| Symptoms: |
Overgrown top beak and claws |
| Cause: |
Excessive growth, lack of ranging area for birds/confined birds, soft ground |
| Remedy: |
Trim beak and claws with clippers |
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| Symptoms: |
Bloody comb |
| Cause: |
Fighting, injury caused by third party article, aggressive or dominant cockerel, wire, sharp metal edges to feeders and drinkers, weld mesh, torn mesh, thorny bushes, poultry predators. |
| Remedy: |
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| Symptoms: |
Purple comb |
| Cause: |
Frostbite, heart failure, poisoning, egg peritonitis (hens), large comb, inherent defect |
| Remedy: |
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| Symptoms: |
Bare, featherless back |
| Cause: |
Claws or spurs of male bird, sexually active male, feather loss and wounding can occur when the male treads the female to mate. |
| Remedy: |
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| Symptoms: |
Feather loss, patchy and all over |
| Cause: |
Natural process of moulting. Feather pecking by overcrowded birds or the depluming mite (Cnemidocoptes gallinae). |
| Remedy: |
To prevent feather pecking ensure birds have adequate room in the house and pen and enough perching space. Where possible make sure that all the growing birds in a flock are the same age or monitor younger introductions carefully. Birds can also be de-beaked. This is done either by using a pair of clippers or an electric de-beaker. In either case, the top beak is cut back about half way, but not as far as the nostrils. The beak will bleed, but electric de-beakers have the benefit of cauterising the wound. The beak will grow back in time but while it is reduced in size the birds cannot peck one another. De-beaking is not generally regarded as humane but if large numbers of birds are kept in sheds or barns, it may be a necessity |
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| Symptoms: |
Flaky/scabby comb, face and wattles and skin, blackened/tatty feathers |
| Cause: |
Northern fowl mite (Ornythonyssus sylviarum). Small grey-black mites up to 0.7mm that live and breed on the host bird. Mites are found around the vent, under the wings and on the neck and head. |
| Remedy: |
Pyrethrum spray |
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| Symptoms: |
White egg clusters at the base of vent feathers |
| Cause: |
Common louse (Menopon gallinae), Northern fowl mite (Ornythonyssus sylviarum) |
| Remedy: |
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| Symptoms: |
Wet feathers, non waterproof waterfowl |
| Cause: |
Impacted/infected preen gland or unsuitable growing environment |
| Remedy: |
Antibiotics if the preen gland is swollen and infected. Let birds roam outside with access to the rain if necessary and where ever possible allow waterfowl to bathe regularly. This should encourage the birds to oil themselves correctly, although it may take several weeks to recover wet feathers to waterproof ones. |
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| Symptoms: |
Paralysis and tumours |
| Cause: |
Mareks. Blood testing required to confirm infection. Most hybrids are vaccinated against Mareks |
| Remedy: |
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| Symptoms: |
Bird stretches neck and gasps |
| Cause: |
Gape worm (Syngamus trachea), high stocking density outdoors, fowl sick land |
| Remedy: |
A traditional home remedy is to wipe the inner throat of the bird using a cotton wool bud soaked in parrafin. Flubendazole is a modern day alternative. |
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| Symptoms: |
Sneezing/snicking, general respiratory distress, nasal discharge, swollen eyes, foam in eyes, swollen sinus |
| Cause: |
Mycoplasma (various forms), Infectious Bronchitis (IB). Contagious viral infection spread by wild birds |
| Remedy: |
Seek the diagnosis of a Vet. Generally it is possible to purchase and use an antibiotic such as Limoxin or Tylan without the prescription of a Vet as these treat a broad range of gastrointestinal and respiratory infections. Read manufacturers instructions. |
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| Symptoms: |
Swollen sinus. Soft and large lump above each nostril and filled with mucus. |
| Cause: |
Mycoplasma (various forms). Contagious viral infection spread by wild birds. |
| Remedy: |
Seek the diagnosis of a Vet. Generally it is possible to purchase and use an antibiotic such as Limoxin or Tylan without the prescription of a Vet as these treat a broad range of gastrointestinal and respiratory infections. Read manufacturers instructions. |
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| Symptoms: |
Spraddled legs on chicks |
| Cause: |
Slippery incubator/hatchery surface, weak chicks helped from shell. Poor breeder nutrition |
| Remedy: |
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| Symptoms: |
Protruding vent muscles and tissue with a large egg often trapped |
| Cause: |
Prolapse. May occur when a young bird begins to lay before her egg laying system has fully developed, brought on by increasing day length. Pullets will often lay double yolked eggs or may form an egg within an egg. If an egg gets held up in the oviduct and increases in size with a second egg being formed over the first then the egg will be too large for a pullet to lay. An so in the process of straining to lay the egg, the internal vent tissues are pushed out of the body with the egg held within this tissue. |
| Remedy: |
Prolapses rarely occur but if they do it may often be wise to cull the affected bird. Alternatively if the pullet is still healthy, break the egg and wash the protrubance. Then gently push the tissue back within the body. Isolate the bird in a shaded place and provide fresh water and only a little grain. |
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| Symptoms: |
Swelling to underside of foot |
| Cause: |
Bumblefoot, high perch, hard house or range surface, heavy bird or excessive growth rate. |
| Remedy: |
Clean and disinfect wounds, antibiotics may be prescribed by a vet. Isolate the affected bird until it recovers. Lower perching to prevent further problems, 1ft (30cm) high is adequate. |
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| Symptoms: |
Ruffled feathers, dejected appearance |
| Cause: |
Indicative of poor health or impending death, can indicate a vast array of health issues. Check first for minor problems such as lice. Then assess weight, droppings, behaviour and check for body abnormalities. Can indicate Coccidiosis and Blackhead. |
| Remedy: |
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| Symptoms: |
Raised flaking scales on legs and feet, worst cases: limping |
| Cause: |
Scaly leg (Cnemidocoptes mutans). Widespead problem. Scaly leg is caused by a microscopic mite that burrows under the scales in the legs creating microscopic tunnels in which it multiplies. As the mite increases in numbers the scales are grotesquely lifted. If the mite becomes well established birds can become lame making treatment harder, so vigilance is important. Poor management including dirty litter will increase the likleyhood of birds getting these mites. |
| Remedy: |
Traditionally the legs were dipped in old engine oil as this suffocates and kills the mites, although most forms of oil could be used. Paraffin is another although harsh alternative and would certainly kill any mites. Vaseline can be smothered on all areas of the legs and toes to suffocate the mites. Repeated application would be required. A 50:50 mixture of Dettol and washing up liquid that is washed onto the legs repeatedly is said to be effective. Diluted Benzyl benzoate human hair lice powder and medical spirit are also useful when applied individually and can be obtained from a chemist. |
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| Symptoms: |
Cheesy substance in ears |
| Cause: |
Ear infection |
| Remedy: |
Antibiotics, seek the advice of a vet. |
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| Symptoms: |
Lice near vent and/or under wing |
| Cause: |
Common louse (Menopon gallinae). Small grey-brown lice. They live on the bird and are commonly found near the vent (rear end), they cause irritation to the bird which could lead to feather pecking but rarely affect egg production. White eggs cluster at the base of feathers and should be removed to aid recovery. |
| Remedy: |
Ivermectin drops are most effective, alternatives such as the cattle wormer eprinox are also effective. Powders have limited effect and require repeated application. |
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| Symptoms: |
Anaemic face and comb, red mites within house and occasionally on any part of the bird |
| Cause: |
Red Mite (Dermanyssus Gallinae). Red mites are very small black mites from the spider family. They become red and plump after consuming blood. Spread by the wind and wild birds. They flourish in dry, warm poultry houses with still air. Red mites are commonly found in crevices around the perches and typically come out at night to suck blood from the birds when they are perching. Red mites particularly flourish in hot spells during the spring and summer months. They are less prolific during the winter but do still occur. Mites will sometimes be felt on the skin of the poultry keeper such as when collecting eggs, particularly if mite numbers are high in the poultry house. They can and do bite, but are unlikely to cause harm or spread disease. |
| Remedy: |
Houses should be correctly designed and located in an open position where there is plenty of air movement and ventilation to help prevent the mites establishing themselves. Keeping a low stocking density within the house can help. Housing should be cleaned out and treated regularly using a proprietary spray. Mites do not live on the bird but in the nooks and crannies of the house and can live on all forms of housing material including wood, metal and plastic. It is important to remove roofing felt where possible as they hide beneath the felt making treatment ineffective. The felt could be replaced by corrugated plastic sheeting secured using bolts so the roofing can be removed and easily cleaned if necessary. Spraying a liquid product is the best and most effective way of treating a house. An alternative to proprietary brands is low grade paraffin. It is an old fashioned but extremely successful way of killing red mite, but be sure to keep feeders and drinkers away while spraying and ventilate the house for several hours before allowing the birds back in. It is important to reach all corners and sides of the house, nest boxes, around hinges and in any crevices as the mites do not only occur around the perches. |
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| Symptoms: |
Weight loss, but eating |
| Cause: |
Avian TB (Mycobacterium avium), Moulting, Round or tape worms, lack of water, bullying, competition with larger or older birds, crop bound, impacted gizzard, poisoning, Kidney or liver disease, red mite. |
| Remedy: |
Move birds to fresh ground and treat worms with either Flubenvet used within the feed or Solubenol which can be diluted in the drinking water. Where possible, avoid mixing young growing birds with mature ones, especially where large numbers are concerned. This is because the young birds will go to the bottom of the pecking order and due to their smaller size will become bullied or detered from drinking or feeding. In the case of Avian TB affected birds should be culled. |
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| Symptoms: |
Reduced egg production |
| Cause: |
Birds too young, birds moved to new home, shock or stress, reduced daylength in winter, moulting, round and tape worms, viral infection, poor bodyweight, eggs being stolen by rats, eggs being laid anywhere other than the nest box, shegg peritonitis. However, most infections and illness will lead to reduced production. |
| Remedy: |
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| Symptoms: |
Odd shaped/sized eggs |
| Cause: |
Natural development of a pullets egg laying system. Shock caused by injury or predators, Viral infections such as Infectious Bronchitis. |
| Remedy: |
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| Symptoms: |
White diarrhoea, birds appear huddled and chilled |
| Cause: |
Bacillary White Diarhoea (Salmonella Pullorum) or excess salt/calcium in the diet |
| Remedy: |
Often seen when birds roam fowl sick land. Land which has been heavily used by poultry for a prolonged period of time. Salmonella pullorum causes high mortality in chicks. Adults remain carriers and have a lower mortality rate.The infection can pass on to resultant chicks via the egg. blood testing will confirm infection and all carriers should be culled. |
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| Symptoms: |
Sulphur yellow diarrhoea |
| Cause: |
Blackhead (Histomoniasis meleagridis). Blackhead is a parasite of the liver in Turkeys and can be carried by wild bird’s earth worms and other forms of poultry The parasite is carried by the Heterakis worm. The parasite rarely affects chickens but will kill at least fifty percent of all turkeys that become infected. |
| Remedy: |
It is important to keep chickens and turkeys separate or on separate premises to prevent infection. Once infection has occurred on the premises it can remain, even without the presence of birds for at least 7 years. Once a bird is infected mortality can exceed 50%. Those that recover develop immunity. Seek treatment from a vet. |
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| Symptoms: |
Pasty droppings around vent of chicks, dejected appearance, high chick mortality |
| Cause: |
Yolk Sac Infection, Omphallitis. Transmitted via the egg, from dirty nest boxes, poor egg hygiene, poor incubator conditions and hygiene. Very high mortality rate. |
| Remedy: |
Seek diagnosis and treatment from a vet. |
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| Symptoms: |
Blood in droppings/diarhoea, high chick mortality, ruffled feathers, closed eyes |
| Cause: |
Coccidiosis. Coccidiosis is an infectious disease of the intestines caused by microscopic parasitic organisms. |
| Remedy: |
Coccidiosis is an infectious disease of the intestines caused by microscopic parasitic organisms. A common problem seen in young birds that have not had time to develop a strong immune system, some can survive the internal parasite but it is important to feed young birds at least to 8 weeks of age with chick crumbs that contain a coccidiostat drug or ACS in the case of Turkeys. The illness more commonly occurs when young birds are put on to land that already has or has recently had adult birds occupying it. |
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| Symptoms: |
Cheesy substance in mouth,beak or jaw |
| Cause: |
Trichomonas |
| Remedy: |
Seek diagnosis from a vet. Antibiotics will most likely be prescribed. Alternatively, particularly if the bird is old, it would be wiser to cull the affect bird. If problems such as this become common place, it may be due to the land becoming fowl sick meaning you should move the birds to fresh ground. |
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| Symptoms: |
Hard, pendulous crop |
| Cause: |
Crop bound. An impacted crop is often caused by the consumption of dried grass or bedding material such as woodchips. The material blocks the outlet from the crop allowing feed to build up within the crop making it pendulous and hard. |
| Remedy: |
Sometimes it is possible to massage the crop to remove the obstruction. This is best done while holding the bird upside down. Alternatively if the crop does not clear naturally or by massaging, it could be operated upon by a vet, but it is more logical and sensible to cull the bird as otherwise it would starve to death. To prevent birds becoming crop bound, it is important you do not feed them dried grass cuttings. When raising chicks and poults be sure they have ample feed at all times and ensure it does not become mixed with the litter. Avoid using fine wood shavings when raising chicks. |
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| Symptoms: |
Large squishy crop that protrudes from upper breast and sways when bird walks. |
| Cause: |
Sour crop. Sour crop is often a fungal infection that is most often seen on young growing birds |
| Remedy: |
If caught early it can be treated by holding the bird up side down by the legs with one hand while massaging the crop with the other. A cloudy liquid should come out of it beak. Once the crop is empty separate the bird from the flock by placing the bird in a cage with fresh water. Provide the bird with plain wheat the following day and keep the bird separate until the infection has passed, repeat the process of massaging the crop if necessary. |
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| Symptoms: |
Solid enlarged abdomen, no eggs, sudden death of healthy pullet/hen |
| Cause: |
Egg Peritonitis. Yolks miss the oviduct and pass into the peritoneal cavity, yolks build up and cause inflammation. |
| Remedy: |
Affected pullets/hens should be culled. |
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| Symptoms: |
White sticky soiling to vent feathers, reddened skin near vent |
| Cause: |
Vent Gleet (Cloactitis) |
| Remedy: |
Do not use females or infected cockerel for breeding. Symptoms can be cleaned and treated. Ask a vet for best course. |
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