At a time when a chicken lays a lot of eggs every day, develops quite quickly and produces high-quality dietary meat in the shortest possible time, it experiences quite heavy loads.
As a result of such stress, some disruptions may occur in the chicken’s body, precisely at the cellular level. They are a completely normal response to strong metabolic stress.
When the proper functioning of cells is disrupted, internal organs begin to ache. This leads to various diseases that can affect the intensity of egg laying. The most common disease is uric acid diathesis or gout.
Gout is a metabolic disorder in which there is an excessive accumulation of uric acid in chicken cells and urea salts in the tissues, organs and blood.
Uric acid is the end product of nitrogen metabolism, produced by the liver and excreted by the kidneys.
Uric acid diathesis is an incurable disease . As a rule, about 10-15% of chickens in poultry farms get sick.
In chickens, alas, uric acid diathesis is noticeable only in the last stages, so it is impossible to detect it at the beginning of the disease.
It is not always possible to avoid it when such a large load is placed on the chickens. This disease entails large economic losses for poultry farming.
Not only chickens, but also other birds suffer from gout. For example, turkeys, ducks, geese, pheasants, pigeons, parrots.
The disease has different names: urolithiasis, visceral gout, gout. It's all the same thing.
The disease develops gradually due to a lack of essential elements in the diet. To the greatest extent, this is a lack of vitamin A.
Also, the situation is aggravated by a deficiency of vitamins B6 and B12 . In this regard, disruptions in the functioning of the epithelium of the renal tubules begin.
As a rule, the disease manifests itself in laying hens when they are quite old. But it happens that small chickens also get sick.
Uric acid diathesis can be dormant and appear under certain conditions.
For example, it can appear when chickens are hypothermic, or when they eat low-quality feed with harmful chemical impurities. Also, among the reasons include a lack of water for birds, an excess of calcium in the feed and a lack of phosphorus.
Also, experts believe that impaired renal function can be caused by nephropathogenic serovars of the infectious bronchitis virus and enterovirus nephritis.
In the initial stage of the disease it is impossible to detect it.
Already in later stages, intestinal disorders, diarrhea, pure white feces are observed, the egg production of the sick chicken and the hatchability of eggs decrease, and a general deterioration in the condition is observed.
If you do not notice the symptoms and do not begin treatment, so as not to continue the development of the disease and the accumulation of urea in the chicken’s body, this can lead to sudden death.
Uric acid salts accumulate in the chicken's body . It is deposited on the walls, on all internal organs.
Depending on the duration of the disease, they can be deposited in the form of a thin coating, continuous thick deposits, or in the form of white islands.
In the ureters, a white, mucous mass can be observed, which contains salts and gradually forms stones. Also, salts are deposited around joints and tendons.
As a rule, it is not possible to correctly diagnose the disease while chickens are alive. Only after the death of the bird is it possible to determine the disease.
You can be sure that the chicken suffered from uric acid diathesis if the detected plaque on the walls of the thoraco-abdominal cavity and on the internal organs is examined under a microscope.
Uric acid crystals have an elongated, long needle-like shape.
It is completely impossible to cure uric acid diathesis in birds, particularly chickens, since irreversible processes have already occurred in the body.
But how the chicken will feel after taking some measures will depend only on the stage of the disease. In later stages, treatment may not have any effect.
Chickens need to be fed with a 2% aqueous solution of bicarbonate of soda, 0.5% solution of Carlsbad salt, 0.25% hexamine, 3% Novatophan.
On large farms, it is necessary to alkalize the feed with bicarbonate of soda and feed the birds with such feed for two weeks, then take a break for a week, and again feed for two weeks with feed that is alkalized with bicarbonate of soda.
Also, during the treatment period, it is necessary to normalize the chickens’ nutrition, to calculate all the norms necessary for the healthy functioning of the bird.
To avoid uric acid diathesis, it is necessary to normalize the nutrition of chickens. The feed must contain all the necessary microelements.
Also, you need to feed the bird only high-quality feed that does not contain mycotoxins or other harmful chemical impurities.
Also, after waiting no more than eight hours after hatching, you can treat chickens with vitamin aerosols and glucose. Vitamin C aerosols are especially effective.
Visceral gout is characterized by the deposition of urate salts on the serous membranes of internal organs. Blockage of kidney tubules by urates. The causes are poisoning due to protein overfeeding, infectious bronchitis of chickens, SSY-76.
Nephrosis is characterized by swelling and enlargement of the kidneys, necrosis of the epithelium of the renal tubules. The reason is an excessively large amount of animal feed in the daily diet.
Glomerulonephritis is characterized by dysfunction of the glomerular membranes and the deposition of hyaline in the kidney tubules. The causes are aflotoxicosis B.
pyelonephritis is characterized by an increase in the volume of the kidneys, interstitial edema on a pink background of the kidneys, and a clearly visible dilation of the tubules filled with urates. The reasons are a lack of vitamin A.
Chronic pyelonephritis is characterized by wrinkling and a decrease in the volume of the kidneys. The causes of the disease are not yet precisely known.
Calcium nephrology or urolitasis is characterized by dilation of the ureters, stones in the lumen. Stones fall into the lumen of the ureters, which are connected to the wall. The kidneys become asymmetrical and large in volume. The reasons are the wrong amount of calcium and fluoride in the diet. In an adult bird it awakens when poisoned.
Nephrosopathy in hatched chickens is characterized by an increase in the volume of the kidneys and congestive processes in the lumen of the ureters. The reasons are poor nutrition, poor diet, lack of vitamin A, and mycotocosicosis.
Visceral gout of embryos is characterized by the deposition of uric acid salts on the body of the embryo, in the yolk sac and in the kidneys. At the moment, the exact causes of the disease have not been determined; it is only known that it manifests itself in embryotoxicosis.
Dehydration of chickens is characterized by subcutaneous and intramuscular urate deposits, dry muscles, and kidneys filled with urates. The reasons are the usual overexposure of chickens in the hatchery and overexposure during transportation.
It is possible to avoid the disease of uric acid diathesis in chickens if you take all precautions and take care of the proper nutrition of chickens.
If several sick chickens are detected, preventive measures must be taken for the entire chicken coop. After all, this indicates that you are doing something wrong.
You need to reconsider bird care or even seek help from specialists in this field.
After all, no one wants to suffer huge damage, and getting maximum profit would be nice for both large farms and small home chicken coops.
The effectiveness of gout treatment depends on the degree of development of the disease. A sick bird is given a 2% aqueous solution of bicarbonate of soda, 0.5% Carlsbad salt, 0.25% hexamine, 3% novatophan. In industrial farms, feed is alkalized with bicarbonate of soda (3 kg per 1 ton) and fed in periods of 10-15 days with breaks of 5-7 days. It is necessary to comply with the standards for providing poultry with protein, amino acids, vitamins, and microelements. It is mandatory to monitor the level of contamination of feed with mycotoxins; when detected, binding substances (for example, silicone powders) are introduced.
The required set of acids is provided by including 3-4 types of grains in the diet. Choline chloride and other vitamins B and E are introduced into high-calorie diets. On farms, to prevent gout, poultry can be given yeast feed, as well as root crops with the addition of feed lime
Among infectious diseases of chickens that affect the respiratory system, respiratory mycoplasmosis occupies a leading position. Very often the disease occurs in association with other viral and bacterial infections.
Poor living conditions are of great importance in the spread of the disease in the herd: overcrowding, poor ventilation, dust, drafts and lack of heating.
Chicken mycoplasmosis is widespread. There is a small percentage of farms, mainly parent flocks of large industrial breeding egg producers, that are free from this disease. All other poultry farms suffer from mycoplasmosis outbreaks to varying degrees.
There is evidence that low-quality vaccines made on chicken embryos can contain the causative agent of the disease and cause respiratory mycoplasmosis in poultry after vaccination with live vaccines. In this article we will look at the treatment of mycoplasmosis in chickens and, more importantly, an algorithm for preventive measures.
Respiratory mycoplasmosis is caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma Gallisepticum. It occurs in various types of poultry in the form of an acute or chronic complex of respiratory system lesions.
Within 2-4 weeks, the number of infected birds can increase from 10-15% to 100% and mycoplasmosis covers the entire flock. Sick and recovered birds remain a source of infection for a long time, releasing the pathogen into the external environment, and hatching eggs from such laying hens contribute to the spread of infection to other farms. The disease is characterized by a chronic course and dependence on the conditions of keeping and feeding the bird, its general resistance to infections.
In areas unaffected by infection, it is best to abandon free-range chickens to avoid additional risk of infection.
In chickens, mycoplasmosis is manifested by the following symptoms:
Sometimes there is watery eyes and swelling of the eyelids.
In adult laying hens, mycoplasmosis is manifested by the following symptoms:
In chickens, mortality ranges from 4-10%.
Diagnosis of respiratory mycoplasmosis is difficult, because the presence of the pathogen or antibodies in the blood can also be observed during a latent course of the disease without any clinical signs - the so-called “carrier”.
To control the spread of mycoplasma on the farm, an intravital diagnostic method, the serum-droplet agglutination reaction, has become widespread. Using a special diagnostic kit, you can determine directly on the farm how widespread mycoplasmosis is in the herd.
When making a diagnosis, it is necessary to exclude diseases such as:
As for colibacillosis, in most cases mycoplasmosis and colibacillosis occur together. At autopsy, a characteristic feature of birds that have died from such a “cocktail” is the accumulation of cheesy masses or even dense “remnants” in the air sacs.
Do not confuse respiratory mycoplasmosis with another disease - infectious synovitis. It is caused by another type of mycoplasma - mycoplasma synovia and primarily affects the joints.
If mycoplasmosis is suspected, it is advisable to carry out antibiotic therapy. Chickens are given one of the drugs containing tylosin, tiamulin or enrofloxacin:
Antibiotics are diluted in water based on the daily requirement of the entire livestock (for adult chickens, the water consumption rate is 200-300 ml per head, depending on the weight and time of year) and given to drink instead of water. The duration of treatment is 5 days. For preventive purposes, the same drugs are used, but the course is shorter - 3 days.
When treating a herd with unclear signs, it is better to opt for complex preparations that, in addition to the antibiotic against mycoplasma, contain a broad-spectrum medicine against other bacteria:
If the number of chickens is small, it is recommended to treat the birds individually, giving injections to each chicken. For intramuscular injections use:
To sanitize the air in the presence of birds, aerosol spraying of disinfectants is carried out in the poultry house:
Simultaneously with the treatment of mycoplasmosis, a daily inspection of the livestock is carried out; weak and emaciated birds are sent for forced slaughter. The internal organs of a sick bird are disposed of; if there are no signs of damage, the meat can be eaten after boiling.
In addition to prophylactic treatment with antibiotics, large poultry farms use live and inactivated vaccines against respiratory mycoplasmosis. This applies primarily to breeding farms - first- and second-order reproducers. Often mycoplasmosis is included in a complex vaccination with other infectious diseases.
Live vaccines have not yet been sufficiently tested. Their use can cause an outbreak of mycoplasmosis, and the resulting immunity is unstable and does not provide adequate protection. New generation vaccines created by genetic engineering do not cause complications, but post-vaccination immunity is also far from the required level.
Killed or inactivated vaccines have become more widespread. In acutely disadvantaged areas, they are vaccinated twice, at the age of 28-30 and 140 days.
Fleas parasitize many species of warm-blooded animals and humans. Chickens are also attacked by these insects. In large poultry farms, parasites usually do not survive - this is due to the cyclical nature of production, good sanitary preparation of buildings and measures to prevent the introduction of infections and infestations into the farm.
But on small farms, fleas feel quite at ease.
Fleas feed on the blood of chickens. If the number of parasites is small, the problem lies in the disturbance caused to the bird. The bites are very painful, and their saliva contains substances that irritate the skin. Chickens constantly pick feathers with their beaks, they can pull them out and scratch itchy places.
Damaged skin becomes contaminated with bacteria, and inflammation develops.
They are quite specific to the choice of the owner. Six species are important for agriculture, of which only one is capable of parasitizing birds - Echidnophaga gallinacea. There is also Ceratophyllus niger, a western chicken flea that parasitizes birds and humans; and C. gallinae, a European chicken flea that infects only birds. However, the last two species are rare in Russia.
The parasite is a small wingless insect covered with chitinous plates. The adult size is about 1.5 mm, the body is flattened laterally, and has six legs. The hind pair is well developed and allows the insect to jump 1-1.5 meters.
They have a well-developed piercing-sucking apparatus, with the help of which they pierce the skin and drink blood.
Their eggs are oval, white, about 0.5 mm long. The female forcefully throws them out of her body, spreading them over the litter and other objects. After 5-60 days, depending on temperature and humidity, the eggs hatch into larvae 3-5 mm long. They can be found in bird nests or droppings.
The larvae feed on secretions of adult fleas and dead organic matter. After three molts, the larvae pupate, and after some time an adult flea is born.
Eggs and pupae are resistant to conventional insecticide treatments that are used to remove fleas from chickens, so treatments should be carried out 2-3 times with an interval of 10-14 days. Let us remind you that in the hot season the development cycle is shortened; this must be taken into account when planning treatments.
It is quite easy to detect fleas on a chicken. They accumulate on areas of the skin that are devoid of feathers, most often on the head and neck. Clinging tightly to the bird's body, they look like small brown moles. Upon careful examination, you can see parasites in the nests, as well as find their white eggs and larvae.
An indirect sign is the bird's loss of feathers, scratching on the skin, restlessness and constant swarming - cleaning feathers.
The photo shows fleas burrowing into the skin of a chicken. They are perfectly visible to the naked eye.
The most rational way to get rid of fleas from chickens is with the help of special preparations against insects - insecticides.
Currently, drugs from these groups are produced for destruction:
The most famous are: chlorophos, karbofos, trichlorometaphos, neocidol (diazinon).
The most popular is hexachlorane.
Neostomazan, butox (deltamethrin), entomazan (cypermethrin), permethrin
Pyrethroids belong to a new generation of insect repellents. They are practically safe and rarely cause side effects. They are widely used to kill fleas on cats and dogs.
Solutions of preparations for treating poultry are used in the following concentrations.
1 liter of Butox costs about 5 thousand rubles (at spring 2016 prices). To treat chicken fleas, you need to dilute 250 ml per 1,000 liters of water.
Treatment is carried out by spraying chickens from a sprayer. Evenly moisturize the plumage, while avoiding getting the medication into the eyes and nose if possible. When working, use protective equipment - a gauze bandage and rubber gloves.
To disinfect a small chicken coop, a regular hand-held garden sprayer will do.
Sprinkle the powders on each chicken individually and rub the product into the skin:
You can also use drops on the withers for dogs and cats. They are sold in pet stores. They should be applied according to the dosage based on the weight of the bird. The pipette contains an oil solution of the insecticide; it must be squeezed directly onto the skin in the area of the back of the neck - where the bird cannot peck it.
Within 12-24 hours, the insecticide will spread throughout the body and all symptoms will disappear. They use drops “Dana”, “Bars”, “Advantage”, “Clandestine”, “Frontline” and others.
After processing the birds, you need to disinfect the chicken coop. The bird is removed from the premises. The old bedding and nest material are sprayed with an insecticide solution, left for 2-3 hours and thrown away. This is necessary to kill the fleas and prevent them from spreading from the garbage.
Then the entire poultry house is treated again by spraying. Let us remind you that the accumulation of garbage indoors is unacceptable - it creates favorable conditions for the proliferation of parasites.
The photo shows a package of deltamerin powder for treating farm premises against fleas.
The consumption of the solution depends on the preparation, but on average it is 100 ml per m2 of treated surface (floor and walls). Read the instructions carefully before use!
You can use household chemicals to kill insects (fleas, cockroaches, bedbugs) and ticks. Liquid solutions in bottles - “Tetrix”, “GET”, “Cucaracha”, “Fufanon”. Their cost will be slightly higher than that of pyrethroid-based animal products.
After treatment with preparations against chicken fleas, the room is kept closed for at least 4 hours, and preferably a day. Then the chicken coop is ventilated, and the feeders and drinkers are rinsed with water. It is not necessary to treat the paddock, since fleas live in warm and humid places.
During the hot season, for prevention, they monitor the condition of the sand baths and regularly mow the grass and remove trash from the yard.
The corners of the chicken coop should be treated especially carefully for fleas.
Fleas can persist in the external environment for a long time, so repeated treatment will be required after about 2 weeks.
To repel fleas and other parasitic insects, you can hang tansy or wormwood brooms in the chicken coop. Insects do not like the smell of potato and tomato tops, geranium and lavender.
The issue of poultry disease is quite acute. Their bodies, just like ours, are capable of subtly responding to the slightest changes around us: dampness, cold and bad food are the most common causes of chicken diseases. Let's look at what poultry suffers from and what the symptoms are in more detail.
Each chicken disease has its own origin. They may or may not be contagious. But the main thing is that they have a place to be, which means that being prepared for their appearance and further treatment is the responsibility of every poultry farmer. Let's begin.
As can be understood from the very name of the disease, abdominal dropsy indicates a problem with an increased fluid content directly in the chicken’s stomach. The cause of this somewhat unpleasant, but not at all fatal disease may be improper functioning of the kidneys, liver or heart. But the most likely is a disrupted water-salt metabolism in the bird’s body.
Significant increase in the bird's belly: it is difficult for it to move and most of the time it prefers to sit. Attempts to palpate the belly will make it clear that it is quite tense: constant heaviness negatively affects the active life of poultry. As a result, venous blood in the body stagnates.
Pierce the abdominal wall with a large-diameter needle, having previously sterilized it, and pump out the liquid manually. Add greens high in vitamins to the bird’s daily diet. Diuretics sold in any pharmacies also work well.
It manifests itself in problems with the musculoskeletal system: the chicken loses the desire to lay eggs and move, over time the legs fail, and the appetite disappears. Also sure symptoms are bloating and inflammation of the goiter.
The appearance of the disease is often directly related to metabolic disorders in the chicken body and improper absorption of the protein component of food.
The disease can be prevented and cured by transferring sick chickens to a protein-free diet with the inclusion of special vitamin supplements in the bird’s daily diet: giving it more fortified greens, carotenoids, and vitamins A.
According to research institutes conducting relevant research, pasteurellosis is an incurable disease in the later stages and leads to the death of a chicken colony no less often than always. It follows from this that it simply does not make sense to treat an aggravated form of infection, which means pasteurellosis must be forestalled and prevented in advance.
Determining the symptoms of pasteurellosis is not an easy task: the infection occurs very quickly (with an exacerbation, the chicken literally lives out its last 6-8 hours) and most of the time it is invisible to the naked eye. But when the disease gets closer to its apogee, chickens develop an elevated body temperature, accompanied by wheezing and heavy breathing. Blue comb and ruffled feathers also clearly indicate illness, as does mucus discharge from the nose.
In the case where pasteurellosis was identified at the initial stage, you can try to cure it. To do this, an infected chicken is given strong antibiotics through injections.
Another fairly common disease is observed in chickens: coccidiosis. The cause of the appearance is coccidia - parasites that prefer the intestines of birds as a place for the reproduction of colonies. Transmitted by rodents and other representatives of feathered fauna through food and/or water.
Infected chickens exhibit the following symptoms of incipient disease:
Incubation of a colony of parasites in a chicken’s body lasts about 5-7 days, but by paying attention to the symptoms in time, you can prevent the development of the disease. The correct approach is to feed the chicken with feed containing some chemicals and antibiotics. Such compound feeds are prepared by competent people and high-precision equipment - incorrect handicraft distribution of the proportions of the medicine can lead to nothing.
Prevention of the disease consists of periodic and timely processing of equipment, utensils and premises. It is also preferable to get rid of all rodents in the chickens' habitat.
Tuberculosis is an unpretentious disease and can easily be transmitted from one type of living being to another. Unfortunately, poultry is no exception to the rule. This means that the disease must be prevented and, if possible, everything necessary must be done so that the chicken class does not become a carrier of the infection. At the stages of initial development, tuberculosis is quite problematic to determine without conducting appropriate examinations. Often the cause of the disease is the droppings of another bird that has been infected.
Symptoms of the late stage of infection are the appearance of nodules in the oral mucosa, skin lesions, and swelling of the joints. Do not under any circumstances eat the meat of this bird, and do not give it to others: the chicken should be slaughtered and the body burned to prevent further spread of the infection.
Worms are, of course, not the name of the disease itself, but its origin. Worms in chickens can be completely different, which means that the symptoms accompanying their penetration into the bird’s body can vary greatly. These parasites are one of the most unpleasant afflictions for any living creature. Worm eggs enter the body mainly through water and food, where they reproduce.
The most common diseases caused by worms in chickens are heterokidosis and ascariasis. The appearance of worms in a chicken’s body does not lead to anything good: pets experience severe exhaustion and neurosis; the worms themselves can not only damage internal organs, but even leave cracks in the small intestine. Anemia and toxicosis are also observed.
Prevention of worms is not a difficult task: just carefully monitor where food and water gets into the chicken coop; maintaining cleanliness and heat treatment of the room are also extremely important. From time to time, the room should be treated with chemicals: 5% xylonaftha solution, ash alkali solutions or 3% caustic soda.
Chickens should be treated for worms carefully - the procedure may take longer than you might expect. Piperazine, hygromycin and phenothiazine are some of the most effective treatments for worm-infected poultry.
In addition to worms, there is another, no more pleasant, parasitic life form that sprinkles ailments left and right: the tick. Chicken mites can live not only under the skin of a bird, but also in the larynx, ears and even trachea, causing coughing and tickling.
The above-described cough and tickling are not the only symptoms of a tick in a bird’s body: in cases where a tick penetrates the ear, you may notice that the bird shakes its head from time to time, trying to “throw out” the annoying parasite. Inflammation is also a sure concomitant sign of a tick.
The consequences of tick infection in poultry are fraught not only with problems for chickens - ticks are also dangerous for humans. If a bird mite is detected, you should immediately thermally treat the chicken habitat, having first thoroughly cleaned it: boiling water is a good option, but the flame of a gas burner or blowtorch is much more reliable.
Treatment of infected individuals is possible thanks to various means: 7% Sevin powder, ecofleece and pyrethrum are first-class means in the fight against mites for the health of the bird. Preventing the appearance of mites is not difficult - they really don’t like odorous plants, such as celery, parsley, mint and garlic.
Not all diseases of laying hens are mentioned here, but we tried to mention the most common ones and give advice on how to counteract them. The main thing is to monitor how your pets feel, try to pay attention even to the little things: it is likely that you will be able to prevent the sad fate of a chicken coop or even an entire incubator by simply noticing minor symptoms. Keeping poultry houses clean, periodically treating the premises with chemically active substances, proper diet and providing comfortable conditions are the key to the well-being of the entire bird colony.
In addition, an important postulate is the separate keeping of young and adult chickens: thereby, the risk of signs of disease in broilers, whose immune system is weaker than that of adult chickens, is significantly reduced.
Poultry farming, gout, cause of gout, signs of gout
Gout is a metabolic disorder that results in excessive accumulation of uric acid and its salts in the blood, organs and tissues. All types of poultry are affected, most often chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, pheasants, pigeons, and parrots. The cause of gout is a high level of acids and peroxides in feed, as well as poisoning by toxins, pesticides, nitrates, table salt, restriction of movement, hypothermia, etc. It is especially difficult when there is a lack of vitamin A in the body, and the disease develops gradually.
With gout, the serous membranes, internal organs and joints are most often affected. In chickens, the clinical signs of gout are mild. In the acute stage, intestinal upset, white feces are observed, the general condition worsens, egg production and egg hatchability decrease. The articular form is manifested by impaired movement, swelling of the joints and increased local temperature.
The hocks and toe joints are most often affected. In adult turkeys, the articular form of gout predominates. In geese, the disease is accompanied by diarrhea, difficulty breathing, and often sudden death.
In the visceral form, salts are deposited on the surface of the internal organs and the walls of the thoraco-abdominal cavity in the form of a thin coating or solid gypsum deposits and in the thickness of the organs in the form of white foci. The ureters contain a white mucous mass, and stones form from salts. In the articular form, the tendons are affected, and chalky deposits accumulate in the joint cavities. In case of widespread gout disease in chickens, it is necessary to exclude infectious bronchitis and decreased egg production syndrome, in which kidney damage is common.
The required set of acids is provided by including 3-4 types of grains in the diet. Choline chloride and other vitamins B and E are introduced into high-calorie diets. On farms, to prevent gout, poultry can be given yeasted feed, as well as root tubers with the addition of feed lime.
Chickens are susceptible to many diseases. The main diseases of chickens: infectious, non-infectious, can be chronic. Chickens are also susceptible to many parasitic organisms. Chickens, like any living beings, can have burns, hypothermia, or have any inflammation or vitamin deficiency.
To prevent diseases of chickens and birds, it is necessary to constantly examine and monitor their behavior.
Good health of chickens is indicated by constant activity, excellent appetite, the bird constantly drinks water, but within normal limits. The plumage must be in good condition: shiny and smooth, the feathers not ruffled. Healthy chickens stand steadily on their feet, and there is no falling over on one of the sides.
When examining domestic chickens to identify the disease, first of all you should pay attention to:
If any pathology is detected, the first thing to do is to isolate the sick chicken from the general flock. This way you will avoid infecting the entire livestock if it turns out that the disease is infectious. After this, it is necessary to make a correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment. The best thing, of course, would be to show the bird to a veterinarian. However, if this is not possible, then you need to act independently.
Chicken diseases are divided into contagious and non-contagious. Of course, the most dangerous are infectious ones, as they can lead to mass death of livestock. In this regard, non-communicable diseases are less dangerous, but they cannot be ignored. Contagious and non-contagious diseases, in turn, are divided into several more categories, which are listed below.
Below is an almost complete list of chicken diseases, divided into specific types of diseases. After a description of each disease, the main symptoms, treatment and prevention of the disease will be attached. Armed with this knowledge, you will know how to treat chickens with this or that disease, without going to the veterinarian.
Infectious diseases of chickens are the most dangerous. Because they can cause mass death of your livestock. As a rule, such diseases are more difficult to treat. There are several types of infectious diseases:
All of the above diseases are dangerous in their own way and require a specific approach to treat them. Below is the entire list of contagious diseases of chickens, as well as their prevention, symptoms and treatment.
Let's start with the most unpleasant, dangerous, diseases that can kill the entire livestock - infectious diseases of chickens .
Today, there are many infectious diseases in chickens, which have different effects on the health of the bird. According to statistics, a larger proportion of livestock die from infections than from other diseases. Antibiotics are usually used as treatment.
Pseudo-plague. This disease is otherwise called Newcastle disease or atypical plague. This virus is transmitted by airborne droplets.
Symptoms. Symptoms of this disease: a lethargic and sleepy state, a kind of mucus in the mouth, the bird is breathing heavily, loose stools, coordination of movement is impaired, the neck is constantly stretched, the chicken turns over on its belly.
Treatment. Treatment in this case is not possible. A sick chicken must be immediately isolated from the general flock and slaughtered.
Prevention. As part of preventive measures, it is necessary to maintain hygiene in the poultry house, provide only good feed, get vaccinated, and burn the chicken that died from this disease.
Pullorosis (Typhoid). This disease greatly damages the stomach of chickens. Transmitted by airborne droplets. Mostly adult chickens are susceptible to this disease.
Symptoms. Chickens show lethargy, inactivity, lack of appetite, and rapid breathing. Chickens constantly drink water. The birds have a drooping and pale crest. Saggy belly.
Treatment. For this disease, chickens are treated with antibiotics, such as ampicillin. The medicine should be diluted with water and administered intramuscularly to chickens or given to drink along with water. You can also forcefully inject the medicine.
Prevention. If this disease is detected, it is necessary to immediately isolate the sick bird from the general flock and disinfect the poultry house. Also, as a preventive measure, you should constantly maintain hygiene in the chicken coop at the proper level.
Salmonellosis (Paratyphoid). This disease is caused by harmful bacteria Salmonella. This is a very dangerous disease that affects almost all internal organs of chickens. Salmonellosis is transmitted by airborne droplets. Attention: under no circumstances should you eat raw eggs from sick chickens, as there is a possibility of contracting this disease. Salmonella are killed only by heat treatment. There is a chronic form of salmonellosis.
Symptoms. Weakness, breathing is difficult, the chicken has no appetite, the eyes are watery, the chickens are thirsty. Sick chickens exhibit loose stools with foamy discharge. Also, in chickens susceptible to this disease, inflammation of the cloaca and swelling of the joints are observed.
Treatment. Treatment should be with furazolidol, adding 1 tablet to 3 liters of water. Treatment should be carried out within 20 days. You can also give chickens streptomycin, adding it to the feed - 100,000 units. per 1 kilogram of feed.
Prevention. A sick bird must be isolated from the general population, thereby protecting other chickens from infection. It is also constantly necessary to maintain hygiene in the chicken coop. Periodically give the chickens water with a solution of potassium permanganate. You should definitely get vaccinated against this disease; today this is the most effective preventive measure.
Staphylococcus. This infection provokes inflammation of the joints, cloaca, and also affects the skin of chickens. It is transmitted by airborne droplets, as well as through food, water and bedding.
Symptoms. The appetite completely disappears, the bird is exhausted, it is tormented by thirst, the chickens are limping all the time. This infection severely affects the intestines, so the bird suffers from diarrhea. The joints in the legs are inflamed and painful. Gangrene of the wings may occur.
Streptococcosis. This is an infectious disease that affects the internal organs of birds.
Symptoms. Sick chickens experience weakness, depression, loss of appetite, and the bird quickly loses weight. The body temperature rises, convulsions and inflammation of the joints are observed. The intestines and stomach work poorly. Egg production is greatly reduced.
Treatment. Give the bird antibiotics.
Prevention. Immediately isolate a sick chicken from the general flock. Maintain hygiene in the poultry house and properly maintain the bird.
Tuberculosis. Tuberculosis affects all internal organs, especially the lungs of birds. This infection occurs due to the lack of sanitation that is allowed when keeping birds. Transmitted by airborne droplets.
Symptoms. Chickens are inactive, quickly become exhausted and lose weight. They become pale, the comb and earrings wrinkle. The wings hang down. During illness, egg production decreases to zero.
Treatment. Treatment in this case is impossible. Sick birds will need to be slaughtered.
Prevention. For prevention, it is necessary to maintain hygiene in the poultry house.
Smallpox (Diphtheria). This infectious disease is very acute and severe. However, there are also chronic forms of the disease. It is transmitted not only from bird to bird, but also from various rodents and insects.
Symptoms. Chickens show weakness, the bird quickly loses weight. When feeding, he has difficulty swallowing. Red spots appear on the skin.
Treatment. Treatment is possible only in the initial stages. The affected areas of the skin must be constantly lubricated with furatsilin solution. The bird also needs to be treated with antibiotics.
Prevention. For prevention, it is necessary to maintain hygiene in the poultry house and create the correct feeding ration. The most effective preventative measure is vaccination.
Psittacosis (Parrot disease). This infectious disease is very dangerous for chickens. It has a negative effect on the respiratory system, digestive tract, and nervous system. Chickens are usually infected through droppings and air.
Symptoms. A sick bird has no appetite and loses weight very quickly. There is rapid breathing and heartbeat, and wheezing when breathing. Sick chickens become inactive. Loose stools appear. The eyes become inflamed. Mucus flows from the nose.
Treatment. Antibiotics are very effective in treating this disease. Sick birds should also be given water with the addition of a solution of potassium permanganate. You need to add more vitamins to your diet.
Prevention. Maintain hygiene indoors. If there are sick chickens in the flock, healthy ones should be given antibiotics for 2-3 days as a preventive measure. Equipment and premises should also be disinfected.
Omphalitis. This disease is characterized as inflammation in the navel and umbilical ring. The reason for its occurrence lies in unsanitary conditions of detention.
Symptoms. Sick chickens show weakness. Strange formations around the navel, the stomach is inflamed. Sick birds give up staying crowded in a flock.
Treatment. As a treatment, use antibiotics, disinfect the affected areas around the navel with a disinfectant solution.
Prevention. As a preventative measure, maintain proper hygiene in the premises.
Neurolymphomatosis. This disease is primarily characterized as a disease of the nervous system. Neurolymphotosis also greatly affects other organs.
Symptoms. Loss of appetite, rapid weight loss, blindness, anemia of the scallop and catkins. Paralysis of any part of the body.
Treatment. Treatment of chickens with this disease, unfortunately, is impossible.
Prevention. As a preventive measure, it is necessary to get vaccinated. Also, a sick chicken must be isolated from the general herd as quickly as possible and slaughtered.
Respiratory microplasmosis. This disease affects the respiratory system of chickens. Basically, chickens get sick from it due to poor ventilation in the room or due to poor feeding.
Symptoms. Breathing is very difficult, wheezing is heard. Mucus flows from the nose. Loose stools.
Treatment. Antibiotics must be used for treatment.
Prevention. For prevention, it is necessary to observe the correct housing and feeding conditions.
Leukosis in chickens. This disease causes an enlargement of the spleen and liver in chickens. Leukosis is a very dangerous infectious disease that can lead to mass death of birds.
Symptoms. Symptoms of this disease include exhaustion, poor appetite, diarrhea, and anemia.
Treatment. There is no point in treating leukemia.
Prevention. For prevention, it is necessary to carry out proper feeding and maintenance.
Colisepticemia (Colinfection). This infectious disease belongs to Escherichia coli. It can affect almost all internal organs of chickens: heart, liver, lungs, spleen, intestines, oviduct. This is a very dangerous disease for domestic chickens. The reason for the occurrence of this infection lies in the diet of the bird, as well as in the hygiene of its keeping.
Symptoms. The birds have no appetite and become lethargic. Sick chickens have an elevated body temperature. A sick chicken's breathing is very difficult, resulting in wheezing when inhaling and exhaling. Sick birds also suffer from thirst.
Treatment. Only antibiotics will be effective in treating this disease.
Prevention. As a preventative measure, it is necessary to normalize the diet of chickens and constantly adhere to basic rules when keeping poultry.
Coligranulomatosis. This infectious disease causes inflammation of the cecum. The liver and some areas of the skin are affected.
Symptoms. Sick chickens completely lose their appetite. The bird is losing weight very quickly. The chicken exhibits rapid breathing. Loose stools appear, the comb becomes pale. An infection can also cause shortness of breath.
Treatment. Chickens must be treated for this disease with antibiotics.
Prevention. As a preventive measure, it is recommended to get vaccinated.
Coccidiosis. This infectious disease causes very severe kidney damage in birds. Chickens can become infected only through food.
Symptoms. Appetite disappears, diseased bark patients lose weight very quickly. Diarrhea with bloody discharge. This disease is also characterized by inactivity of the bird. The comb and earrings turn white and become anonymized. The wings are constantly lowered.
Treatment. Sick birds are treated with antibiotics, as well as by adding fish oil to the diet.
Prevention. Keep the room clean, and also give the chickens only fresh and proven food. Also avoid dampness when visiting.
Classic plague. This infection is very dangerous for chickens. It inevitably affects all the internal organs of the bird.
Symptoms. Birds develop an elevated temperature, the head swells, and the comb dies. Loose stools may occur. The bird is very inactive, but convulsions may occur periodically.
Treatment. Treatment in this case does not make sense. If a sick bird is found in your chicken coop, it must be immediately isolated from the general flock.
Prevention. Get vaccinated as a preventative measure.
Encephalomyelitis. This infection has a negative effect on the bird’s nervous system. This is a very dangerous disease that leads to inevitable death. Transmitted by airborne droplets, through food and bedding.
Symptoms. A sick chicken becomes inactive, and paralysis of various limbs may occur. Tremors occur in the muscles. Possible diarrhea.
Treatment. There is no cure for this disease.
Prevention. As a preventative measure, follow the rules of maintenance, hygiene and feeding.
Sinusitis (Flu in chickens). This disease affects the upper respiratory tract. Transmitted by airborne droplets.
Symptoms. Sick birds have difficulty breathing and can hear wheezing. Mucus periodically flows from the nose. Convulsions may occur.
Treatment. Sick chickens should be treated with Terramycin. Antibiotics also help well.
Prevention. For prevention, give chickens a lot of green feed, as well as maintain the norm of vitamins in the diet.
Laryngotrachiets. The disease leads to damage to the upper respiratory tract in chickens. Method of transmission: from sick birds by airborne droplets.
Symptoms. Breathing is very difficult and wheezing can be heard from the chest. Coughing up blood. A sick chicken keeps its beak open all the time. Spasms may occur from time to time. Photophobia is also observed.
Treatment. Aerosol use of antibiotics. A solution of potassium permanganate must be added to the water.
Hemophilosis. (Runny nose in chickens). Hemophilosis is a kind of runny nose in chickens, which is characterized by inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. The main causes are: a very low content of vitamins in the diet and a draft in the room.
Symptoms. Chickens lose weight quickly. A kind of mucus flows from the nose. Appetite completely disappears. Shortness of breath.
Treatment. A disinfectant solution should be added to drinking water.
Prevention. Maintain adequate vitamin levels in the poultry diet and maintain hygiene. Insulating the chicken coop.
Flu in chickens. This infectious disease affects all respiratory organs, as well as the gastrointestinal tract. This is a very dangerous disease, leading to death, the disease spreads very quickly among the livestock. Transmitted by airborne droplets.
Symptoms. Sick birds show weakness and lethargy. Possible loose stools. Temperature increase. Breathing is very difficult, wheezing can be heard. Chickens have a high temperature. The comb and earrings turn blue. During illness there is no egg production.
Treatment. Treatment is impossible.
Prevention. It is necessary to maintain proper housing and feeding conditions. If a sick chicken is found in your flock, it must be immediately isolated from the general herd and the premises must be disinfected.
Anaerobic diarrhea (Chicken diarrhea). This is a very common infection, due to which young chickens die en masse. Only newborn chickens are susceptible to this disease.
Symptoms. Diarrhea and loose stools for a long time. Cramps. Sick chickens are cold and crowded together.
Treatment. Treatment is impossible.
Prevention. As a preventive measure, maintain hygiene in places of detention. Give chickens to drink a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
Trichomoniasis (flagellate infection). Quite a dangerous and unpleasant disease. Chickens usually become infected through poor, low-quality food, as well as through drinking water.
Symptoms. Sick chickens show severe depression, the bird is inactive. The beak is constantly open. Wings down. The plumage is glued.
Treatment. As a treatment, use a solution of trichopolum. They should be given this solution to drink. You should also massage the goiter daily.
Prevention. As a preventive measure, observe maintenance standards. The diet should contain enough vitamins and fish oil.
Infectious diseases of chickens are a very big problem for poultry farmers. Of course, it is best to prevent them from happening. And how to do it?
The best prevention of infectious diseases is timely prevention through vaccination. Vaccinations should be done against all the most common infectious diseases. However, vaccination is not always possible. Therefore, we recommend that you follow the rules written below.
1) An adult bird should not have any contact with the young.
2) Sick birds should be immediately isolated from the general flock to avoid spreading the infection.
3) If there is no point in treating, then it is best to slaughter the chickens, or even better, burn the carcass. Since some infectious diseases can be transmitted to humans through meat.
4) For healthy birds, it is necessary to carry out timely disinfection of the premises and equipment in it. A 2% formaldehyde solution is best suited for this.
Fungal diseases of chickens are not as dangerous as infectious diseases, but they should not be underestimated. Fungal diseases of chickens are contagious and are transmitted from bird to bird.
Fungal diseases of chickens are caused by harmful fungi, disease pathogens. Quite dangerous and unpleasant diseases that can lead to death and mass mortality of birds. For the most part, fungal diseases of chickens occur due to poor hygiene and poultry keeping rules. Fungal diseases, like infectious diseases, spread very quickly and affect livestock. Below will also be a list of fungal diseases indicating their symptoms, as well as treatment and prevention measures.
Ringworm in chickens (Favus, scab, trichophytosis). This disease is very dangerous for chickens. It spreads very quickly and usually leads to the death of the bird. This disease mainly affects adult birds. Causes severe damage to the skin, plumage and internal organs.
Symptoms. Strange white and yellow projections and formations appear on the comb and catkins. Sick chickens have severe difficulty breathing. Feathers and down fall out. The bird loses weight very quickly, loose stools are possible.
Treatment in this case is impossible.
Prevention. Properly house a bird. There must be a nutritious diet and hygiene in the premises.
Thrush (Candidiasis). The causative agent is a kind of fungus. This fungal disease severely affects the mucous membrane of the esophagus, goiter and stomach. This disease, as a rule, occurs due to the high density of poultry stocking indoors, due to a lack of vitamins A and B in the diet, and due to poor food.
Symptoms. The bird shows drowsiness and lethargy. No appetite.
Aspergillosis. This fungal disease primarily affects the respiratory system of the bird. This disease is very dangerous for chickens, especially if no treatment measures are taken.
Symptoms. A sick bird becomes very lethargic and weak, its feathers are ruffled. Nails and beak turn blue. The bird sneezes. Feathers fall out. Breathing is rapid, whistling and wheezing are heard. Mucus flows from the nose. Possible stomach upset and bloody droppings.
Treatment. Treatment measures include adding copper sulfate to water for two days.
Prevention. As a preventive measure, in order to prevent the disease, you should promptly disinfect the premises, avoid overcrowding in housing, and also do not neglect vitamins in the chickens’ diet.
Helminthic diseases in chickens occur due to parasites. These diseases are contagious and should be taken seriously. Below is a complete list of helminthic diseases to which chickens are susceptible.
Amidostomosis. The disease appears as a result of parasite damage to the muscular stomach. This disease is quite harmless with timely intervention.
Symptoms. The sick chicken is depressed and shows severe lethargy. Doesn't gain weight or grow. No appetite.
Treatment. Carbon tetrachloride or piperazine are very effective treatments.
Prevention. As a preventive measure, monitor hygiene in the chicken coop and give the birds only proven feed. Follow the correct feeding diet.
Capillaridosis. The causative agents of this disease affect the intestines. They enter through low-quality feed and not fresh water.
Symptoms. The main symptoms include bird drowsiness, apathy, lack of appetite, excessive thirst, and rapid exhaustion. You can also observe spasms of the tail and wings.
Treatment. If the disease is detected at a late stage, then treatment is pointless. If it is possible to identify the disease in the initial stages, then it is very effective to use a drug called phenothiazine; it is also recommended to add more vitamins to the bird’s diet.
Prevention. If a sick chicken is discovered, immediately isolate it from the general population. Disinfect the poultry house. To prevent the occurrence of this disease, it is necessary to follow the correct feeding diet and living conditions.
Syngamosis. The causative agent of this disease affects the respiratory tract, lungs and trachea.
Symptoms. Sick chickens have very poor appetite. They quickly lose weight. Possible wheezing when inhaling and exhaling.
Treatment. It is very effective to use iodine solution. It should be instilled into the mouth with a syringe, 1-2 drops at a time. Piperazine should be added to the feed (50 mg per 1 kilogram of weight). Increase the content of vitamins in the diet.
Prevention. As a preventive measure, follow all rules of keeping and feeding. Separate old hens from pullets. Periodic disinfection of the premises.
Ascariasis. Ascariasis is the name given to the presence of worm parasites in the intestines of chickens. The disease is very unpleasant, but responds well to treatment.
Symptoms. The main symptoms include lack of normal appetite, rapid exhaustion, and the bird becomes inactive. A sick chicken does not shed. Egg production decreases at first and then stops altogether. Paralysis and convulsions may occur. Intestinal blockage is also possible.
Treatment. Hygromycin B, carbon tetrachloride and finotiazine are used to treat poultry. The selected drug is fed to sick chickens along with feed.
Prevention. As a preventative measure, follow the feeding and maintenance standards for chickens. Carry out timely disinfection of the poultry house.
Cestadosis. Ceztadosis causes damage to the stomach by parasites - tapeworms.
Symptoms. The main symptoms of the disease include lack of appetite, rapid exhaustion, apathy and convulsions.
Treatment. Give Felixan to sick chickens.
Prevention. As a preventative measure, follow the general rules for feeding and keeping chickens.
Drepanidoteniasis. This disease is characterized by infection of chickens with tapeworms.
Symptoms. Sick chickens have an upset stomach and frequent diarrhea. Coordination of movements is lost. There is paralysis. The chicken squats on its tail.
Treatment. For treatment, chickens are given finalasal at the rate of 0.3 grams per 1 kilogram of weight. Also microsal at the rate of 0.4 grams per 1 kilogram of live weight. Ordinary garlic is also a very effective medicine, but before giving it to chickens, you should make a paste. It is very good, in addition to everything, to feed a sick chicken with pumpkin seeds.
Prevention. As a preventive measure, it is necessary to comply with the standards for feeding and keeping chickens. Burn birds that die from drepanidoteniasis.
Histomoniasis (typhlohepatitis). Histomoniasis is a parasite infection of the liver and cecum.
Symptoms. The bird feels depressed. No appetite. Exhaustion sets in quickly. Feathers are ruffled. The head turns blue.
Treatment. Effective treatment with furazolidone. Also, during treatment you should add more vitamins to your diet.
Prevention. As a preventive measure, give chickens more vitamin A.
Hymenolepididosis. The parasites of this disease have a very damaging effect on the intestines.
Symptoms. Sick chickens experience severe stomach upset, loose stools and constipation. The nervous system is affected, paralysis and convulsions are possible.
Treatment. Sick chickens are treated with Kamala, Frilixan and Arecoline.
Prevention. Observe maintenance and feeding measures.
Heteracidosis. This disease is characterized by parasitic worms in the cecum.
Symptoms. Stomach upset, loose stools, constipation. A sick bird has no appetite, and therefore rapid exhaustion occurs. Reduced egg production.
Treatment. Treatment is with phenythiosine.
Laying eggs without shells. This disease is one of the contagious diseases of chickens, since the laying of eggs without shells occurs due to the parasitism of a trematode in the chicken’s body.
Symptoms. The chicken becomes lethargic, lays eggs without shells, and is inactive. The gait becomes similar to that of a duck. The cloaca becomes inflamed. The plumage is ruffled.
Treatment. Treatment should be with carbon tetrachloride, based on the calculation of 5 mg per head. It is also effective to use hexachloroethane based on the calculation of 0.3-0.5 grams per head.
Prevention. It is necessary to comply with the basic standards for keeping and feeding birds, as well as regularly clean the poultry house.
Pere-eaters. Pere eaters are small insects that parasitize the skin of chickens. Birds become infected from sick birds. Beetles feed on dead skin, feathers and down. Read more about feather eaters, as well as how to get rid of them, in this article - feather eaters in chickens.