Chicken Diseases and Treatments

Like every animal, chickens may come down with certain diseases and sicknesses. There are many different kinds of diseases out there. Here are the most common chicken diseases and treatments you may come across while raising chickens.

Coccidiosis

This is a very common disease among chickens. It consists of a one-celled parasite which is host specific and immunity specific. Signs of coccidiosis in chickens can be described as having bloody droppings, ruffled feathers, can be pale, and can even cause death. This disease is passed through droppings and can live where there is moisture, oxygen, and warm temperatures. Most outbreaks occur in May and June. To prevent the spread of this disease, keep the birds dry and feed them Amprol continuously until eight weeks of age.

Roundworms

These worms are about three inches long and live in the intestines of chickens and can be very common. The larva damages the intestinal wall by blocking it and excreting toxins. The life cycle of these worms are about 28 days. Chickens will have decreased egg production during this time. The treatment is Piperazine for about 12-24 hours, 50mg per pound of body weight in drinking water and meldane feed for 18-21 days.

Hairworms

These worms are much smaller that roundworms, about 1 1/2 inches long and very thin. They also cause intestinal wall damage and deprive the chicken of nutrients and vitamins. Signs of this disease include platinum yolks in their eggs, green diarrhea, and paleness in the bird. Treatment includes different types of wormers you can get at a local feed store or from your veterinarian.

Lice and Mites

Lice and Mites are common parasites of chickens and make their home by infesting the chicks skin and feathers. These bloodsuckers cause anemia and can ultimately kill your chicken if not caught in time. They also cause decreased egg production. To treat your chickens dust the males with sevin, the females dust themselves.

Nutritional Deficiencies

If you feed your chickens right you should not have these deficiencies. So be sure to add these vitamins to their diets. To prevent rickets which is a deficiency of vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus, add cod liver oil and dical or steam bone meal. Add vitamin E to prevent crazy chicken disease. Deficiency of riboflavin can cause curly toe paralysis, just add milk products to their feeding. If you notice some pale birds, add vitamin A which is in cod liver to their feed.

Infectious Bronchitis Virus

This disease is a clinically acute, highly contagious viral infection affecting chickens of all ages. It has an incubation period of 24- 48 hours. It affects the respiratory and urogenital tract resulting in respiratory distress, sneezing, rattling and lesions in the trachea. In laying birds, you will notice a drop in egg production and misshaped eggs. Some strains of the virus may cause severe mortality in up to 100% of your chicken population. Initial vaccination should be done in order to prevent disease. If the chicken did not receive a vaccination then antibiotics should be given.

All these diseases are preventable with proper feeding and vaccination of your flock. Be sure to check your chickens often for these diseases to keep them healthy.