Diseases in chickens have symptoms that are similar in most cases. It is very difficult to determine exactly what a chicken suffers from without special education. Many diseases are treatable, but the fear of doing something wrong and the high cost of funds are outnumbered by slaughtering birds.
Help for birds is needed with the following signs:
- lethargy;
- decreased physical activity;
- breathing is difficult, making unusual sounds;
- mucous discharge;
- inflammation near the eyes or respiratory tract;
- loss of feathers or their unhealthy appearance;
- indigestion, the onset of diarrhea.
Infectious and parasitic diseases are distinguished, the causative agents of which are viruses or parasites, respectively.
Classification of diseases
In veterinary practice, several categories of avian diseases are distinguished:
- Infectious - these pathologies are caused by infection with pathogenic pathogens, among which there are viruses and bacteria. These disorders are characterized by a high level of contagiousness. As a consequence, there is the possibility of outbreaks of infections that can lead to dangerous consequences. This group also includes diseases that are dangerous to humans.
- Parasitic - these pathologies occur in chickens after various invasions by parasites. Worms, feather eaters, ticks lead to their development. These diseases are also classified as contagious. They are rapidly spreading among chickens.
- Non-infectious - diseases from this group arise due to the wrong choice of diet. Violation of sanitary conditions in the poultry house also leads to them. In this case, episodic lesions of individuals are observed. These diseases do not pose a threat to the rest of the herd.
Why do chickens sneeze
There are times when chickens cough, wheeze, and sneeze often. Basically, this symptom appears with diseases of the respiratory tract.
Diseases that cause sneezing:
- infectious bronchitis,
- bronchopneumonia,
- mycoplasmosis,
- colibacillosis.
Important! If symptoms of infectious or viral diseases are found in a bird, it is necessary to immediately isolate it from other individuals.
Chicken is susceptible to various infections, which in most cases do not respond to treatment. Experienced farmers prefer to prevent disease through vaccinations.
Infectious diseases
Such pathologies appear when feathered pathogenic microorganisms enter the body. Viruses, bacteria, fungi become the causes of diseases. The spread of infection occurs through water, food, waste.
Laryngotracheitis
This virus primarily affects the respiratory system of chickens. At the same time, birds develop a persistent cough with mucous and bloody impurities, inflammatory lesions of the larynx, respiratory failure, conjunctivitis. There is also a risk of wheezing in the lungs and impaired laying.
In almost all situations, death is due to suffocation. There are no effective ways to eliminate the disease. Antibiotics are used to avoid complications.
Gumboro disease
This pathology is not characterized by obvious manifestations. It is most commonly found in chicks less than 5 months old. In this case, there is an inflammatory lesion of the lymphatic system and the bursa.Hemorrhage also occurs in the stomach and pecking of the cloaca.
Death occurs on day 4. There are no effective treatments. Disposal of individuals must be carried out in a special place.
Bird flu
This disease affects the entire herd. In this case, all individuals die. There are no effective medicines. Symptoms of this viral infection include the blue color of the scallop and earrings, diarrhea, fever, and lethargy. Also, birds become drowsy, they have a deterioration in respiratory functions and wheezing. A viral infection can mutate and infect humans.
Newcastle disease
The infection is spread by airborne droplets. Infection can be carried out through droppings, water, feed. In this case, all organs are affected. Symptoms of the disease include croaking sounds, impaired appetite, and impaired swallowing functions. At the same time, mucus accumulates in the bird's beak and nose.
As the pathology progresses, the chickens begin to run in a circle, their scallop turns blue. Then the birds die. They need to be burned or sprinkled with lime. Acute forms of pathology can be transmitted to people. There are no effective treatments. The livestock dies in 3 days.
Smallpox
This virus is spread by sick birds, parasites, and rodents. Blood-sucking insects can also be a source of infection. At the same time, the skin of the birds is covered with red rashes that resemble warts. After some time, they acquire a yellow-gray color. In this case, the mucous membranes of the oral cavity are covered with a white bloom. The disease is accompanied by damage to the eyes and internal organs. Infected chickens have trouble swallowing. They develop weakness and an unpleasant odor from the respiratory system.
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Treatment should be started immediately when pathology is detected. In the later stages, infected birds must be destroyed. To eliminate the disease, skin treatment with furacilin is used. Chickens need to be given tetracyclines inside.
Mycoplasmosis
It is a chronic respiratory infection that affects birds of all ages. It is not dangerous for people. Pathology is accompanied by sneezing, coughing, wheezing. There is also a risk of respiratory failure. In birds, eyes turn red, and liquid flows from the nose. Diarrhea is sometimes observed. Sick birds should be destroyed, and the rest should be given antibiotics.
Colibacillosis
The pathology is associated with Escherichia coli. It affects not only chickens, but also other birds. For young individuals, an acute course of the disease is characteristic. Adult birds are faced with the chronization of the process. In this case, there is a fall on the paws, weakness, impaired appetite, severe thirst, diarrhea, and respiratory failure.
Infectious bronchitis
Young birds are faced with respiratory damage. In adults, reproductive organs are affected. At the same time, egg-laying decreases or completely stops. The development of the disease is due to infection with the virion virus. With this pathology, there is a cough, respiratory failure, mucous discharge from the nose. Birds lose their appetite. It is impossible to cope with bronchitis. Vaccination will help protect you from it.
Marek's disease
This viral infection is paralysis of birds. It is caused by the herpes virus. Ordinary disinfectants help to cope with the problem. The development of pathology is accompanied by obvious lesions of the nervous system, paralysis, blindness. The virus is considered to be very persistent. The incubation period lasts 5 months. Vaccination helps to avoid pathology.
Salmonellosis
This pathology can be acute or chronic. To a greater extent, chickens suffer from it. The manifestations of the disease include respiratory failure, general weakness, swelling of the eyes and eyelids, lacrimation. Vaccination helps to avoid pathology. For treatment, Furazolidone is used.
Pasterrellez
Young chickens are more susceptible to the disease. It can be acute or chronic. The manifestations of pathology include general weakness, decreased physical activity, diarrhea. For treatment, sulfamide preparations are used. Prevention consists in timely vaccination.
Pullorosis
This pathology affects adults and young individuals. The first symptom of the disease is diarrhea. Pathology spreads by airborne droplets. At first, it is acute, and then becomes chronic. The pathology is characterized by general weakness, decreased motor activity, yellow stools, and rapid breathing. Sick birds lose their appetite and are very thirsty. They can fall on their feet or back. For treatment, antibacterial drugs are used.
Bird diphtheria and bird pox
Both of these diseases are caused by the same cause, the so-called a filterable virus... The causative agent of this disease is so small that it passes (is filtered) through the walls of a porcelain vessel. Its infectious origin enters the bird's body either through the digestive tract, causing diphtheria, or through wounded skin, causing bird pox.
Bird diphtheria symptoms and treatment
Avian diphtheria is expressed in inflammation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx, tongue and beak corners with the deposition of films on these mucous membranes. This inflammation of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity is accompanied by a runny nose and inflammation of the orbital cavity. The eyelids of such a sick bird are mostly closed. Before a strong development of the inflammatory process in the pharynx, sick birds are struck by the fact that their general condition is not, as it were, depressed. Sometimes the appetite even persists temporarily. Only when the involvement of the pharynx makes swallowing difficult is loss of appetite noticed. When removing film deposits from the mucous membrane of the pharynx, the mucous membrane of the pharynx bleeds heavily. Sometimes this inflammatory diphtheria process spreads to the lungs and intestines.
Bird pox symptoms and treatment
Smallpox of birds is expressed by the formation of warty formations of a pearlescent color on the scalp devoid of feathers. The size of these formations is usually from a millet grain to the size of a pea. Sometimes a bird becomes ill with both forms of the disease at the same time. The course of the disease is chronic from 1 month to 2. In the acute form, death can occur in the first 6 days. Depending on the degree of spread of the inflammatory process, mortality is extremely different: from 3-20%, on average, sometimes reaches 70%.
Treatment for poultry pox, it is enough to lubricate the nodules daily with glycerin, salicylic collodion, boric petroleum jelly. With diphtheria, it is necessary to lubricate the mucous membrane of the pharynx daily with a 1% solution of creolin in a mixture of equal parts of glycerin and water, a mixture of equal parts by weight of tincture of iodine and glycerin. Films should be removed only in cases where they are easily removed and when the diseased mucous membrane, after removing the films, produces slight bleeding. Films are removed with a cotton swab wound on a stick. The bleeding areas of the mucous membrane of the pharynx are lubricated with iron sesquichloride or the above mixture of tincture of iodine and glycerin. The glued eyelids are soaked in warm water and washed with a 2% boric acid solution. With a simultaneous bowel disease, 1% solutions of tannin or ferrous sulfate are given orally or in pills made from bread and butter (pigeons 0.1 - 0.3, chickens 0.3 - 0.5, geese 0.5 - 2.0 per reception). Treatment should continue until the birds are fully recovered. If the bird is not cured, then it may turn out that it will serve as a source of the spread of this disease. For diphtheria of chickens and smallpox of birds, the same precautions should be taken as for cholera of birds.
Invasive diseases
Invasive pathologies are caused by violation of the rules for keeping birds. There are many pathologies that differ in symptoms.
Knemidocosis
The pathology is caused by feather mites that live on the limbs. Chickens peck the habitat of parasites, which leads to the formation of a crust. For the treatment of the disease, the external use of Neocidon and Stomazan is indicated.
Pooh-eaters
These parasites lead to weight loss and cessation of laying. Insects settle on the head, neck and abdomen. For the treatment of chicken, dry bathing should be carried out. Dust and ash are used for this procedure.
Ascariasis
Pathology leads to the depletion of the chicken's body. The provoking factors are parasites that cause bloody discharge from the mouth and diarrhea. To cope with the disease, anthelmintics are used.
Heterakydosis
Pathology has no specific symptoms. It is provoked by nematodes. With this ailment, diarrhea, weight loss, and general weakness occur. To avoid the disease and cope with it, antihelminthic agents are prescribed.
Coccidiosis
Parasites enter the body of chickens from feed, water, from sick individuals or rodents. Symptoms of the pathology resemble an intestinal infection. At the same time, the chickens lose weight, and anemia occurs. For treatment, it is worth using sulfonamides or drugs from the nitrofuran series.
Non-communicable diseases
There are also a number of diseases in chickens that are not contagious. Often, due to an unbalanced diet, chickens can suffer from vitamin deficiency. Feathers fall out and body weight decreases.
Lack of vitamins can provoke leg diseases in chickens. Lameness, redness of the paws, inflammation of the joints, and the appearance of growths may occur.
Due to poor-quality feed, goiter obstruction and general malfunctions of the gastrointestinal tract can also occur.
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Fungal diseases
The reason for the development of such pathologies lies in infection with fungal microorganisms. To cope with the problem, you need to make an accurate diagnosis.
Aspergillosis
This pathology occurs in weakened chickens due to a violation of the conditions of detention. In this case, the respiratory organs are affected. Birds experience symptoms of shortness of breath, hoarseness when breathing. In this case, the earrings and scallop acquire a blue color. Mucus can flow from the nose, feathers fall out, diarrhea occurs with blood. Sick birds are recommended to be soldered with a solution of copper sulfate and given antifungal agents.
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Ringworm
This is a dangerous pathology that affects adults. The disease is accompanied by loss of feathers and skin exposure. In this case, the earrings and scallop are covered with yellow spots. After that, the respiratory organs suffer, and the bird dies. There are no effective treatments.
External parasites
Chickens can be affected by parasites that live on their skin and feathers. This leads to severe itching and sores.
Scabies
Pathology is provoked by one of the varieties of the tick. Parasites cause brittleness and loss of feathers in chickens and roosters. They also provoke inflammation of feather bags, anemia and pale skin, and a decrease in productivity. An emulsion of pyrethroids is used to remove ticks.
Bed bugs and fleas
These pests cause unpleasant sensations in chickens and spread dangerous diseases - plague and fever. They usually attack in the dark.At the same time, the birds are constantly itching, red wounds appear on their body, the appearance of feathers worsens.
Pooh-eaters
These parasites provoke the development of malofagosis. They feed on feathers and dead skin particles. Infection of chickens occurs through dirt or old feed. When infected, characteristic holes appear on the body of chickens, the weight of birds decreases, and their egg production worsens. It is quite difficult to cure the pathology. Most often, external drops are used - Bars or Frontline.
Chicken mite
These parasites spread dangerous diseases - cholera, borreliosis, plague. Infection occurs through wet litter. Chickens shake their heads when infected. Also, the hen shakes it in different directions. Due to the loss of blood, the crests and earrings become pale in color. Birds may die without treatment. Of insecticides, agents with permethrin are used.
How to tell if a chicken is sick?
If chickens are sick, they have specific manifestations. Many pathologies are accompanied by an increase in body temperature. There is also a change in the parameters of the pulse and respiration.
In addition, the following manifestations occur:
- the chicken moves a little;
- a cloudy liquid flows from the nose and eyes;
- the bird has a drooping tail;
- the chicken is ruffled and stretches its neck;
- the bird hides and lowers its head;
- the chicken becomes lethargic and does not move anymore;
- periodically opens the beak;
- stands with wings dangling.
Ammonia blindness
This eye disease in chickens most often occurs when kept out of range. At risk are farms where poultry is poorly cleaned. Another factor contributing to the appearance of the disease is the crowded content of chickens. The disease occurs due to the increased content of ammonia vapors in the air. Most often, the disease is diagnosed in young chickens aged 1 to 2 months.
When the first symptoms appear, it is better to invite a veterinarian, since ammonia blindness is very similar to other eye diseases in chickens. The bird has profuse nasal discharge. The eyes of the affected individual become inflamed, redden, and watery. Chickens begin to grow worse, they hardly eat and do not move.
For the treatment of young animals, feed containing a large amount of vitamin A can be added to the diet. If the farm conditions are poor, then it is necessary to carry out a general cleaning. Deep litter should be discarded. The farm is disinfecting walls, floors and ceilings. It is also advisable to change the bird's feeders and sippy cups. The perches can be simply washed and disinfected. After the general cleaning, workers put a new, clean mat on the floor.
Prevention of chicken diseases
To prevent dangerous diseases from appearing in the household, prevention should be carried out:
- Every month, clean the chicken coop and disinfect the walls, feeders, and inventory.
- Systematically treat cutaneous parasites and rodents in the house.
- Avoid contact of domestic chickens with wild birds.
- Keep new birds in quarantine for 1 month.
- Provide birds with optimal temperature parameters. They also need a balanced and varied diet.
- Provide chickens with sufficient walking area. It is important to avoid crowding. It is not recommended to keep birds of different ages together.
- If a disease is suspected, the bird should be isolated and a veterinarian should be consulted. The specialist will conduct diagnostic studies and select therapy.
- Observe your own safety measures. Some pathologies of chickens are dangerous to people, so you need to adhere to the rules of personal hygiene.
It is important to vaccinate in a timely manner, which helps protect birds from a variety of infections. Chickens are susceptible to a variety of infectious and parasitic infections. To avoid the development of pathologies, it is necessary to vaccinate birds in a timely manner and provide them with optimal conditions of detention.If infected birds are identified, they should be isolated and treatment immediately started.
Egg Drop Syndrome
It is a viral disease that predominantly affects layers. As a result, birds' productivity decreases and they begin to lay eggs of irregular shape, with soft shells or none at all (Figure 6).
Note: With the cage keeping, the risk of spreading the disease is significantly lower than with the floor.
Figure 6. Symptoms of the egg production syndrome
Egg loss syndrome does not kill birds. Recovered hens develop immunity, which lasts for a long time, but in order to prevent a repeated outbreak of the disease, birds need to be vaccinated.
You will learn full information about the body diseases of chickens from the video.
