The most common chicken diseases, visible symptoms and treatments

Breeding birds at their summer cottage is the most common thing. However, all kinds of diseases of chickens bring considerable losses, anxiety and frustration to farmers. In order to somehow control the situation, it is important to have information. Knowingly they say that knowledge is power. Let's figure out what diseases most often occur in chickens. How to identify an ailment by symptoms. What methods of treatment and preventive measures to use. The answers to the questions will point the way to solving the problems.

Recognizing an invisible enemy

As you know, chicken diseases manifest themselves in different ways. The chickens do not have time to be born, but are already infected with parasites. Other birds get sick after some time when viruses and harmful microorganisms enter the body. In order to recognize the appearance of an ailment, summer residents inspect the domestic livestock of birds weekly.

They pay attention to the following points:

• the appearance of feathers;
• coordination of movement of individuals;
• limbs, joints;
• digestive organs (appetite, thirst quenching, bowel movements);
• breathing quality (absence of groans, wheezing, unnatural squeak).

Even the smallest disturbances in the appearance of birds indicate chicken diseases that should be treated in time. First of all, infected individuals are isolated from healthy livestock. Moreover, in one chicken coop do not keep birds of different ages. It is in such "companies" that foci of harmful infections arise.

If the symptoms found indicate the incurability of the disease, individuals are killed and burned in a fire.

For preventive purposes, the premises where the birds live are regularly treated with disinfectants. Thanks to this approach, the likelihood of getting an infection from the outside world is reduced. The procedure is also performed after the detection of an infected bird. An important aspect is quality care and balanced nutrition. Healthy individuals are immune, resistant to all kinds of viruses, parasites and microorganisms.

Chicken infectious diseases: symptoms, description, treatment

Any infection, as a rule, develops as a result of infection with microbes or viruses from the outside. The disease is transmitted from weakened individuals to healthy chickens. Sometimes this leads to an epidemic. As a result, all pets die.

In addition, there are infectious diseases of chickens, which are transmitted by other species of birds or animals. They affect the skin, liver, digestive system, eyes. Sometimes infected individuals pose a serious danger to humans. To prevent the mass death of poultry, consider the specific ailments of chickens.

Signs of typhus in birds (pullorosis)

According to experts, the infection is spread by airborne droplets. Infection occurs as a result of the multiplication of harmful bacteria that are dangerous to humans.

Pullorosis is determined by the visible symptoms:

• sluggish existence of an individual;
• squeezing the legs under you;
• incessant plaintive squeak;
• lowered wings;
• closed eyes;
• irregular breathing.

Usually infected young animals gather in groups, tightly pressing their bodies to one another. Against the background of the disease, the temperature rises, the scallop turns blue. Accordingly, appetite disappears. Stool completely changes its consistency.They resemble a frothy liquid gruel, colored yellow.

If typhus is not stopped in time, inevitable death awaits about 70% of individuals living in the same room.

Before proceeding with the treatment of pullorosis, you need to correctly diagnose. If it is confirmed, any of the popular antibiotics are prescribed:

• penicillin;
• ampicillin;
• neomycin;
• biomycin.

The preparations are mixed with water and the infected individuals are fed. In some cases, substances are administered intramuscularly. If there is an outbreak of an epidemic, sick layers are transferred to another room. In the general chicken coop, disinfection is carried out.

Attention - pseudo-plague or Newcastle disease

Like typhus, the infection is airborne. Sick animals and everything connected with them are often the source of infection. It could be feed, droppings and even the water they drink.

Newcastle disease affects:

• nervous system;
• respiratory system;
• intestines;
• stomach.

As a result, movement coordination is impaired in infected birds. They often fall on their stomachs, have an extremely wobbly gait. The virus causes changes in the digestive organs. In the mouth and nasopharynx of infected chickens, viscous mucus accumulates, which affects breathing. To catch air, birds are forced to open their beaks wide. At the same time, frequent wheezing is heard, which indicates the presence of pseudo-plague.

Birds refuse food and water because they suffer from profuse diarrhea. They lose their orientation and wander pointlessly around the territory of the chicken coop. The scallop becomes bluish in color.

Newcastle disease is not treatable. Therefore, birds with such symptoms are immediately killed, and the bodies are burned in a fire. The neglect of this drastic measure leads to the complete loss of the entire population of birds.

You can prevent infection with the help of special vaccines that are provided by veterinarians. Disinfection of a closed room where pets live will not be superfluous.

Smallpox

A dangerous disease of chickens is smallpox, transmitted from sick individuals, by various insects, parasites. Viruses get into common food and water. Their main target is the cornea. However, other internal organs of chickens subsequently suffer.

The disease is determined by the signs:

• heavy intermittent breathing;
• weakness, lack of movement;
• refusal to eat;
• the formation of red spots on the skin;
• yellow pockmarks appear on the earrings, crest and near the eyes.

If smallpox treatment is started early, a positive result is possible.

The first step is to treat the affected skin with antiseptics:

• furacilin;
• boric acid solution;
• glycerol;
• galazolin.

Further, tetracycline is added to the feed for 10 days. With a fresh decoction of chamomile, wash the throat (as far as possible). If the disease is neglected, the infected birds are disposed of, which is the most humane solution for both birds and humans.

Regular cleaning of the house helps to avoid various viral diseases of chickens, which are fatal.

Infectious pathology - salmonellosis

The causative agent of the disease is a pathogenic microorganism that instantly multiplies in the insides of the chicken. The disease is transmitted through water, food, eggs, droppings, infected individuals and air. The main symptom of salmonellosis is loose, frothy and copious bowel movements.

In addition, broilers have:

• swelling of the joints;
• general weakness;
• lack of appetite;
• irrepressible thirst;
• festering eyes;
• breathing problems;
• inflammation in the peritoneal region.

As a rule, infected birds practically do not grow, which immediately catches the eye. They disrupt the work of digestion and liver.

Routine treatment is usually prescribed by a veterinarian and lasts at least 20 days. Chickens are given:

• furazolidone;
• streptomycin;
• chlotetracycline;
• sulfonamide;
• levomytin.

Along with medicines, high-quality disinfection is carried out in the chicken coop.

Eggs from chickens infected with salmonellosis should not be eaten raw.Microorganisms die only when the product is heat treated.

Chicken tuberculosis

A dangerous virus enters the body of a healthy bird by airborne droplets. Most often, the disease occurs if chickens are kept in unsanitary conditions.

Infected individuals are noticeable for the following features:

• lethargy;
• drowsiness;
• pale scallop;
• lack of eggs;
• weight loss.

Chicken tuberculosis cannot be treated. All infected chickens are killed, and the carcasses are burned away from the residential area.

Regular cleaning of the premises where the birds live is a reliable prevention of disease.

Psittacosis (psittacosis)

The disease has a detrimental effect on the digestive, nervous and respiratory systems. Infection occurs through the air and through the fecal-oral route.

Symptoms of sick chickens appear in such moments:

• refusal of feed;
• hard breath;
• discharge of mucus from the nose;
• liquid bowel movements;
• sticking feathers.

Complex treatment begins with soldering off infected individuals with a manganese solution. In addition, the antibiotic tetracycline or drugs from the fluoroquinolone series are prescribed. Healthy looking chickens are also given medications for 14 days.

The poultry house and all equipment must be disinfected.

Colibacillosis

The disease affects not only chickens, but also ducks, turkeys and geese. The causative agent of the infection is E. coli, which adversely affects the entire organism of the individual. In adult chickens, the disease sometimes goes away in a chronic form. Young animals bear it especially hard.

Infected birds:

• fall to their feet;
• are very thirsty;
• feel physically weak;
• breathing heavily.

Visible evidence of colibacillosis is liquid bowel movements. Treatment is started after diagnosis. Infected chickens are prescribed ampicillin, sarafloxalin, biomycin.

Colibacillosis poses a real danger to human health.

Chronic and acute pasteurellosis

Often, the disease affects birds that are less than 3 months old. The infection is carried by small rodents and recovered individuals. It proceeds in both chronic and acute forms.

The main symptoms are:

• disruption of the liver;
• mucous discharge in the area of ​​the nasal openings;
• lack of appetite;
• wheezing in the lungs;
• discoloration of the scallop;
• constant thirst.

The best way to protect yourself from the disease is timely vaccinations. In this case, an anti-cholera serum is used. At an early stage of the development of the disease, young animals are given strong antibiotics.

Pasteurella can actively exist for a long time in the feed and feces of infected birds. Therefore, after slaughter, they are immediately burned.

Marek's disease (bird paralysis)

The infection is caused by a dangerous herpes virus. It spreads through the air. Remains in droppings and eggs. It takes root on litters that are used to raise a new generation of chickens. Most often, the paralysis affects chicks that are just over 3 weeks old. The incubation period of the infection lasts for 2-7 weeks. It depends on the immunity, age and even sex of the bird. The younger the individual, the faster Marek's disease develops.

The disease is determined by the following criteria:

• unnatural lameness;
• paralysis;
• change in the pupil of the eye (pear-shaped or star-shaped);
• the iris becomes gray.

After the first symptoms appear, the bird can live for a maximum of 16 months. Therefore, during this time, chickens have time to be used for cooking. The final diagnosis is made only in laboratory conditions.

There is no cure for bird paralysis. In order to prevent chickens being vaccinated.

Veterinarians advise against buying eggs and untested young animals in spontaneous markets.

Laryngotracheitis

As a rule, the virus infects the mucous membranes of birds and the respiratory organs. After infection, the disease develops in the body for about 30 days.

It manifests itself in symptoms:

• chronic cough with mucus and blood elements;
• inflammation in the larynx;
• shortness of breath;
• conjunctivitis;
• wheezing in the lungs;
• lack of eggs.

In almost all cases, death occurs as a result of suffocation. The percentage of bird mortality directly depends on the quality of the feed and the conditions of keeping.

To date, there are no treatment methods for laryngotracheitis. Veterinarians use antibiotics to stop complications and live vaccines.

Infectious bird infection - bronchitis

Basically, the disease is transmitted from sick birds. Microbes enter feces, mucus, which are available to healthy individuals. After infection, it takes about 10 days. Bronchitis in adult chickens can be seen in these aspects. A special whistle is heard when breathing. The bowel movements are green. Eggs are less often brought, but with soft shells.

Chickens infected with bronchitis are recognized by the following signs:

• refusal to eat;
• curvature of the neck;
• conjunctivitis;
• exhaustion;
• lowered wings.

Death affects over 30% of the young. Adult birds often survive. However, the level of egg production drops to 40%. The shell remains, as with bronchitis, of a soft structure.

Today the disease is considered incurable. Therefore, it is better to have new healthy chickens.

Non-infectious internal diseases of chickens

Veterinarians note a number of ailments that do not arise from viruses. These chicken diseases are not considered contagious, although they adversely affect the growth of birds at home. Let's consider a few of them.

Atony (blockage) of the goiter

The cause of the disease is malnutrition and fungi. As a result, sick birds lose their appetite, which turns into anorexia. They lead a sedentary lifestyle, they can sit in one corner for days.

In the process of development of blockage of the goiter, a sour unpleasant odor emanates from the bird's beak. The growth gradually becomes spherical, which affects the quality of breathing. Ultimately death occurs from clinical suffocation.

Alopecia (baldness) in chickens

Every year, birds have a moment of feather loss, which prepares them for a certain time of the year. However, an unnatural process occurs due to a lack of vitamins and various parasites.

The first signs of alopecia appear on the tail, wings and back. Chronic baldness spreads to the head, neck and chest.

The problem is solved with a balanced feed, which contains an abundance of valuable microelements.

Cloacite

Pathogenic microbes cause serious damage to the mucous membrane of the cloaca. Most often, the disease occurs in adult layers or in chickens that are given only dry food.

The symptoms of cloacite are:

• loss of appetite;
• unnatural thinness;
• loss of feathers;
• thirst.

With a protracted form of the disease, the cloaca comes out, becomes edematous and causes unbearable pain.

If not carried out routine treatment under the supervision of a veterinarian, the bird may die from intoxication.

Noise hysteria and vitamin deficiency

Since birds are living things, they are negatively affected by extraneous sounds and stress. The result is noise hysteria. The disease is a neurological disorder.

It is characterized by symptoms:

• irritability;
• unnatural sudden movements (throwing on walls);
• chaotic running around the chicken coop;
• physical exhaustion.

Treatment is started after diagnosis. The preparations are selected by the veterinarian on an individual basis.

Avitaminosis occurs as a result of malnutrition and poor living conditions. Most often it occurs in a latent chronic form. The external symptoms of the disease depend on a specific vitamin.

For example, a lack of vitamin A causes:

• inhibition of growth;
• loss of feathers;
• joint inflammation;
• scallop anemia;
• exhaustion;
• lethargy.

When treating vitamin deficiency, special components are added to the feed. Constant birdwatching helps to spot the problem early. Thanks to this, help always comes on time.

Salpingitis

High egg-laying rates are believed to be the main cause of the disease. At risk are young layers that lay large eggs.

Symptoms of the disease include:

• discharge of mucus from the cloaca;
• problems with laying eggs.

At the beginning of the development of salpingitis, chickens lay eggs of an unnatural shape. The protracted form of the disease leads to the complete cessation of oviposition. Eventually, the outside of the cloaca comes out. The disease cannot be treated.

Dyspepsia or failure of the digestive system

A protracted form of chicken disease leads to a complete cessation of food digestion. The causes of the disease are, first of all, food. The risk group includes chickens that are given whole grain for a long time, often change the type of feed and are given dirty water to drink.

The disease causes in birds:

• weakness in the legs;
• diarrhea;
• psychological oppression.

Sick birds often walk with their heads lowered and their eyes closed.

With a mild form of dyspepsia, it is enough to change the diet and clean the room with high quality. The protracted nature of the disease is treated with tetracycline antibiotics.

Dangerous parasites and fungal diseases of chickens at home

As a rule, chickens like to huddle in one place. In winter, the temperature rises in the room, which leads to the occurrence of:

• ticks;
• feather eaters;
• bedbugs;
• fleas.

Each parasite causes certain symptoms in chickens. For example, at the site of tick bites, bubbles form, resembling dropsy. As a result, the birds are afraid of any sharp sound, they stop laying eggs. In roosters, wounds form at the bite sites, as they "scratch" themselves with their beaks.

Since parasites hide during the daytime, they can only be identified in the evening.

The first sign of feather-eating is inflamed areas, which chickens constantly bite. You can find insects by catching a bird and pushing its fluffy robe apart.

Chicken fleas reproduce very quickly. If only one insect gets into the chicken coop, in a week there will be 50 times more of them. Timely checking of chickens and disinfection will help to neutralize the annoying enemy.

Once the parasites are identified, routine treatment is started. It includes the abundant processing of individuals and premises with special preparations. They often use Arpalis or Insectol. Aerosols are sold at any veterinary outlet.

When processing feathers, the agent should not fall on the beak and eyes of a sick bird.

Aspergillosis

Chicken coops often lack ventilation, resulting in high levels of humidity. The result is mold that affects birds with low immunity. They develop aspergillosis. The causative agent of the disease is a fungus with a similar name. With a protracted form of the disease, birds die.

Symptoms help identify aspergillosis:

• apparent weakness of the individual;
• physical exhaustion (thinness);
• low egg production;
• muscle spasms;
• loss of feathers.

To solve the problem, cardinal measures to remove mold help. It is important to continue to maintain a moderate temperature and humidity in the chicken coop.

As you can see, the ability to recognize chicken diseases and knowledge of the rules of treatment are a serious aspect of housekeeping. The nature of the disease is determined by visible signs. The next step is the correct diagnosis and medications for treatment. Disease prevention includes balanced feed, cleanliness, ventilation and routine disinfection. In an emergency, you need the help of a veterinarian.

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