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When it comes to raising chickens they can be a very basic farmstead animal! However, they can come with their own level of challenges when it comes to disease. Below I give you and overview and some prevention tips of the 6 most common diseases chicken raisers face!
Avian Influenza
Avian influenza also known as “bird flu” can be a highly infectious disease to your birds. It is the most common endemic disease outbreak seen in North America.
The common signs of avian flu are
- Diarrhoea
- Hemorrhaging on the hock
- a high and sudden mortality rate
- Quietness and extreme depression
- Swelling of the skin under the eyes
- Wattles and combs become swollen and congested
Keeping your birds in a coop can help prevent transmission from wild birds. If you free-range your birds be sure to monitor if there have been confirmed cases in your area.
Mareks Disease
Mareks disease is a highly contagious viral infection. It takes a process of pathology testing of the tumors to diagnose according to Mercks vet manual. The clinical signs of Mareks disease is
- Transient paralysis
- Early mortality syndrome
- Cytolytic infection
- Atherosclerosis
- Persistent neurologic disease
There are no effective treatments for Marek disease. The best way to keep it out of your flock is to have a vaccination and biosecurity protocol and purchase birds that have been selectively bred for genetic resistance to the disease.
Coccidiosis
A Protozoal (a type of parasite) disease-causing diarrhea, weight loss and decreased production. This disease is the most common death in young birds.
Purchasing vaccinated chicks can help reduce the incidence. All ground-fed Chickens are regularly exposed to coccidia throughout their lifespan. Keeping your chicken run and coop clean and well-ventilated will provide a dry and healthy environment for your chickens. This allows them a gradual exposure that will allow them to develop immunity.
Botulism
Botulism is a natural toxin in a chicken’s environment. If you are caring for free-range chickens this is important for you. The organism Clostridium botulinum naturally occurs in soils and chicken intestines with no negative effects. But once the bacteria flourish in rotting carcasses or vegetables, once consumed by your birds it becomes incredibly toxic to the bird.
Chickens show signs of progressing paralysis, they will continue to try to live and eat until the heart and lungs become paralyzed and they will then die.
If noticed soon you can treat the birds with an anti-toxin provided by your local veterinarian. To prevent botulism removed any dead animals and rotting vegetables that your chickens have access to.
Aspergillosis or Brooder pneumonia
Aspergillosis is a respiratory tract infection. It can be identified by labour breathing and distressed birds. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for this illness. Spontaneous recovery does sometimes occur.
Brooder pneumonia is best prevented by keeping a dry and clean coop and allowing for good ventilation. Don’t get too excited about your hens and overstock them!
BumbleFoot
Bumblefoot is an infection of the footpad. It occurs when Staphylococcus bacteria gets into an open wound and causes an infection that has a hard core-like abscess. If left untreated bumblefoot can become fatal if the bacteria enters the bloodstream.
The treatment for bumblefoot is to remove scabs and drain the abscess. Afterwards keeping it clean and dry. The chicken’s immune system should be able to fight the infection. There is a selection of sprays that your veterinarian can recommend to increase the healing process.
A more advanced bumblefoot may require veterinarian intervention. This is why prevention or early detection is key so it doesn’t get to this.
There are several different causes of bumble foot, it can be random but sometimes is a sign of underlying issues. Some causes can be the following
- Sharp objects
- poor litter
- overweight birds
These are just a few of the most common diseases that your chickens can contract. Too learn more about other possible diseases you may be facing (or don’t want to be) I highly recommend The Chicken Health Handbook!