One of the best things about small residential flocks of chickens is that they tend to be exceptionally healthy. Many of the chicken diseases that affect larger commercial flocks are just not a big deal for small backyard homesteaders.
However, there are a few chicken diseases you should be aware of, just in case. Some of them are signs of problems with your management practices.
Some of them are not preventable at all, but can be treated. Others indicate that you’d be better off starting over with new, healthier birds.
For more information regarding chicken health, please check out these related posts:
- Deworming Chickens: Do You Need To Worry About it?
- Be Ruthless With Chicken Mites and Other Obnoxious Bugs
- How Do You Know If You Have a Sick Chicken
- How To Clean Your Chicken Coop The Right Way
Or get all our chicken wellness resources in one easy to read source and check out our book, Backyard Chickens: How To Have A Happy Flock!
Here are some chicken diseases you need to know about:
These chicken diseases can be caused by bacteria, protozoa, or viruses. Some you can prevent with management practices, and others there is very little you can do. All of them are common among poultry in the United States.
You may never notice a problem in a small backyard flock, but it’s good to be familiar with the potential issues, and to have an idea how to handle them if they pop up.
If you are very concerned about the wellness of your flock, I highly recommend the book, The Chicken Health Handbook by Gail Damerow.
It’s detailed and informative, and includes great information on how to administer vaccines yourself, and has loads of information not only on disease, but also the different medications available, as well as general chicken wellness.
If you want more chicken book recommendations, check out our resource page.
Air Sac Disease
Air sac disease is a respiratory disease like CRD, but usually occurs in chicks about 6-9 weeks old, instead of adult birds.
Signs of Air Sac Disease
It can be caused either by E. coli bacteria or mycolpasma gallisepticum. The symptoms are weight loss, coughing, nasal discharge, watery eyes and difficulty breathing.
It can also cause weight loss and a loss of appetite, which in turn causes uneven growth of the chicks.
Managing Air Sac Disease
Try to avoid dusty litters and make sure the chicks have good ventilation. Also avoid letting them get chilled.
If your birds do get infected, make sure they stay warm and feed them a high protein feed with plenty of vitamin E, which is found in sunflower seeds.
Be aware, however, that the survivors will now be carriers and can potentially infect other birds in the future.
Arthritis
Arthritis is not contagious, however it comes from a staph infection where the bacteria has settled into the chicken’s joints.
The chicken either gets a staph infection from drinking out of muddy puddles, or when bacteria enters through a wound.
Signs of Arthritis
The exact symptoms will vary depending on which location of the body the bacteria are in. Generally their joints will be feel hot and swollen.
The chicken may limp and lose weight. Also, it may move so much less that it develops breast blisters.
Managing Arthritis
You can help stave off staph infections by avoiding crowding, and keeping the run clean and dry.
The staph infection may be treatable with antibiotics as long as you do lab testing to find out which specific strain of staph to treat.
Avian Influenza
Remember when everyone was afraid of the bird flu? Well, actually avian influenza has actually been around for centuries. Usually it’s very mild and causes no signs in the chickens.
Sometimes it evolves into a more dangerous strain when it’s among a concentrated number of confined chickens. (One more reason to keep a small backyard flock instead of eating commercially).
Signs of Avian Influenza
With the more deadly strain, often the first symptom is death. However, it is more likely that you will notice symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, diarrhea, a drop in laying, or even a twisted neck or paralyzed wing.
Managing Avian Influenza
Avian influenza is spread through infected droppings, as well as secretions from the eyes, mouth, and nose.
Practice good bio-security with your flock, such as not spreading disease on the bottom of your shoes from flock to flock.
Avian Tuberculosis
Your chances of having a bird with Avian Tuberculosis increase if you keep your laying hens as pets. But don’t worry, it’s not the same strain that infects humans.
Chickens get it from picking at soil, feed or water from the droppings of infected birds. It takes a long time to develop, so if you frequently replace your laying flock with younger birds you may never see it.
Signs Of Avian Tuberculosis
A bird with this infection will lose weight even while eating well. It may die quickly, or it could take even years.
Managing Avian Tuberculosis
Unfortunately there is no treatment for already infected birds. If this is already a problem in your flock your best option is starting completely over with a new flock in a new location.
Breast Blister
Breast blisters are most commonly issues with the Cornish Cross breeds of meat birds. However, they can also become issue for chickens with arthritis who are reluctant to move around much, or when chickens are raised on wire or hard, packed dirt.
Signs of Breast Blisters
Breast blisters are pretty much as they sound, fluid filled blisters along the breast bone of a chicken. If the fluid is clear, it may resolve itself on its own.
Managing Breast Blisters
Keeping your birds on grass or soft bedding should discourage blisters from forming. If you notice an infected breast blister, the fluid inside will become yellow or cheese-like.
If it does become infected you will need to determine the underlying cause of infection (such as staph) and treat for that.
Blackhead
Blackhead is cause by a protozoa, which is spread by worms in the chickens droppings. It’s mainly an issue with turkeys, but chickens with depressed immunity can be infected, and all chickens can be carriers of it.
Signs of Blackhead
The symptoms of Blackhead include listlessness, droopy wings, and pale comb. The chickens may also have a loss of appetite, weight loss, or stunted growth. Bloody or sulpher colored droppings are also an indication.
Managing Blackhead
To manage Blackhead, avoid housing chickens and turkeys together. Also treat your chickens for worms as necessary. and keep their living quarters as dry and not muddy as possible.
Bumblefoot
Bumblefoot is a staph infection in the foot. Chickens can get it from scratching in rocks or gravel, rough, splintery bedding, or from living on concrete or hardware cloth.
Signs of Bumblefoot
The chicken may limp, or avoid walking, and when you look closer there is a black scab on the bottom of their foot, along with a lump.
Managing Bumblefoot
If the lump on the bottom of the foot is soft you may be able to treat the abscess by cleaning the foot, injecting antibiotics and moving the chicken to a clean place.
If the lump is hard, it will need the hardened core removed. A vet can do this, or you can do it yourself.
If you do not have a vet available, I suggest following the directions in The Chicken Health Handbook.
Chronic Respiratory Disease
CRD is caused by mycoplasma bacteria. It is one of the causes of decreased laying. It comes on slowly, affecting older birds. Once infected, chickens are immune from getting it again, but they can affect other chickens.
Signs of Chronic Respiratory Disease
The first sign of CRD is weeping and swelling in the eyes. this can be treated with an eye ointment (see The Chicken Health Handbook for instructions).
Without treatment the eyes can get stuck shut. You may also notice the chicken gasping for air and producing discharge from the nose.
Managing Chronic Respiratory Disease
To prevent CRD in your flock, make sure your birds have plenty of ventilation. Also limit their exposure to cold temperatures. Limit contact with sick birds, and properly quarantine any new birds you bring into the flock.
Coccidiosis
Coccidiosis is caused by a protozoa, and is the most likely cause of death for young birds, especially around 3-6 weeks old. The protozoa live in the intestines of almost all birds, but gradual exposure builds up their immunity.
Infection is common around 3 weeks old because it has built up in the brooder faster than the bird’s immunity. There are however several different species, so when you bring birds from different sources together, they can cross infect each other with strains they are not immune to.
Infections can also happen because of poor cleanliness, or if the chicken’s immune system is suppressed by stress.
Signs of Coccidiosis
Symptoms of cocci include decreased appetite in chicks, slow growth, runny or off color droppings, bloody droppings, or dehydration. Infection in older pullets can cause slow or no egg production, and pale skin on the legs and comb.
Managing Cocci
The best way to manage cocci is to help chicks build up exposure slowly. If you keep them on wire they may not get any immunity at all!
Some flocksters have had good success composting old chick litter and reuising it with fresh bedding to balance the microbes that discourage cocci.
Alternatively, raising birds on a pasture system works well because you can rotate them to fresh grass.
Other ways to discourage cocci in the brooder is to keep the feeders and waterers clean and filled, so as to discourage the chicks from pecking at any droppings.
One tablespoon of vinegar per gallon of water will also discourage the protozoa from multiplying.
Dry Pox
Dry pox is NOT the same as chicken pox in humans. It is fairly mild, and usually resolves by itself. (It’s not common relative, wet pox can be much more serious).
Signs of Dry Pox
Dry pox causes wart like bumps on the chickens skin. You may notice them on the comb or wattles, or even their feet and legs. They form scabs, which fall off, and the chicken usually recovers in 4-5 weeks.
Managing Dry Pox
It is spread by wounds, such as fighting, or insect bites such as mosquitoes. Keeping mosquito and other biting bugs down will help.
There is also a vaccination available, which may be a good idea if you show your chickens, or if your area has a bad mosquito problem.
If you notice a bird with the sores, keep her by herself until she recovers. You can add vinegar to the drinking water to help discourage it from spreading, and once everyone is recovered, clean and disinfect everything.
Egg Peritonitis
Egg peritonitis is caused by E. coli bacteria in the hen’s oviduct. The infection occurs in the oviduct, which causes the chicken to stop laying. The materials coalesce inside the hen until finally they spill into her body cavity.
Signs of Egg Peritonitis
The hen will have a swollen abdomen, and keeps her back end lowered to the ground when standing or walking. Eventually she dies.
Managing Egg Periotonitis
Prevention is reducing the hen’s exposure to E. coli. make sure they have good ventilation, and clean litter. Using nipple waterers or cleaning their waterer frequently will also help.
Feeding hens probiotics, such as yogurt with live cultures will also help prevent infection.
Fowl Cholera
Fowl Cholera is caused by the pasturella bacteria. There are two forms, chronic, and acute, and older birds are more likely to become affected.
Signs of Fowl Cholera
In an acute infection, the only sign you may have is a chicken that suddenly drops dead. Alternatively you may notice lethargy, loss of appetite, weight loss, and mucus coming from the chicken’s mouth.
In a chronic infection the bacteria settles into part of the body and causes local symptoms such as swelling of the joints or around the eyes, or a twisted neck.
Managing Fowl Cholera
Fowl Cholera is spread through the mucus, although the bacteria lives in the ground for up to 3 months and can be spread on the bottom of shoes.
The best way to manage it is by not mixing different ages of birds, or birds coming from different flocks, as apparently healthy birds can still be carriers.
Infectious Bronchitis
Infectious bronchitis is a highly contagious respiratory disease. It can be more obvious in chicks, but older birds will have a rattling noise in the throat when they are on the roost at night.
Once they get it, birds will be temporarily immune, but they will not lay as well as birds who were never infected.
Signs of Infectious Bronchitis
Chicks will cough, sneeze, and have rattling sounds in the throat. Symptoms are less noticeable in older birds, but you may notice them at night. Chicks may even die.
Managing Infectious Bronchitis
There is a vaccine available, but it is not successful against all strains. If infectious bronchitis has become an big problem in your flock, the best way to handle it is put all the birds down, disinfect, and start over with a fresh flock.
Infectious Bursal Disease
Infectious bursal disease is cause by a virus in the lymph tissue, and is sometimes also called Gumboro Disease.
Sometimes chicks can be born with maternal antibodies, which makes it difficult to tell if they have been infected, because they have no symptoms. It can be easier to spot in chicks from 3-6 weeks old.
Signs of Infectious Bursal Disease
The first sign is white diarrhea that stains the vent feathers. You may also notice lethargy, reduced appetite. Your birds may have a wobble when they walk, or be reluctant to even stand at all. Infected birds will either die, or recover.
Managing Infectious Bursal Disease
There is a vaccine, but it’s not very widely used. It can be difficult to get rid of in your chicken housing, but chicks that are exposed to it when young have a natural immunity. Once exposed birds are NOT carriers, but can pass on their immunity to their own chicks.
Infectious Coryza
Infectious Coryza is the equivalent of a chicken cold, and is spread the same way, by droplets propelled by coughing and sneezing.
Signs of Infectious Coryza
This looks like a respiratory infection, so it may be hard to pinpoint what specifically is the cause. Your chicken will have nasal discharge, sticky eyes, or a swollen face.
Managing Infectious Coryza
There is a vaccine but it must be redone every two years, so it’s best to use it only after you know your flock has had an outbreak.
Alternatively, you can start over with a new flock. Dispose of the sick birds, and thoroughly clean everything. Leave it vacant for at least three weeks before bringing in new birds.
Laryngotracheitis
This is a relative of the herpes family that causes an upper respiratory infection in the larynx. (Betcha didn’t guess that! Just kidding…). Most often it is mild though.
Signs of Laryngotracheitis
Birds that are infected will have watery eyes that turns yellow and crusty. The chickens may cough, sneeze, or even stretch their necks out while breathing or shake their heads.
Managing Laryngotracheitis
Because there are no treatments, and any birds that survive can infect new birds in the flock, it’s probably best to start over with a fresh flock.
If you do this, thoroughly cleaning the chicken coop and yard, then waiting two months should keep your new flock from getting infected.
Alternatively, if you choose to keep previously infected birds, you may want to vaccinate any new flock members you add later.
Lymphoid Leukosis
It’s a good bet that your chickens probably have lymphoid leukosis, even if they have no signs of it. It is caused by a retrovirus, and is mainly spread through the egg, although it can be spread by droppings and insects such as mosquitoes.
Signs of Lymphoid Leukosis
It causes tumors, and often looks like Marek’s disease, with leg paralysis. Symptoms are most common in birds that are just reaching laying age.
Managing Lymphoid Leukosis
Unfortunately there is no treatment, or vaccine, and it can be deadly for the birds. Any that do survive are carriers. You can see now why it’s so prevalent. 🙁
Marek’s Disease
Marek’s disease is caused by a herpesvirus, and it is also so common that virtually all chickens have it, even though it may be dormant.
Signs of Marek’s Disease
The signs can vary widely, depending on the form it is, but a common symptom is leg paralysis. You will see young chickens with one leg stretched forward and the other back behind itself.
Managing Marek’s Disease
There is a vaccine available, and most hatcheries offer vaccinated chicks. It’s not a hundred percent effective, and the birds may still infect other birds, especially if they are stressed or their immune system is not in tip-top shape.
There are some chicken breeds that seem more resistant however. Hooray! If you keep your own breeding flock, you can always breed for disease resistance.
Newcastle Disease
There are several strains of Newcastle Disease, some that are more severe, and one that is fairly mild. Thankfully, the more severe strains are not very common. The mild strain is highly common and can cause respiratory problems and an infection of the intestines.
Signs of Newcastle Disease
The indications that you will most likely see in your own flock are coughing and gasping, or occasionally nerve problems such as wing paralysis. You may not even be able to distinguish if from other respiratory problems.
Managing Newcastle Disease
Most chickens will recover on their own, without ill effect.
Omphalitis
Omphalitis is also known as Mushy Chick Disease. It’s an infection in chicks that occurs after the egg sack isn’t absorbed. It causes chicks to die for up to two weeks after hatch. It’s caused by bacteria either in the egg when formed, or that gets through the shell.
Signs of Omphalitis
The chicks affected will have soft bodies and a swollen blue abdomen. Their naval is also unhealed.
Managing Omphalitis
Once affected, you may try cleaning the chicks’ naval several times a day with iodine. Feeding them extra vitamin E may also help. (Sunflower seeds are high in vitamin E).
To prevent it from occuring make sure your incubator is properly sanitized and ventilated. During incubation keep the temperature high enough and the make sure the humidity doesn’t get too high.
Paratyphoid
Unfortunately, Paratyphoid is caused by Salmonella bacteria, the same strain that can also make humans sick. Up to 75 percent of chickens are infected with salmonella, and even the healthy ones can be carriers.
It can be transmitted through the yolk and shell to chicks. It can also be spread by contaminated droppings, drinking water, rodents, even on your own shoes!
Signs of Paratyphoid
Indicators of an active infection is chicks dead in their shells, or chicks with very little appetite, but increased thirst and diarrhea with vent pasting. Chickens who are carriers can have no symptoms, but still spread the bacteria.
Managing Paratyphoid
It can be difficult to manage paratyphoid because is is so easily spread. If you have infected birds, it’s best to start fresh with a new flock. Fortunately, a hot compost will kill the bacteria in old chicken litter.
Keep your chicken yard and hen house as clean as possible, and having good flock bio-security can help. (I.E. try not to track bacteria in from other flocks in on your shoes).
Toxoplasmosis
You may have heard toxoplasmosis in relation to cats and pregnant women, namely that pregnant women shouldn’t clean litter boxes in case they contract toxoplasmosis, which can be harmful to the unborn child.
Signs of Toxoplasmosis
Chickens don’t get it themselves, but they can be an intermediate host, which means if you eat undercooked meat from an infected chicken you could get it yourself.
Managing Toxoplasmosis
It’s not a big deal (unless you’re pregnant), but to be on the safe side, keep your chicken yard dry, and clean of cat feces. Also, don’t feed yourself or your cats undercooked chicken.
Hopefully you never need to deal with the disease in this post! But just in case, it’s good to be prepared and know what actions you will need to take. Has your backyard flock been sick? Share in the comments below!
Sources:
Common Poultry Diseases by University of Florida Extension
The Poultry Site Quick Disease Guide
The Chicken Health Handbook by Gail Damerow
The Small-Scale Poultry Flock by Harvey Ussery
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i bought 5 white feather chicks also called layers leghorn not sure which breed.1st died by accidentally kick from my foot.bcaz they ran to me.2nd attack from a rat on head.3rd 4th died from just sickness and corp sour.5 th i gave antibiotics and ranikhet medicen still striving .msg me if u hv suggestions and quetions.
If they are chicks, you’ll want to keep them in a safe enclosed space for the first 8-12 weeks, and then introduce them into a secure run.
Here are some tips for keeping them healthy: https://farmingmybackyard.com/avoid-chicken-illnesses/
Here are the basics of raising chicks: https://farmingmybackyard.com/raising-chicks/
Here are some suggestions on keeping rats away from your birds: https://farmingmybackyard.com/predator-proof-chicken-coops/
we had 6 laying hens and we have lost three from 1 to 3 months apart..the only sign is acting tired one day and next morning dead,,,,they have just started laying and we are do not know if we can eat the eggs. we can not find anyone to answer our questions. HELP;;;;
That can be very tricky to track down the exact cause. I would contact the university extension closest to you and ask how to send in one of the dead chickens for a necropsy.
Here is a list by state: https://heritageacresmarket.com/poultry-necropsy-labs/
Here is a publication on how to perform your own: http://web.uconn.edu/poultry/poultrypages/Poultry%20necropsy%20manual%20%2002008.pdf
Regarding the eggs, I personally would cook them thoroughly just in case it is something like salmonella.
I have a rooster who was in a fight and receive a bad cut on his foot. I cleaned it and sprayed the foot with vetercyn a few days . I thought he was getting better….he was walking just fine. About a week later when I went in the coop he must have re injured his leg, from that momment he was limping, 2 days later he was holding it up and not moving around at all. I brought him inside and gave him a warm bath in epsom salt, let him soak for 20 to 30 min. placed him in contained area in the house….he wasnt getting better. So a week goes by and I am afraid I may have to put him down…..I took him to our vet for one last resort. X-rays showed he had an infection in his bone and it actually cause major bone loss in one of the leg bones ( in a human it would be the tibia that was almost gone) My vet said it could go 50/50 put him on antibiotics for 2 weeks and said he may just come out of this. The bone will not come back however he could form scar tissue and that would be enough to help him get around. He eats and drinks great….he is still healing so not standing at all. I made a craddle to support him and help get pressure off that leg. Has anyone else experienced this and did you have a positive out come. If not better in the 2 weeks I may just have to put him down but I want to give it my best shot.
Poor guy, sounds like he’s been through a lot. I haven’t had a similar experience. I hope he makes it through.
Hi i have 15 new egg layers one has started showing resp symptoms. They where purchased day olds end april 25. We have purchased from this farm for the last 12 years never had ill ess except soyr croup few bumble and egg bo7nd from old age. We hav3 separated this one from the rest. We also had putchased meat chickens end of may from same farmer they all got sick around 4 weeks we had to cull them all. Could that farm have an illness and now passing on. Or can it be because its been so warm here. Again we hav3 goid bio and neve4 had oroblems begore please help. We have 1bout 30 old gurls from two years and older with one roo. We also purchased some silkies quaranteed for 1 month no symptoms put with regular flock. Could it have come from them. Pleas3 help should we cull all and start ove4 thanks
No, I don’t think you need to start over. If just one of the fifteen is showing symptoms and you’ve already separated her I think you are probably fine to just cull the one hen and make sure you sanitize everywhere she and that batch of meat birds were. It’s actually a good thing if the other fourteen don’t show symptoms during their quarantine period as that means they probably have some degree of disease resistance.
I have 6 5 week old giuinea chicks. One of them falls over on it’s back constantly. It struggles to get back up and then falls over again if it stands. If it is sitting still it’s up right. The other one trembles constantly. Everyone is eating and drinking and growing. No diarrhea. Is there anything I can do for these guys? Thank you.
Check for spraddle leg. If it doesn’t seem like that, I would separate them from the rest and add apple cider vinegar and vitamins to their water and hope they pull through.
Why is my chicken mooshy feeling behind
the fluff,
What area of the chicken are you feeling? If they sometimes feel hard, and then soft on their throat that could be the crop, which sometimes is empty and sometimes has food in it.
I have a rhode island red about 3 or 4 years old that has diarrhea for about a week and having trouble walking. staggers a bit, then hunches down and rest. Have 11 hens in all. They free range in my backyard and are locked up in coop at night. Don’t know what to do for her and cant find any symptoms listed anywhere similar to hers.
If you haven’t already, check for roundworms in her droppings. https://farmingmybackyard.com/deworming-chickens/
Why will my chicken not open her eyes she also has a big bump on her beak
If you have a vet nearby they would be the best to help you.
I have small chick like 8 and getting sick from noses getting red swallow also is any one able to help what I should do?
Have you ruled out cocci? That’s one of the most common problems for chicks. If you have a local vet they should be able to help.
My hen is shakin her hed & not roosting. Stayin on floor at nite? Been feeding them oatmeal & cinnamon w raisons & turmeric mixed n 1x a wk. Also 2 table spoon once vinegar n 1 gall. water. She’s only one act this way? A wk ago given
That’s definitely not normal. I would try to get her to a vet if possible.
Why are my 9 weeks layer chicks getting thin suddenly and dying. They don’t have mucus nor watery eyes. They simply get so weak and die. I’ve used antibiotics and multivitamins but it’s still not working.
How does their poop look? If there is any watery or bloody droppings treat for Cocci. Your feed store should have medication for it.
I am in need of advice. I acquired 2 Silkies and a barred rock hen from a breeder, the first day they were fine, if a little scared and settled into their new coop, which is probably closer quarters then they had a the farm they came from. I inquired if mixing the breeds would be ok from the previous owner and he stated should be fine. I did not isolate them as they were in the same cage on pick up and came from the same farm. However, one silkie was sneezing quite a bit but otherwise appeared in good health. The following day the BR started pecking at her and bullying. The silkie was afraid to go into the roost that night. I made her go in to protect them that night. They were all alive in the morning when my husband let them out on the run and when I came out approx 45 min later my Silkie hen was dead and the BR was being very loud.
I removed the dead silkie, there was no visible injury or blood so I am not sure how she died…The BR then began bullying my other Silkie so I separated them by building another coop. They have since stopped laying and are displaying some other changes. My silkie has one eye that is closed at times and seems to leak a clear discharge. I have been cleaning with saline daily for last 2 days. She seemed less active today and spends more time in the roost. I am not sure what to do.
The barred rock has been having watery droppings, mostly white. They both appear to be eating and drinking, I let them free range daily for as long as I’m able to supervise them or until they go back to their coops. The barred rock does not like people in her space or other chickens, she is very territorial or scared. Her activity level is fine however. Occasionally, but not often, I notice BR “yawning”. She doesn’t seem to have any respiratory symptoms, no sneezing or watery eyes.
I am monitoring and trying to not add additional stress. I have had them for 8 days today. I have added Apple cider vinegar to their water, they have grit and layer feed and I give them kitchen scraps.
I don’t want to cull either of them as I already lost one and they are already very special to me. I just feel overwhelmed by information and am obsessively researching and learning about chicken care. Any reassurance or guidance on where to got from here would be appreciated.
Unfortunately sometimes the stress of moving homes can trigger underlying issues. If you have a vet, I recommend asking them. Otherwise it sounds as if you are doing everything possible.
sounds to me that you may have unfortunately got yourself some unhealthy birds. theres no 100% way to know when your buying them. I feel your pain tho I had one of our chickens pass away on me from infections cause our rooster scratched her back up mounting her and we didn’t actually even know how bad it was, until she was dead. treated her with antibiotic ointment and separated her but nothing. poor girl.
My chicken has not been moving as much and now just sits in one place. Before she just sat she sat weirdly and uses her left wing as a kind of crutch. We have isolated her. She kept getting poo stuck to her butt so we washed her. She has always been quite skinny and I have noticed she has a potruding red bone on her chest to her stomach and she has some bald patches on her stomach. Every now and then she makes a noise like she is trying to breath but her chest goes up and down as normal. She is eating and had been drinking but hasnt drunk since yesterday. I am really worried. So if you have any advice it would be greatly appreciated.
Is it possible she is broody (trying to hatch eggs)? If not, I recommend finding a local vet.
I have a question, since we might get chicks, are they easy to take care of? Advice would be greatly appreciated, Thanks! 🙂
PS: This website is really helpful on my research! 🙂
Thank you! Chicks are pretty easy to take care of! You can see all our chicken related posts at Farmingmybackyard.com/chickens, including posts on raising chicks and setting up their brooder.
Hi, I have 4 leghorns, about 6 weeks old. One of them seems to be wet and weeping from under a wing. Is this common? I can’t see any specific wound, but the whole area looks irritated. I’ve googled extensively, but not found anything similar. Start 1-2 days ago and seems to be getting worse. Do you have any suggestions? Thx so much!
It could possibly be Gangrenous Dermatitis, basically a staph infection of the skin under the wing. If it is, disinfectant their housing, make sure they have clean dry bedding, and the bird will most likely need antibiotics to recover.
Nice information
Thanks!
Hi
I have a mixed breed 2 week old chick that has developed a big puss filled blister on its neck that is green in color. Its not covered in down and doesnt seem to bother him, but I am worried that it could spread to other chicks. Any ideas?
I would find a vet if possible. Sounds like an abscess and it could be related to something contagious.
I have three beautiful ladies and my favourite is currently snuggled up with me. 2 days ago I noticed her comb was drooping. She has stopped eating and I just found her in a hole under a tree with her head in the dirt. She can’t stand for long and slides to her side. She isn’t keeping her eyes open long either…. what can I do? I love her so much and it doesn’t look good. 3 days ago she seemed fine!
Oh no, unfortunately it sounds like maybe a neurological issue. :(. I hope you can follow up with a vet.