There are a lot of diseases and parasites that can affect chickens. It is essential to learn to recognize your symptoms in order to quickly detect their onset. You will see that many diseases will manifest themselves in very similar clinical signs, so it is important to have a specialist veterinarian to arrive at a correct diagnosis. This professional will also be the ideal person to inform you about the best preventive measures.
Discover in this article Animal Expert the diseases of chickens and their symptoms. You will discover which ones most often affect chicks, adult birds and which ones can be transmitted to humans and vice versa. Read on to find out.
- Before you begin.
- It will be critical to review the symptoms of the disease in chickens.
- The most common manifestations that indicate you’re facing a possible disease are:.
Finally, a very common situation is to find plucked chickens and ask what disease they have. Well, this could be due to inadequate nutrition, pecking when chickens live in community, physiological changes, stress or certain diseases. In other words, lack of feathers is a symptom, not a disease in itself.
The first thing we should know is that the most common diseases in chickens, which we will see below, have very similar symptoms, which makes it easy to confuse them. That’s why it’s important to have the help and diagnosis of a specialist. In addition, these diseases are often highly contagious, so it is advisable to isolate chickens that look suspicious.
Therefore, in the diseases of free-range or farm chickens, prevention is essential before healing, and prevention can be done with good care, adequate housing and a balanced diet. In the following sections, we review chicken diseases and their symptoms.
Here are some of the diseases that most often affect chicks
Before we go over the diseases of chickens and their symptoms, let’s talk about chicken diseases, as some diseases are more common during this phase, such as Marek’s disease, which includes several highly contagious viral diseases that cause tumors and paralysis. There is a vaccine, but it is not always effective, so the best prevention is considered to be good hygiene and adequate living conditions. This disease is untreated, but the little ones can survive if they continue to eat and if we maintain, as far as possible, their immune system.
Coccidiosis is the leading cause of death for chicks. It is a highly contagious parasitic disease of the digestive tract, which causes stools to have blood. Another disorder that affects the digestive system is obstruction, which can prevent the bird from defecating. This occurs from stress, temperature changes, mishandling, etc. In such cases, it is necessary to readjust the diet and clean the sewer.
Chicks can also have a torticollis, so they can’t keep their heads up. Besides, they’ll walk backwards. This may be due to a vitamin B deficiency, which should be increased in the diet. It is necessary to check if the chick is able to eat so as not to be trampled by others, if it lives in community.
You may also notice diseases of chickens that affect the beak. These are deformities that appear to be genetic and worsen with growth. They can cause difficulty feeding, so it is necessary to ensure that the animal can eat, offer soft food, lift the feeder, etc. Alterations in the legs may also occur. For example, they can slide to one side, so the bird cannot walk or stand. This may be due to temperature errors in the incubator or a vitamin deficiency. A non-slip floor and a bandage to keep your legs together are part of the treatment.
Finally, other diseases of the chicks that arise are respiratory problems, to which the chicks are very sensitive, being able to develop a more or less serious condition. Eye and nasal discharge, coughing, and sneezing are the most common symptoms of these conditions. Maintaining hygiene is critical.
Remember that chicks are more delicate, which means that diseases can be more serious. For example, mites can even kill a chick because of the anemia they cause.
The eyes of chickens can become irritated and inflamed when they live in the midst of high levels of ammonia. This can also affect the sinuses and trachea, and if the situation does not resolve, the bird may go blind. Ammonia comes from the binding of uric acid from poultry manure with water, which forms an environment conducive to bacterial growth, which produces ammonia.
Marek’s disease can also affect the eyes if tumors develop in the iris. Other diseases, such as avian yaws, also affect the eyes when injuries occur near the eyes. Bacterial or fungal infections are also responsible for conjunctivitis as well as nutritional deficiencies. In addition, in the following sections we will see that in many diseases of the chicken there are eye symptoms.
Among the diseases of chickens that affect the legs, avian yaws stand out. This chicken disease and its symptoms are common and are characterized by blisters on the beards, legs or even throughout the body. These bubbles form scabs that eventually fall off. Rarely, it can also affect the mouth and throat, interfere with breathing and even cause the bird to die. There is a vaccine against avian yaws.
External parasites, such as bird mites, can go unnoticed and cause considerable damage, such as reduced spawning, slow growth, anemia, weakened immune system, weight loss, dirty feathers caused by parasite droppings and even death. That’s because the mites of the chicken feed on blood.
In addition, as some may live in the environment, treatment should also include this medium. It is one of the diseases of the roosters that can affect their ability to mate, as mites tend to cluster around the genital area. They are treated with acaricides found in different presentations, after diagnosis of the mite. They can be avoided by maintaining good hygiene.
The most common mites are the red mites of the species Dermanyssus galinae. Symptoms of this chicken disease are most important in warm climates. Knemidocoptes mutate mites can also appear on the legs of these birds. Thicken the skin, peel it, form scabs, can form exudates and red spots. In addition, the legs may appear deformed. This mite is spread by direct contact and is more common in older birds. There are several treatments. Your legs may be damaged.
The parasitosis mentioned in the previous section is sometimes confused with another leg disease, a type of arthritis called gout, caused by severe kidney failure. It is caused by the accumulation of urates in the joints, causing inflammation of the joints of the hocks and feet and causing a thigh that makes movement difficult. It usually affects both legs.
These buildups deform the limb and cause injury, which can cause gout to become confused with a disease caused by mites. This can occur due to a genetic problem or a diet with excess protein. It is most common in roosters and from four months. There is no cure, but it is possible to improve the condition of the bird to make its life more comfortable, encourage it to drink more water, change its diet especially in fruits and vegetables, etc.
As infestações por parasitas externos podem fazer parte das doenças em galinhas com sintomas difíceis de detectar, mas podem ser responsáveis por uma diminuição na postura dos ovos, afetar o crescimento, causar desnutrição e até a morte. O animal afetado emagrece, arranha e bica a pele e possui várias áreas com perda de coloração. Esses parasitas podem ser evitados observando regularmente o corpo da galinha para detectá-los. Os piolhos, ao contrário dos ácaros, só conseguem viver no hospedeiro. Eles são menos resistentes aos tratamentos do que os ácaros.
Among chicken diseases, symptoms of infectious bronchitis are relatively common. It may occur slightly, but in other cases it is serious. Affected chickens stop eating and drinking, have nasal and eye secretions, cough, gasping, and usually have difficulty breathing. In addition, hens stop laying eggs or lay deformed eggs. It is a disease for which there is a vaccine, although it does not prevent infection. It is treated with antibiotics and the bird should be kept in a warm environment.
A doença de Newcastle é uma doença viral que desencadeia sintomas respiratórios e nervosos e pode se apresentar com diferentes níveis de gravidade e sintomas como morte súbita, espirros, problemas respiratórios, secreção nasal, tosse, diarreia esverdeada e aquosa, letargia, tremores, torcicolo, caminhada em círculos, rigidez ou inchaço dos olhos e do pescoço. Esta doença das galinhas é muito contagiosa, assim como seus sintomas, por isso o melhor é investir na prevenção. Há uma vacina para a doença de Newcastle.
It is a disease triggered by Pastereulla multocida bacteria and can occur acutely or chronically. In the first case, this can mean the sudden death of the bird. Vascular damage, pneumonia, anorexia, nasal discharge, bluish coloration and diarrhea occur. This chicken disease and its symptoms mainly affect the elderly or still growing.
On the other hand, chronic presentation is characterized by the appearance of inflammations in which the skin may become gangrene. Neurological symptoms such as torticollis may also be observed. Vaccines are available for this disease. Treatment is based on the administration of antibiotics.
This chicken disease and its symptoms can lead to death within a few days. The clinical picture is similar to that of the flu. It is transmitted between birds of different species through contact with infected mucous membranes and stool, and can also be transported by insects, rodents or our clothing.
Symptoms include sudden death, purple coloration of the legs and ridges, soft-shelled or deformed eggs. In addition, the flu chickens get or stop putting, lose their appetite, become lethargic, produce mucous stools, cough, eyes and nose that runny, sneeze and walk wobbly. Treatment involves strengthening the bird’s immune system with a good diet, as it is a viral disease.
Another chicken disease is infectious nasal discharge, also called a cold or croup. Symptoms include swelling of the face, runny nose, eye discharge, sneezing, coughing, shortness of breath with wheezing and snoring, anorexia, change in crest color, or lack of spawning. This chicken disease and its symptoms can be treated with antibiotics because it is a bacterial disease, but it is not always possible to cure it.
Also known as mycoplasmosis, this chicken disease and its symptoms affect all poultry. It is characterized by sneezing, nasal and sometimes eye discharge, cough, breathing problems and swelling of the eyes and sinuses. It is treated with antibiotics because it is a bacterial disease.
Some diseases of chickens and their symptoms can be transmitted to humans and vice versa through contact with faeces, through air or, if necessary, by ingestion. We’re talking about zoonotic diseases. Famous bird flu rarely infects people, but it is true that this can occur. They shall be persons who have come into contact with birds, contaminated surfaces or who have eaten undercooked meat or eggs. The disease may be mild or severe and have flu-like symptoms. Pregnant women, the elderly, or people with weakened immune systems are at increased risk.
Newcastle disease can also affect humans and cause mild conjunctivitis. In addition, salmonellosis, a bacterial disease, can be contracted by eating contaminated eggs. Causes gastroenteritis. There are other bacteria, such as Pastereulla multocida, that can cause damage to the skin of people pecked or scratched by birds. There are also other diseases that birds can transmit, but their incidence is low. In all cases it is advisable to maintain hygiene and, if the chickens have symptoms of illness or if you have a condition without any other apparent cause, it is necessary to consult a veterinarian, i.e. the health professional of these animals.
This article is for informational purposes only, in Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case of any type of condition or discomfort.
If you would like to read articles similar to, we recommend that you visit our Other Health Problems section.