Chickens can be affected by a number of diseases.You'll look for changes in their behavior, skin, feathers, and feces to determine if they're sick.It's always a good idea to have a sick bird checked out by a vet before treatment begins.
Step 1: Chickens that are hiding in the roost are not active.
Chickens are on the move during the day.If your chickens are trying to hang out in the roost instead of coming out, you should check them for more symptoms.When you open the door to the roost in the morning, your chickens should leave.They may sit around with their feathers puffed out to keep warm, instead of sitting on the roost.Chickens try to keep warm when they become ill in order to conserve energy.
Step 2: Check if the chickens are consuming food.
When you feed your chickens, keep an eye on them.If your chickens don't eat or hang back, that could mean they are sick.If you suspect that one might be sick, feed it a special treat to see if it shows interest.It will confirm your suspicions if it doesn't.Try cooking oatmeal or corn.Chickens like mealworms.
Step 3: Don't be surprised if there is a behavior out of the ordinary.
The bird may be holding its wings in a weird position.It is possible that it will stand away from the rest of the flock.It may be limping or having trouble standing up.It is possible that your bird is having a problem.There is an odor coming from the chicken that is not normal.
Step 4: There are stomach problems like vomiting.
Vomiting can indicate sickness, particularly along with other symptoms, so keep an eye out.A bad odor in the chicken's feces could be indicative of a problem, as could an unusual color or texture to their feces.The stools are loose.
Step 5: Look at the chicken's coat and eyes.
The coats of chickens are going to suffer if they are sick.If your chickens are under the weather, look for disheveled, dull-looking coats.Another sign of sickness is cloudy or blurry eyes.Chickens may close one or both eyes more often.Chickens aren't feeling up to preening themselves if their feathers are ragged.
Step 6: There are changes to the chicken's facial skin.
These areas can change from pale to purple.Sometimes they swell or get something.It's a sign of sickness to change from bright red to dull red with the comb.
Step 7: Check the quality of the egg.
Eggs are going to suffer if a chicken is sick.They may have a soft shell, like being too watery.The eggs might come out differently.The chicken has trouble laying eggs.She is trying to pass an egg.
Step 8: If you notice any of the symptoms, contact the vet.
If you have a vet on call, make sure they visit your flock.If the chicken starts showing these symptoms, you should take it to a large- animal vet.Taking precautions, such as quarantining chickens who are showing signs of illness and making sure common areas are cleaned out regularly, is a good idea.The vet can help you figure out what the problem is and point you in the right direction.They can tell you if your whole flock needs to be treated or not.Contact your vet if you see signs of illness.
Step 9: Look for coughing and sneezing.
Humans and chickens have the same symptoms of diseases.Chickens will usually sneeze once in a while, but if you notice persistent sneezing throughout your flock, that could be a sign of a respiratory disease.You may be able to see coughing in your flock.These symptoms can be seen in diseases like bird flu.Some of the illnesses are treated with antibiotics, but some are caused by viruses that can't be treated.
Step 10: It's a good idea to check for drainage from the eyes and nose.
Clear drainage from the eyes is caused by infectious sinusitis.These areas may be swollen.raspy breathing is possible.
Step 11: There is a purple color in the combs, legs, and wattles.
This disease can cause these areas to turn purple.They may be tipped with either blue or purple.This condition is not unique to this disease, but it can be a symptom.The comb may flop over.You can see pox on the face, comb, and wattle.There are no medications that can be used to treat the bird flu.
Step 12: Check the quality of the egg.
Respiratory diseases can cause changes in egg quality.Eggs may come out in funny shapes or not have hard shells.Different diseases can be caused by different changes in eggs.If egg-laying slows down and you notice a decline in the shell quality, that could be infectious bronchitis.Antibiotics can be used to treat this disease.The decline in egg-laying and inner egg quality will be caused by the disease.This disease can't be treated with antibiotics, so your vet may give you some to prevent other infections.
Step 13: Pay attention to sudden deaths.
The bird flu can cause some birds to die even if they aren't showing any symptoms.If you have an unexplained death in your flock, you may want to check your birds for the same disease.A large number of bird deaths can be caused by infectious laryngotracheitis, which can't be treated with antibiotics.
Step 14: There is a light-colored comb and skin.
Changes in the chickens' comb and wattles can be caused by the stomach disease coccidiosis.The areas will look paler than normal with this condition.A healthy chicken's comb and wattle will be bright red.
Step 15: There are changes in this area.
Coccidiosis can cause blood in the stool, but not all infections cause this symptom.It can lead to yellow defecation that has a foamy texture.Chickens shed their linings from time to time, which is normal.It will be more brown-red.
Step 16: You should be aware of bird deaths.
Coccidiosis can cause sudden deaths, and it could have already spread to the rest of the flock.As long as you separate out the sick birds you think are sick for treatment, it's possible.A necropsy can be done on a dead bird to find out if it's coccidiosis or something else.
Step 17: Look for itchy birds and ruffled feathers.
While not a disease per se, lice and mites can cause problems for your chickens.If you think your chickens have parasites, you should inspect the base of the feathers near the back end.There are clusters of tiny white eggs.You could see parasites moving around on the bird, either small black specks or white parasites the size of rice.Chickens can be treated for parasites by spraying them with a solution of parasites.
Step 18: The birds that are thin with bad feathers could be roundworms.
The parasites can make your chickens lose weight, and they may not feel like taking care of their feathers.The skin around their mouths is not normal.You can see matted feathers near the rear ends of the parasites.You will need to treat the whole flock if one bird gets this.
Step 19: A bird is having trouble laying eggs.
Being egg bound is a condition.You may see the bird hanging out more.Its behavior could be unpredictable.She is straining to lay the egg.Think of a person with irrmidation and how it would look in a chicken.It might make noises as it tries to lay the egg.There's not a lot to be done for egg-bound chickens, though a warm water bath around her back end or applying lubricant may help.
Step 20: There is a chance of temporary paralysis for Marek's disease.
The disease is caused by a viruses.In some cases, it can cause tumors that press on nerves.It can cause paralysis, which can be temporary or permanent.This condition can't be treated.