Health IssuesThis is a featured page

small flock will likely stay healthy if you keep their coop reasonably clean, give them a well-balanced diet, plenty of fresh water, and keep them from being too crowded or bored (which can lead to pecking). Sometimes, however, a chicken can get sick.

Signs of Illness

prolonged diarrhea
sneezing
coughing
runny nose
gasping for breath
listlessness
no interest in food
swelling of the face around the eyes
tremors

Hens decrease or stop laying with sick, but there are other causes of “going on strike” as well, such as heat, moulting, diet, age, and winter.

Lice and Mites

Chickens love to take dust baths, digging and rolling in the dirt. This is an instinctual way of controlling lice and mites. Your chickens will enjoy dust baths whether or not they have lice or mites—it’s good clean fun for them.

Should you call the vet?

If your pet chicken is sick, you could take it to a vet, though someone will tell you you’re crazy to spend $30 on a doctor’s appointment for a $2 chicken. A great resource for diagnosis and advice is your county’s agricultural extension agent. Other resources include The Chicken Health Handbook, by Gail Damerow, and, of course, poultry websites.

The USDA also offers veterinary services via a toll-free hotline (1-866-536-7593) staffed with vets to help you with poultry disease questions.

See also:
Avian Flu
Bird Flu wiki



Posted Anonymously Latest page update: made by Anonymous , Oct 29 2007, 9:56 AM EDT (about this update About This Update Posted Anonymously Edited anonymously

1 word deleted

view changes

- complete history)
More Info: links to this page
Started By Thread Subject Replies Last Post
Anonymous Injured chick 0 Jul 17 2009, 10:02 PM EDT by Anonymous
 
Thread started: Jul 17 2009, 10:02 PM EDT  Watch
We have a chick that is about 2 weeks old, the chick has injured it's leg and is now nicknamed Wobble. Other than keeping an eye on him to be sure that he gets food and water is there anything else that can be done?
Do you find this valuable?    
Anonymous The chickens have white bugs on their chests? 0 Jun 27 2009, 3:05 PM EDT by Anonymous
 
Thread started: Jun 27 2009, 3:05 PM EDT  Watch
What could they be and what do I do??? We have six chickens and are new to this...Thank you for any help.
Do you find this valuable?    
Keyword tags: None (edit keyword tags)
Anonymous no feathers on their butts 0 Jun 13 2009, 12:50 PM EDT by Anonymous
 
Thread started: Jun 13 2009, 12:50 PM EDT  Watch
Can you tell me why? Some do, some don't. Their coop in clean, they seam fine, lay eggs ok. Free ranging. All seam healthy. Any ideas.? Thank You
Gail
Do you find this valuable?    
Keyword tags: None (edit keyword tags)

Anonymous  (Get credit for your thread)


Showing 3 of 7 threads for this page - view all

Related Content

  (what's this?Related ContentThanks to keyword tags, links to related pages and threads are added to the bottom of your pages. Up to 15 links are shown, determined by matching tags and by how recently the content was updated; keeping the most current at the top. Share your feedback on Wetpaint Central.)