CHICKEN DISEASES, PRIMARY CAUSE,

     SIGNS & LESIONS, PREVENTION & TREATMENT         

               

Abnormal Egg Shells

Chickens Improper nutrition, disease, physical condition of hen. Soft egg, cracked eggs. P-make

sure laying hens are free from disease & feed a laying mash. Give oyster shells to hens.

T-proper nutrition to hens.

Air Sac Disease

(CRS, colds, infectious sinusitis Chickens, turkeys, all ages Egg transmitted. Also by contact with

infected birds (healthy carriers). Coughing, sneezing, runny nose. Stress or secondary infection

increases severity. Transmitted slowly through flock. P-Don't mix age groups. Get chicks or poults

from MG-free birds. T-Encourage eating. Some antibiotics help.

Ammonia Burns

All birds Ammonia gases created in damp litter. Lopsided shape of eyes,

watery eyes, facial swelling, may become blind P-Keep litter clean & dry. T-remove wet litter & feed

Vitamin A.

Aspergillosis

(brooder pneumonia) Chicks, poults Birds inhale spores from moldy feed, litter, dust. Gasping,

loss of appetite, increased thirst. P-Avoid sources of mold. Control dust. T-Clean, disinfect.

Change litter.

Blackhead Turkeys

Transmitted by eating contaminated substances or direct contact with infected

birds or droppings. Darkening of head, loss of appetite, droopiness, sulfur-colored droppings.

P-Keep turkeys away from chickens. T-Hepzide, Enhaptin, Emytryl-follow vet & label

recommendations.

Blue Comb Turkeys

Transmitted by eating contaminated substances or direct contact with

infected birds or droppings. Weight loss, constant chirping, bluish colored head. P-Get rid

of birds, disinfect & leave empty for a time. T-Raise temperature in building, use antibiotics &

vitamins.

Breast Blisters

All birds, more common in heavier breeds. Sharp edges of feeder or waterers.

A blister on the breast contains clear or bloody fluids. T-Drain with a sterile needle and rinse with

Potassium.

Broodiness Turkeys, chickens

Hen wants to hatch something. Hens sitting in nests, returns to nest

after being chased off. P-Remove egg from nest, provide roosts for fowl. T-Change hen to different

pen. Remove eggs, remove hens from nest or let her hatch something.

Infectious Bronchitis Chickens Virus.

Airborne from infected flocks. Rapid onset. Sneezing,

coughing, watery eyes. Flock symptoms may last 10-14 days. Production drops, small or

soft-shelled eggs. P-Vaccinate before lay if an important problem in your flock. T-None. Permanent

problem.

Botulism

All birds Toxic birds eat decaying animal or vegetable material. Toxin is soluble so can be

in water or maggots. Extreme weakness. Paralysis of legs, wings, neck. Bird cannot swallow.

Feathers easily removed. Head hangs, swollen wattles, difficult breathing, dark head & wattles.

P-Clean yards. Don't use spoiled food. T-Place bird in shade. Fill crop with water twice daily.

Give Epsom salts (1 lb. to 5 gal. water) into crop. Remove dead animals.

Bumble foot

All birds Cuts or bruises on foot pad allow entrance of organisms. Lameness, swollen

foot, scab on foot pad. P-Avoid high roosts, sharp litter. T-Open abscess with sharp knife, remove

pus, paint with iodine or sulfa ointment.

Cannibalism

All birds Bright colors, too crowded, too hot, not enough feeders or waterers, lack of

entertainment. Picking at one another. P-Provide enough room, food, water, possibly entertainment

for birds.

Fowl Cholera

Most birds Contact with feces of sick birds, carcasses of dead birds. Rodents,

contaminated soil, water, feed. Birds may die before there are visible symptoms. Dead on roost,

yellow-green diarrhea. P-Clean ground, good management. Eliminate rodents, predators.

Medications, use clear antibiotics for layers. Complete clean out.

Coccidiosis

Chickens, turkeys, one of most prevalent diseases worldwide. Eating droppings

containing infective parasites. Coccidian invade intestinal tract lining, produce tissue damage

while multiplying. Possible high mortality. Pale, droopy, huddle, use less feed, water. Production

drops. Bloody droppings. Use preventive drugs (coccidiostats). Screen droppings from birds. In

acute outbreak give recommended drugs in water according to directions. May try (1/4 c. vinegar

to each gal. water).

Infectious Coryza

Chickens only Recovered apparently healthy birds remain carriers. Contact at

poultry shows. Sick birds. Dust or water contaminated by discharge. Rapid onset. Swollen sinuses,

nasal discharge, eyelid may stick shut, drop in feed consumption & egg production. P-Don't mix

age groups. T-Antibiotics or sulfa drugs effective in some cases. Use as cleared by vet.

Enteritis (diarrhea)

All birds Many causes, most unknown. High salt in feed. Droppings in infected

birds. Watery, discolored droppings. Layers may drop in production. P-Sanitation & good ration.

T-Get specific diagnosis. Antibiotics. Avoid metal waterers.

Hemorrhagic Enteritis

Turkeys Virus-Spread from eating infected feed, water, litter & droppings.

Change in weather or feed. Sudden death & blood from vent. P-Disinfect hands & boots when

tending sick birds. T-No antibiotics.

Influenza

Geese-possibly ducks Bacteria-Passed on by infected birds. Coughing, sneezing, nasal

discharge, death P-Clean & disinfect pens. T-Sulfademetharine

Joint & Respiratory Disease

Chicks 4-12 weeks Egg transmittable direct contact through air,

equipment & people. Lameness, loss of weight, green droppings, breast blisters, limping, affects

respiratory. T-Need not treat CRS, will butcher sooner. Treat other fowl with Tetracycline or

Erythromycin.

Laryngotrachetis (trachy, LT)

Chickens, pheasants Virus. Infected birds; unwise use of vaccine,

carriers; airborne; contaminated clothes & equipment. Rapid spread. Coughing, sneezing,

gurgling. Blood or cheesy plug in windpipe. May be high mortality. P-Vaccinate, but only if a

problem in your area. Do not vaccinate unnecessarily. T-None.

Leg Problems

All birds Accidents, inadequate nutrition, lack of vitamins, slippery surface, bacteria,

virus, infections. Swollen joints, soft bones, twisted legs, broken bones, swollen feet, paralysis,

legs flex sideways. PT-Determine causes & use the proper treatment or preventive measures.

Use peat moss & wood chips, no newspaper.

Lice

All birds Ducks & geese if housed with chickens are likely the cause. Chew on skin; dry skin.

Lack of appetite, diarrhea, sleeplessness, set less, lower egg production. P-Clean buildings & use

roost paint. T-Dust adults with Sevin.

Lymphoid Leukosis (Big liver disease)

Chickens Virus. Egg borne or transmitted to very young

chicks from infected older birds. Weight loss. Green droppings, tumors, enlarged liver. Sick birds

usually die. Deformed, thickened leg bones. P-Brood away from older chicks. T-None.

Marek's Disease

(Range Paralysis) Chickens Herpes virus. Airborne or other contaminated skin & feather dust

(dander). Contaminated litter. Infected birds. Gray eye, enlarged feather follicles, paralysis of

wings, legs, neck. P-Vaccinate day-old chicks. Buy vaccinated chicks. T-None.

Mycoplasma Gallisepticum (MG)

Also known as Infectious Sinusitis in turkeys. Most birds

Mycoplasma organisms. Spread mainly by infected birds coming in contact with others. Also

spread by careless humans, contaminated equipment, and vehicles. Symptoms of turkeys in the

upper form of the disease are watery eyes, noisy breathing, unthriftiness, water discharge from

nostrils, and swollen sinuses below the eyes P-isolate infected birds. T-NA

Newcastle Disease

Most birds Virus. Contaminated equipment, shoes, clothing. Contact with infected birds. Gasping,

coughing, nasal discharge, uncoordination, paralysis. Rapid spread, high mortality. Adults may

show only respiratory symptoms & egg productions drop P-Vaccination. T-None.

Omphalitis (Mushy Chicken disease)

Baby chicks Unsanitary conditions in hatchery. Chicks

huddle-dropping heads. P-Make sure hatchery is known for sanitary conditions-know where birds

are coming from.

Pasty Rear Ends-Pasty Butt

Mostly chickens Lack of activity. Stress in transporting. Manure sticks to the

rear-end of birds. P-Use a scratch feed & increase activity of chickens. T-Remove manure from

rear end with mild soap.  Give the baby chicks raw dry oatmeal, (Quaker Oats regular or any variety

of instant dry oatmeal, with or with out sugar and fruit), for the first few weeks, 3 times a day

sprinkled on there starter feed.  This will help to reduce the occurance of pasty butt.  After the chicks

are about 2 weeks old in age,  this will stop on its own.  

Avian Pox

Most birds Virus. Direct contact with infected birds. Mosquitoes carry virus from wild &

other birds. Dry Pox; small yellow warts on wattles, comb, face. These increase in size. Dark brown

scabs form, then drop off. Wet Pox; yellow, cheesy lesions in mouth, windpipe. P-Vaccination is

recommended in areas of large mosquito populations. T-Swab lesion with Lugol's solution

of iodine.

Paratyphoid

Poults, chicks Egg shell penetration. Eating or contact with droppings of infected

carriers. Huddling near heat, closed eyes, drooping wings, diarrhea, pasted vent, increased peeping

sounds. P-Egg sanitation. Rodent & snake control. T-Drugs, antibiotics. Follow label

recommendations.

Pullorum Disease

Chickens, turkeys, pheasants, guineas Egg shell penetration. Eating or contact

with droppings of infected carriers. Pasted vents in chicks 1 to 21 days old, sudden death or

huddling, pneumonia. P-Buy pullorum-free chicks. T-Various drugs, antibiotics. Follow label

recommendations. Destroy birds.

Rickets

Young chickens (4wks) mostly top heavy & Cornish Rock. Deficiency of Vitamin D &

Calcium (can't have excess of either). Chickens become crippled. T-Increase Vitamin D intake

as per Vet’s instructions

Staggering Ducks

Out of water Choking or otherwise dizzy because of food caught in esophagus.

P-Never let ducks run out of water. T-Always have water for ducks.

Worms

All birds. Don't affect ducks & geese as much. Roundworms-eggs directly move from bird

to bird through feces. Tapeworms-transmitted by flies, etc. that contact contaminated feces.

May cause unthriftiness & slow growth. Roundworms-3-6 inches long, pencil lead in diameter.

Tapeworms-flat ribbon-like, segmented. P-Rotate birds in yards or pens. Screen off areas of

heavy fecal deposits. T-Various drugs. Follow label.

We are a NPIP approved business as of September 2008.   We are also licensed as certified Chick, Hatching Egg,

and Poultry Dealers.

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