If you suspect one of your chickens is ill, you should immediately remove it from the vicinity of the flock. This makes sure disease doesn't spread.
Each day, when you're feeding and watering your chickens, do a visual inspection. Make sure there aren't any hens with dirty feathers around the anus, as that may signal diarrhea. Also be sure that their eyes and nostrils are clear with no drainage. Watch for hens reluctant to stand up and walk. Other symptoms could be a decreased egg production or food and water intake.
Prevention
In order to prevent sickness in poultry there are 4 major considerations to take.
Most hatcheries charge only a nominal fee (if any) to vaccinate your chicks before shipping, so have then vaccinated first. These vaccinations can often save you a search for an avian veterinarian and exorbitant costs.
Make sure the nesting areas, food and water containers, and cages are clean. Keeping things clean keeps illnesses at bay and can save a flock from one ill chicken.
Some chicken feeds contain low dose antibiotics to keep away bacterial infections.
Keep a variety in your chicken's feed so they get a balance of vitamins, minerals, protein and carbohydrates. When you are supplementing with veggies, do not forget to include peelings from citrus fruits for vitamin C.
These preventions will not keep everything at bay, but they will go a long way towards the health of your flock.
Some Common Chicken Diseases
Bronchitis will be seen in symptoms such as difficulty breathing (gasping), discharge from eyes and ears, and an avoidance of food and water. Raise the ambient temperature for the chicken by five degrees Fahrenheit and give antibiotics.
Avian Flu symptoms will include respiratory distress, diarrhea, a lack of interest in food, and decreased egg laying. Like flu in humans, this disease will permeate a flock quickly. Antibiotics, rest, and a hope for the best is about all you can do against Avian flu. Broad spectrum antibiotic do sometimes work if the chickens immune system is strong before acquiring the disease. The vaccine for this is hard to come by, as it's only for qualifying flocks.
Infectious Sinusitis is a chronic sinus infection. The chickens will have sneezing, swollen nares, and discharge from the nares and eyes. Antibiotics given through their food and water are very effective for treating this condition.
Bird Pox is called Chicken Pox in some areas, though it's not the same as the human disease of that name. Chickens may have congestion and the appearance of raw, wart-like bumps. They will be most easily seen on the legs. Once sick with the disease, there is no available treatment, but there is a vaccine.
Eye worms infect the chicken as a type of roundworm whose larvae were eaten by common chicken prey like worms and bugs. Symptoms are swollen eyes with a white discharge from the eyes and mouth. The white chunks are the larva of the mature worm. Worm your hens at least every 6 months with a good broad spectrum wormer. Clean and disinfect the coop and pens if these symptom appear. Failure to kill the larvae means the cycle continues.
This is just a short selection of the more common chicken diseases, but prevention is always easier than the cure. Keep your chicken pens clean, provide vaccines, and pay special attention to nutritious food and clean water.
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