Poultry Health
| Disease | Affects Primarily | Cause | Signs & Lesions | Prevention (P) & Treatments (T) |
| Abnormal Egg Shells | Chickens | Improper nutrition, disease, physical condition of hen. | Soft egg, cracked eggs. | P-make sure laying hens are free from disease & feed a laying mash. Give oyster shells to hens. T-proper nutrition to hens. |
| Air
Sac Disease (CRS, colds, infectious sinusitis |
Chickens, turkeys, all ages | Egg transmitted. Also by contact with infected birds (healthy carriers). | Coughing, sneezing, runny nose. Stress or secondary infection increases severity. Transmitted slowly through flock. | P-Don't mix age groups. Get chicks or poults from MG-free birds. T-Encourage eating. Some antibiotics help. |
| Ammonia Burns | All birds | Ammonia gases created in damp litter. | Lopsided shape of eyes, watery eyes, facial swelling, may become blind | P-Keep litter clean & dry. T-remove wet litter & feed Vitamin A. |
| Aspergillosis (brooder pneumonia) |
Chicks, poults | Birds inhale spores from moldy feed, litter, dust. | Gasping, loss of appetite, increased thirst. | P-Avoid sources of mold. Control dust. T-Clean, disinfect. Change litter. |
| Blackhead | Turkeys | Transmitted by eating contaminated substances or direct contact with infected birds or droppings. | Darkening of head, loss of appetite, droopiness, sulfur-colored droppings. | P-Keep turkeys away from chickens. T-Hepzide, Enhaptin, Emytryl-follow vet & label recommendations. |
| Blue Comb | Turkeys | Transmitted by eating contaminated substances or direct contact with infected birds or droppings. | Weight loss, constant chirping, bluish colored head. | P-Get rid of birds, disinfect & leave empty for a time. T-Raise temperature in building, use antibiotics & vitamins. |
| Breast Blisters | All birds, more common in heavier breeds. | Sharp edges of feeder or waterers. | A blister on the breast contains clear or bloody fluids. | T-Drain with a sterile needle and rinse with Potassium. |
| Broodiness | Turkeys, chickens | Hen wants to hatch something. | Hens sitting in nests, returns to nest after being chased off. | P-Remove egg from nest, provide roosts for fowl. T-Change hen to different pen. Remove eggs, remove hens from nest or let her hatch something. |
| Infectious Bronchitis | Chickens | Virus. Airborne from infected flocks. | Rapid onset. Sneezing, coughing, watery eyes. Flock symptoms may last 10-14 days. Production drops, small or soft-shelled eggs. | P-Vaccinate before lay if an important problem in your flock. T-None. Permanent problem. |
| Botulism | All birds | Toxic birds eat decaying animal or vegetable material. Toxin is soluble so can be in water or maggots. | Extreme weakness. Paralysis of legs, wings, neck. Bird cannot swallow. Feathers easily removed. Head hangs, swollen wattles, difficult breathing, dark head & wattles. | P-Clean yards. Don't use spoiled food. T-Place bird in shade. Fill crop with water twice daily. Give Epsom salts (1 lb. to 5 gal. water) into crop. Remove dead animals. |
| Bumble foot | All birds | Cuts or bruises on foot pad allow entrance of organisms. | Lameness, swollen foot, scab on foot pad. | P-Avoid high roosts, sharp litter. T-Open abscess with sharp knife, remove pus, paint with iodine or sulfa ointment. |
| Cannibalism | All birds | Bright colors, too crowded, too hot, not enough feeders or waterers, lack of entertainment. | Picking at one another. | P-Provide enough room, food, water, possibly entertainment for birds. |
| Fowl Cholera | Most birds | Contact with feces of sick birds, carcasses of dead birds. Rodents, contaminated soil, water, feed. | Birds may die before there are visible symptoms. Dead on roost, yellow-green diarrhea. | P-Clean ground, good management. Eliminate rodents, predators. Medications, use clear antibiotics for layers. Complete clean out. |
| Coccidiosis | Chickens, turkeys, one of most prevalent diseases worldwide. | Eating droppings containing infective parasites. Coccidian invade intestinal tract lining, produce tissue damage while multiplying. | Possible high mortality. Pale, droopy, huddle, use less feed, water. Production drops. Bloody droppings. | Use preventive drugs (coccidiostats). Screen droppings from birds. In acute outbreak give recommended drugs in water according to directions. May try (1/4 c. vinegar to each gal. water). |
| Infectious Coryza | Chickens only | Recovered apparently healthy birds remain carriers. Contact at poultry shows. Sick birds. Dust or water contaminated by discharge. | Rapid onset. Swollen sinuses, nasal discharge, eyelid may stick shut, drop in feed consumption & egg production. | P-Don't mix age groups. T-Antibiotics or sulfa drugs effective in some cases. Use as cleared by vet. |
| Enteritis (diarrhea) | All birds | Many causes, most unknown. High salt in feed. Droppings in infected birds. | Watery, discolored droppings. Layers may drop in production. | P-Sanitation & good ration. T-Get specific diagnosis. Antibiotics. Avoid metal waterers. |
| Hemorrhagic Enteritis | Turkeys | Virus-Spread from eating infected feed, water, litter & droppings. Change in weather or feed. | Sudden death & blood from vent. | P-Disinfect hands & boots when tending sick birds. T-No antibiotics. |
| Influenza | Geese-possibly ducks | Bacteria-Passed on by infected birds. | Coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, death | P-Clean & disinfect pens. T-Sulfademetharine |
| Joint & Respiratory Disease | Chicks 4-12 weeks | Egg transmittable direct contact through air, equipment & people. | Lameness, loss of weight, green droppings, breast blisters, limping, affects respiratory. | T-Need not treat CRS, will butcher sooner. Treat other fowl with Tetracycline or Erythromycin. |
| Laryngotrachetis (trachy, LT) | Chickens, pheasants | Virus. Infected birds; unwise use of vaccine, carriers; airborne; contaminated clothes & equipment. | Rapid spread. Coughing, sneezing, gurgling. Blood or cheesy plug in windpipe. May be high mortality. | P-Vaccinate, but only if a problem in your area. Do not vaccinate unnecessarily. T-None. |
| Leg Problems | All birds | Accidents, inadequate nutrition, lack of vitamins, slippery surface, bacteria, virus, infections. | Swollen joints, soft bones, twisted legs, broken bones, swollen feet, paralysis, legs flex sideways. | PT-Determine causes & use the proper treatment or preventive measures. Use peat moss & wood chips, no newspaper. |
| Lice | All birds | Ducks & geese if housed with chickens are likely the cause. Chew on skin; dry skin. | Lack of appetite, diarrhea, sleeplessness, set less, lower egg production. | P-Clean buildings & use roost paint. T-Dust adults with Sevin. |
| Lymphoid Leukosis (Big liver disease) | Chickens | Virus. Egg borne or transmitted to very young chicks from infected older birds. | Weight loss. Green droppings, tumors, enlarged liver. Sick birds usually die. Deformed, thickened leg bones. | P-Brood away from older chicks. T-None. |
| Marek's
Disease (Range Paralysis) |
Chickens | Herpes virus. Airborne or other contaminated skin & feather dust (dander). Contaminated litter. Infected birds. | Gray eye, enlarged feather follicles, paralysis of wings, legs, neck. | P-Vaccinate day-old chicks. Buy vaccinated chicks. T-None. |
| Mycoplasma Gallisepticum (MG) Also known as Infectious Sinusitis in turkeys. | Most birds | Mycoplasma organisms. Spread mainly by infected birds coming in contact with others. Also spread by careless humans, contaminated equipment, and vehicles. | Symptoms of turkeys in the upper form of the disease are watery eyes, noisy breathing, unthriftiness, water discharge from nostrils, and swollen sinuses below the eyes | P-isolate infected birds. T-NA |
| Newcastle
Disease |
Most birds | Virus. Contaminated equipment, shoes, clothing. Contact with infected birds. | Gasping, coughing, nasal discharge, uncoordination, paralysis. Rapid spread, high mortality. Adults may show only respiratory symptoms & egg productions drop | P-Vaccination. T-None. |
| Omphalitis (Mushy Chicken disease) | Baby chicks | Unsanitary conditions in hatchery. | Chicks huddle-dropping heads. | P-Make sure hatchery is known for sanitary conditions-know where birds are coming from. |
| Pasty Rear Ends | Mostly chickens | Lack of activity. Stress in transporting. | Manure sticks to the rear-end of birds. | P-Use a scratch feed & increase activity of chickens. T-Remove manure from rear end with mild soap. |
| Avian Pox | Most birds | Virus. Direct contact with infected birds. Mosquitoes carry virus from wild & other birds. | Dry Pox; small yellow warts on wattles, comb, face. These increase in size. Dark brown scabs form, then drop off. Wet Pox; yellow, cheesy lesions in mouth, windpipe. | P-Vaccination is recommended in areas of large mosquito populations. T-Swab lesion with Lugol's solution of iodine. |
| Paratyphoid | Poults, chicks | Egg shell penetration. Eating or contact with droppings of infected carriers. | Huddling near heat, closed eyes, drooping wings, diarrhea, pasted vent, increased peeping sounds. | P-Egg sanitation. Rodent & snake control. T-Drugs, antibiotics. Follow label recommendations. |
| Pullorum Disease | Chickens, turkeys, pheasants, guineas | Egg shell penetration. Eating or contact with droppings of infected carriers. | Pasted vents in chicks 1 to 21 days old, sudden death or huddling, pneumonia. | P-Buy pullorum-free chicks. T-Various drugs, antibiotics. Follow label recommendations. Destroy birds. |
| Rickets | Young chickens (4wks) mostly top heavy & Cornish Rock. | Deficiency of Vitamin D & Calcium (can't have excess of either). | Chickens become crippled. | T-Increase Vitamin D intake as per Vet’s instructions |
| Staggering | Ducks | Out of water | Choking or otherwise dizzy because of food caught in esophagus. | P-Never let ducks run out of water. T-Always have water for ducks. |
| Worms | All birds. Don't affect ducks & geese as much. | Roundworms-eggs directly move from bird to bird through feces. Tapeworms-transmitted by flies, etc. that contact contaminated feces. | May cause unthriftiness & slow growth. Roundworms-3-6 inches long, pencil lead in diameter. Tapeworms-flat ribbon-like, segmented. | P-Rotate birds in yards or pens. Screen off areas of heavy fecal deposits. T-Various drugs. Follow label. |
