administer them either at the hatchery or when birds are 10–35 days old.
Simple Dietary Guide
Diet plays a significant role in your chickens' overall well-being. Once their nutrition goes off track, it can easily disrupt growth, egg production, respiratory function, and other vital processes. That's why feeding according to age is non-negotiable.
For instance, chicks require Starter Feed, Grower Feed for pullets, and Layer Feed for hens. Each one carries the right balance of protein, vitamins, calcium, sodium, and other nutrients required at that specific stage.
You can also offer supplements like Grub Bugs and Pea Flakes. They aid digestion, support molting and feathering, promote natural foraging behavior, and foster bonding within the flock.
Conclusion: Chicken Keepers Can Reduce Mortality Rates with the Right Routine
Keeping chickens can be quite similar to caring for a human baby: they can't tell you how they feel, so it's essential to know how to recognize warning signs, such as diarrhea, lethargy, and restlessness. It helps you take precautions as needed or contact a veterinarian when you are in doubt or things look serious.
Some common avian health problems include pasty butt, bumblefoot, respiratory infections, and various internal and external parasites, including tapeworms, roundworms, lice, and mites.
While you can easily manage many of these conditions once you discover them, there’s no proven cure for some respiratory diseases, such as Newcastle disease. That's why it's safer to take preventive steps, such as providing them with an appropriate diet for their age; usually starter feed for chicks, grower feed for pullets, and layer feed for hens.
Additionally, ensure that you deworm your chickens regularly to control internal parasite infestations, keep the coop clean, and limit contact with wild birds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the common symptoms of sickness in chickens?
A healthy chicken should eat well, be able to move around comfortably, forage for mental enrichment, and lay good-quality eggs. Signs that something is amiss include loss of appetite, weight loss, lethargy, ruffled feathers, decrease in egg production, and more.
How frequently should you deworm your chickens?
Frequency varies with environmental conditions, but it is usually recommended every four to six months. However, for free-ranging chickens, you can do this more often because they have more contact with parasitic worm eggs. Consider alternative wormers, such as flubendazole or flubenvet, and consult a veterinarian if resistance develops.
Can you treat bumblefoot naturally?
It all depends on the severity of the case. Mild cases may respond to Epsom salt baths and regular cleaning, but deeper infections require antibiotics or surgical removal.
What’s the best bedding material for preventing diseases?
Pine shavings and chicken hemp hurd are eco-friendly options. Avoid using cedar, pressure-treated wood, or shredded paper, as they can irritate the respiratory system. Change bedding weekly and keep it dry and clean.
Are respiratory infections contagious?
Yes. Respiratory infections can be airborne or transmitted through contact with contaminated surfaces or objects, including other birds. Isolate new avians before introducing them to the flock.
