The most common diseases in chickens
The disease most often encountered by hens is caused by parasites, but it can also be accompanied by fouling and sometimes a lack of space in the coop. To keep his hens in their best light, the breeder must be vigilant and manic. Let's discover the disease most commonly encountered by this chicken, which despite its reputation for great robustness, persists.
Most common diseases caused by internal or external parasites
Hens are exposed to various parasitic infections. These may be internal parasites, such as intestinal worms, which are common in free-range chicken farms, but are not fully protected against parasites in enclosed premises.
Poultry affected by these worms have a high appetite, but their growth is stunted as these internal parasites colonize their intestines. They eat directly what the hens eat before it is good for them.
Without treatment, poultry can become weak, emaciated and die. Several other symptoms revealed the presence of intestinal worms, such as abnormal liquid feces, cessation of egg production or at least decreased egg production and weight loss in poultry.
To prevent the appearance of intestinal worms, we advise you to use a deworming solution diluted in water in spring and autumn. At the same time, the chicken coop should be cleaned regularly and carefully.
Red and black lice, which feed on the blood of chickens, are ectoparasites that cannot be transmitted to humans. They land on the hen's skin, just at the base of the feathers, especially around the anus, legs, breasts and wings. Affected birds become more or less weak and tend to feather themselves in irritated areas.
The most effective natural solution for chicken lice is pyrethrum pest control, which comes in powder form. This must be sprinkled on all the poultry on the farm without exception. At the same time, it is advisable to empty all soiled litter, place a pest control product suitable for hens on the floor and spread new, fresh, clean litter.
Scabies
This is another common disease of chickens. It is caused by mites and comes in two different forms: leg mange and feather mange.
Leg mange is common in poorly maintained poultry houses. A synthetic alcohol foot bath followed by an anti-parasitic powder is an excellent solution for a quick cure for this condition.
Feather mange or "feathered" mange is the cause of loss of feathers on the breasts, rump and upper thighs of poultry.
It is distinguished from the mange of the legs by a skin irritation and the presence of a kind of cocoon at the base of the feathers.
After cleaning the house from top to bottom, it is important to quickly dispose of the house, including perches, nests, nooks and crannies. It is also necessary to completely change the hull sand. At the same time, the entire farm must be dusted with an antiparasitic powder suitable for poultry, and this treatment must be repeated twice, with an interval of 7 days between each.
Coccidiosis
The term refers to parasitic diseases caused by microorganisms called coccidia that are ingested by hens. This pathology is manifested by an intestinal attack since parasites colonize their intestines. The hens have strong diarrhoea, sometimes bloody, and suffer from chronic anemia due to nutritional deficiencies.
Symptoms to watch out for are diarrhoea, as well as loss of appetite and severe fatigue in poultry, which gradually improves. Without treatment, the hens will die.
Coccidiosis is particularly common in poultry houses where hygiene is far from being respected. Therefore, lack of cleanliness promotes disease. Thorough housekeeping, deworming, and adding apple cider vinegar and fresh garlic to chicken feed can all help prevent coccidiosis.
As for the treatment of the disease, it is essentially based on the administration of anticoccidials or antibiotics.
False bird plague, not to be confused with bird flu!
This condition affecting poultry can also be called avian pneumonia, Newcastle disease and Raneycht disease.
To definitively diagnose avian pseudoplague, laboratory tests are absolutely necessary.
The sudden onset of the highly contagious disease wiped out a chicken farm within days and had serious consequences for the few that survived. The toxins secreted by the bacteria are released into the hens' bloodstream, causing rapid sepsis.
The symptoms of avian pseudoplague are:
- intense thirst,
- loss of appetite,
- high fever,
- nervous disorder,
- Respiratory diseases.
When hens have Newcastle disease, their feathers are abnormally erect and they adopt a hunched posture. There is no doubt about these signs, as well as the symptoms listed above.
Mark's disease
As terrifying as avian plague, Marek's disease is extremely contagious and The different forms of the disease:
A form of digestion that manifests as tumors in the organs of the digestive system.
A form of paralysis that affects the nervous system of hens, especially the youngest hens in the barn. The paralysis can be bilateral or lateral and concern the legs and/or the wings of these poultry.
Eye shape that leads to blindness after eye discoloration and pupil distortion.
It is important to only buy hens vaccinated against Marek's disease, although vaccination will not protect these birds 100% of the time.
Slug
Easily identified, hen snot manifests as depression, swollen comb, swelling of the head, tearing, sneezing, wheezing, snoring and difficulty breathing. Reductions in egg production and frequency of diarrhea were also observed in hens with rhinitis.
its effects on hens are devastating.
The disease is common in poultry houses that are dusty, poorly insulated or exposed to drafts.
The involvement of the veterinarian is essential. This generally prescribes an antibiotic treatment adapted to the hen.
Infectious rhinitis caused by bacteria is difficult to treat, but fortunately it is less common than the classic syndrome.
Tingling, a behavioral disorder
Even hens can show behavioral problems, especially when housed in groups and space is extremely scarce. Tingling is an obvious sign of discomfort. Hens bite their congeners and tear their feathers. When feather pecking becomes severe, some birds may die.
There's also a weird frenzy that turns ruthless as the hens take turns biting their parasite-laden brethren.
It is advisable to protect hens against these diseases by adding organic cider vinegar to the water, 3 cl of cider for 1 liter of water. It is a preventive solution that you can adopt for a week. also, you must redouble your respect for your hens by granting them excellent living conditions: sufficient space, cleanliness, high quality and balanced food, clean water, and veterinary supervision.