CHICKEN DISEASES THAT EVERY CHICKEN OWNER SHOULD BE AWARE OF

In Part 11 of our Health and Well Being of the Chicken Flock series, we discussed conditions that affected the nervous system of a chicken.

In Part 12 is an overview of some diseases that can affect a chicken in many ways and in some cases be quite fatal. This article will also discuss the are signs/symptoms and treatments of them.

If you are a first-time flock owner, looking to become one or even a seasoned one have a read at some of our articles. There is something of benefit for everyone on our site.

CHICKEN DISEASES TO BE AWARE OF IF YOU OWN CHICKENS

Avian Tuberculosis

Although not too common in chickens it has been found to infect them.
It is a slow spreading disease that if left untreated will spread through the flock.
It can also be transmitted from chicken to animals.
It is a bacterial infection that is caused by the Mycobacterium avium and is a close relative to the TB bacteria that infects humans.
This bacterium has been known to be able to survive outside of a host in the soil for up to four years.
As it is resistant to alkali and acids it is quite difficult to get rid of.
It can be transmitted from the infected birds through their dropping and if an infected bird is eaten by a predator.

Signs and Symptoms:

It does not present any symptoms until the later stages of the disease
It usually only presents in chickens that are over 1 year old
Chickens will have a slow weight loss
Their combs and wattles will start to shrink
Their combs and wattles will lose color and become pale
The chicken will become sluggish
Small masses of firm tissues form in various places of the bird such as the spleen, bone marrow, intestines and liver.
The chicken will eventually experience lameness in its wings and legs.

Treatment:

There is no treatment for this disease
It can be controlled by controlling the population of the chickens
Ensuring there are no rodent infestations
Trying to find a solution to controlling the visiting of wild birds
Keeping a clean coop and surrounding areas where the chickens tend to be found.
ALWAYS isolate birds that have suspected avian tuberculosis

Egg Yolk Peritonitis

Egg Yolk Peritonitis is when an egg gets stuck inside the chicken and either rupture or gets stuck in the hen’s oviduct.
The yolk will usually eventually get reabsorbed by the peritoneum and usually only cause some mild discomfort or inflammation.
The problem comes in that egg yolk is a big attraction for bacteria. This can then lead to a secondary infection caused by the egg yolk.
Usually, Egg Yolk Peritonitis happens because of some other health issues the hen may be experiencing.
Some of the common causes of Egg Yolk Peritonitis is:

Obesity

Today’s chickens get spoilt with all the feed available to them. Not to mention the table scraps and various other delicious treats we feed them. A chicken, especially the ones that are not as active, has to have their diets checked. Obesity can cause a whole host of problems for a chicken and even death.
A healthy diet is what they need to be good layers and keep up their energy and health.

Salpingitis

This is an inflammation of the hen’s oviduct that is usually caused by a bacterium infection. Especially a pathogen called Escherichia coli.
It can be either septic or non-septic both are chronic conditions.
Hens with this condition have been known to lay ill-formed eggs
Eggs that may have blood residual on them
They will become lethargic and have a loss of appetite
There will be weight loss, usually a distended belly. They will have ruffled feathers and keep to themselves.
It is something that you would need to take them to the vet to get correctly diagnosed and treated.
The vet usually treats this disorder with anti-inflammatory, anti-biotics and or hormone implants.

Ovarian neoplasia

These are what they call Germ Cell Tumors
Germ Cells are cells that form eggs or the ova.
Although most of these tumors are benign there are those that are cancerous.
The cancerous ones are usually the one that is life-threatening.
This is a condition that would need to be talked over with the vet for the treatment and care.

Oviductal impaction

This is usually a secondary conditioned that is caused by one of the above-mentioned conditions such as Salpingitis, tumors, torsion, etc.
This can be a serious condition. It is when the hen abruptly stops laying for a few months or years.
The hen is still ovulating and even though she may not be laying eggs they are still sort of being produced inside of her. Egg production generally occurs in 25 cycles. All the products that go into producing eggs just get stuck and eventually the hen has a big mass. As some of that material happens to be egg yolk the hen is also at risk of bacterial infections.
A hen with Oviduct impaction generally has a history of on again off again laying.
Depression and constant broodiness.
It must be correctly diagnosed and treated by a vet. This often requires surgery in which the mass is extracted.

Signs and Symptoms:

Behavioral changes
Excessive broody behavior and not wanting to leave the nesting box even though there are no eggs in it
Loss of appetite
Molt late or not at all
Tummy distention detectable by feeling
Lethargic and not wanting to move around too much
Depression
Deformed eggshells when they do lay
Soft eggshells when they do lay

Treatment:

For this condition to be treated it has to be diagnosed by a vet from blood samples.
The vet will perform a physical examination of the chicken
The vet may even do an ultrasound on the chicken to determine the mass and its location
The treatment is dependent on the mass and if there are any other problems associated with the condition that the chicken is experiencing.
Once the chicken has had this the vet usually advise hormone replacement to stop the hen from laying eggs.

Omphalitis

Is also known as mushy chicken disease, Navel ill, Yolk sac infection.
It usually affects a chicken during incubation, hatching or when they are in a brooder.
There are a few bacteria that can cause this such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus.
In incubation, it is imperative the all the equipment including that used to candle the eggs is kept clean and disinfected.
Dirty eggs should not be placed into the incubator without being cleaned off with safe solutions.
Always make sure to wear sterile gloves and that your hands are clean when touching the eggs.
Dead embryos must always be removed right away from the incubator to avoid contamination.
Any bacteria in the incubator can affect the egg and hatching chickens alike.
Just before a chicken hatches, it absorbs the yolk through its navel. Once the yolk has been absorbed the navel will close and then dry up.
If a chick’s navel does not dry up they can end up with a mushy mass outside of the little bodies that can become infected with the bacteria.
 

Signs and Symptoms:

Navel discoloration
Distended abdomen that is soft and mushy
Usually, have a terrible rotten egg smell
Pasted vents
Diarrhea
Huddle by the heat
Weakened
Have a drooping head
An enlarged yolk sacks

Treatment:

Some cases anti-biotics may clear it up
Chicks that have it usually does not last longer than 5 to 7 days.
Those that do manage to survive are generally smaller and weaker than other chickens
They will also have a compromised immune system
Be sure when incubating eggs, the incubator is clean and sterile at all times
Do NOT try help a chicken out of its egg when it is hatching
Ensure the brooder is clean and sterile at all times.
Any equipment surrounding or used from incubation to brooder must always be cleaned and sterilized right away.
Make sure your hands are always clean around the equipment and when handling the eggs and chicks.

Paratyphoid

This is an infection that is caused by the Salmonella bacteria.
Most chickens that are stressed and have compromised immunes systems are more susceptible to the disease.
Salmonella bacteria thrive in overcrowded hen houses or where the droppings are allowed to accumulate.
In order to be certain that the chicken(s) do have Paratyphoid the vet will do an antigen detection test and bacterial cultures.

Signs and Symptoms:

Greater thirst
Pasty vent
Swelling of the eyes
Swollen joints
Combs and wattles generally turn a purple color
Loss of appetite
Lethargic and not wanting to move around too much
Egg production will fall off
Tend to huddle near a source of heat
They will have drooping wings

Treatment:

The vet will have to be called in order to perform a proper diagnosis.
The chicken(s) will need antibiotics
The infected chicken(s) must be put into the isolation/medical coop away from the other chickens of the flock
Make sure they have plenty of clean fresh water to drink.
The best is to try and prevent this disease to do so ensure waterers are readily available to the chickens and they do not have to drink from the ground.
Try control wild birds from dropping in on the run
Control vermin infestations
Apple cider vinegar in their drinking water is great for all sorts of stuff like parasites both internal and external. As well as helping prevent this kind of infections.

Chronic Respiratory Disease (CRD)

This is usually called an MG infection for Mycoplasmosis gallisepticum.
They also call it Bulgy eye which is not easily detected and takes a stressful event to the chicken that weakens its immune system to suddenly come to the forefront.
It is quite common that when a chicken is infected with CRD that they can be co-infected with one or more pathogens like E. coli.

Signs and Symptoms:

Nasal discharge
Loud breathing (known as rales)
Swelling of the face
Coughing
Sneezing
Watery eyes
Loss of appetite
Feathers are ruffled
Loss of weight
Bluish or purple comb – this is known as Cyanosis

Treatment:

The bird must be separated from the flock and isolated in the medical coop
The vet should be called
They will probably give treatments such of Colloidal silver, Tylosin, Tamulin, etc.
The chicken must be kept calm and their stress level reduced.

Marek’s Disease

Marek’s disease is quite a common chicken disease and is widespread throughout the world. It is also a highly contagious disease that causes tumors.
It is caused by a virus known as Gallid herpesvirus 2(GaHV-2) and is, as its name implies, type of a herpesvirus.
The virus is also known as the Marek’s disease virus or MDV.
The herpesvirus in humans targets the lymph nodes (or lymphoid tissue). Chickens do not have confined lymph nodes and thus their lymphoid tissue is spread throughout their bodies.
MDV is a virus that once the chicken is infected with it will continue to shed the virus for the rest of its life.
That is why most flocks get the MDV vaccination, so they will not get it from a contaminated bird.
MDV gets shed by the bird through their feather follicles, so the virus remains present in their feathers.
It is important to note that the MDV virus is not passed on from and infected hen to an egg.
The MDV virus can also remain alive without a host and in the environment for an entire year.
MDV can also come in different forms such as:
Cutaneous form – this is the skin and the chicken will have enlarged feather follicles. Or shanks that look reddish almost bloody.
Transient paralysis – this is temporary, and the chicken usually recovers after a day or two.
Ocular – They have shrunken irises that look greyish. Some chickens get conjunctivitis and may even go blind.
Internal – Lymphomas will occur in some of the internal organs. You will not spot, and the chicken may just die for no apparent reason.
Their growth may be stunted in younger chickens that are still developing.
Or the chicken will suffer from severe depression.
Neurological – this is enlarged peripheral nerves. The chicken may become disoriented, clumsy, lose balance easily. Paralysis of the legs where you will observe them sitting with one leg stretched out backwards.

Signs and Symptoms:

Eye color may change
Weight loss
Feather follicles, especially on the legs, will enlarge
Pale
Weakened
Muscles may atrophy
Incoordination’s
Stretches one leg forward and the other back like they are doing the splits
Toes curl in
Blindness
Pupils are irregular shapes
Nervous Tics
Wings will droop
Shanks will look bloodied and reddish

Treatment:

There are many treatments for this but if one chicken presents with it, it is best to get the rest of the flock checked out.
New birds must be vaccinated for Marek’s disease before being introduced to the flock
The vet will prescribe the best forms of treatment and medication for your chicken(s)
These may include Dipotassium glycyrrhizinate, Acyclovir, Thymulin to name but a few.
There are homoeopathy remedies available should you wish to go that route.
 

Fowl Pox

This disease has many different names including Avian Diphtheria, Bird Pox, Poxvirus, Avium and Avian Pox.
It is lesions that can be found on various areas of skin that is not covered by feathers. It can also appear in the oral cavity, trachea, larynx and mucous membranes.
There are a lot of different strains of this virus with Fowl Pox being the main one that affects chickens.
Fowl pox has two different strains one is a wet strain or diphtheritic. The other is a dry strain or cutaneous.
The dry pox form is the one that is the most commonly found.
The pox marks look like tiny little wart growths on the skin of the chickens which will gradually get bigger and change color as they grown. Eventually, they will present as dark brown scabs which last around 2 to 4 weeks. They will drop off when they are ready and will leave a smooth round scar.
The important thing to note here is that the scab that drops off now contains the virus that is highly contagious and will infect the flock.
The wet pox form is the more dangerous of the two forms and responsible for more deaths in chickens.
The wet pox is also usually referred to as yellow canker lesions. These lesions from within the throat and inner mouth regions of the chickens. They usually start out looking like tiny white spots and then merge together forming a more raised patch. These patches turn yellow and look like cheese stuck in the bird’s mouth.
Fowl pox is passed through biting mosquito’s that feed on infected chickens then feed on another chicken.
Chickens can also pass the pox on through their scabs if one chicken pecks an infected chicken.

Signs and Symptoms:

Wart type bumps which can appear on the wattles, feet, face and comb
Weight loss
They will not drink too much water
They will lose their appetite
They will have a bad odor from their mouth
There will be a yellow cheesy like canker lesion(s) in the mouth
Their eyelids will swell

Treatment:

Infected birds must be isolated from the flock
They need vitamin A
Lesions will need to be flushed with various antiseptic and saline solutions
Dry pox the scabs must be kept dry and clean
The vet may prescribe various antibiotics in order to treat secondary infections.

Infectious Coryza

This is an acute respiratory disease that tends to affect the chicken’s upper respiratory tract. Specifically, the sinuses and nasal tracts of the chicken.
Chickens can contract IC by being exposed to other chickens at poultry shows and or the introduction of new birds into a flock.
Chickens infect chickens with the disease and in turn, this is transmitted to their feed, etc.

Signs and Symptoms:

Conjunctivitis
Rales or labored breathing
A loss of appetite
Their faces swell
They have a foul-smelling nasal discharge
They have less of a thirst
May get diarrhea
Egg production will drop
Sneezing

Treatment:

The bird(s) must be isolated in the medical coop
A vet may prescribe various treatments such as norfloxacin for the nose, Enrofloxacin (for their water), Colloidal silver (usually a spray) and you can add apple cider vinegar to their water which will help with the mucous.

Infectious Bronchitis (IB)

Infectious Bronchitis is a very contagious disease that affects the upper respiratory tract of the chicken.
This infection is caused by a virus called the Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) it is a coronavirus.
This virus is a cause for concern to most poultry keepers including industrial farmers as the disease can cause reproductive system and kidney damage to the chickens.
Once one bird gets it in a flock the virus spreads very quickly. The virus infects chickens differently depending on their age, immune system, etc.
The virus can get contracted through contaminated water, feed and from chicken to chicken. It is spread through the nasal mucinous and feces of the birds that have the virus. The virus tends to last longer in the winter months than it does in the spring months as it survives longer in the cold than it can in the heat.
The environment around the chickens can be cleansed of the virus with disinfectants.

Signs and Symptoms:

Rales
Lethargy
Listlessness
Egg production drops off
Some eggs may even be discolored
There may even be some abnormally shaped eggs
Eggs with soft shells
The chicken will not want to move
They may gasp for breath
Coughing
Sneezing
They will go and huddle where it is warm
They usually have ruffled feathers
Their faces will swell
They may have diarrhea
Depression
Loss of appetite
Increased thirst
Weight loss

Treatment:

The infected bird(s) will need to be isolated
Make sure it is warm and cozy with enough ventilation
Ensure the area is sanitized properly each day
They must have clean fresh water
You will have to call the vet
To alleviate the mucous, you can put some apple cider vinegar in their water
The vet will set up a treatment plan
There is a vaccination to protect the flock from IB. There is an IBV inactivated vaccine which is usually given to chickens that are 16 to 18 weeks of age.
Then the live attenuated vaccine is usually given by a spray when the chickens first hatch. It is given again 3 weeks later.

Botulism

This disease is from ingesting a potent neurotoxin which is a spore-forming bacteria. This bacterium is known as the Clostridium botulinum bacteria. These bacteria live in low oxygen conditions which they tend to thrive and grow.
It is a serious life-threatening disease as the toxin from this bacterium is one of the most toxic substances there is. Even the ingestion of a very little amount of it can cause very serious illness and lead to death.
Botulism can be found in the soil, water that is not treated even honey and baked potatoes can contain amounts of it.

Signs and Symptoms:

Respiratory problems
Weakness in the face
A limp neck
Muscle tremors
Drooping eyelids
Drooping wings
May have difficulty in walking
May have difficulty in swallowing

Treatment:

Isolate the infected chicken in the medical coop
This is something that must be diagnosed and treated by the vet
You can give the bird activated charcoal
There are homeopathic remedies available such as Nux vomica

Fowl Cholera

Also known Pasteurellosis is a bacterial disease that is highly contagious with the younger birds being more susceptible to it than the older ones.
This disease can go two ways one the chicken will develop some form of chronic infection usually in the inner ear which generally results in the bird getting torticollis.
It can also infect the wing joint, hock sinuses, wattles or footpad of the chicken.
But it normally is the more fatal version of the disease which is septicemia which people usually only catch the sign of when it is too late.
Birds that have been attacked by a predator and bitten should be treated right away.
The disease is commonly spread by bites, ingestion from anything in the infected environment or from an infected bird to bird.

Signs and Symptoms:

Nasal discharge
Lameness
Their head and comb become a darker color
Their respiratory rate will increase
They will appear drowsy
They usually have ruffled feathers
They will have diarrhea and it is usually a pasty yellow
Lethargic
Their wattles get swollen
They will have mucous coming out of the mouth

Treatment:

The chicken will need to move to the medical coop immediately
They must have clean water, food and in a stress environment.
You will have to notify the vet who will need to examine the bird, get tests run and determine the best course of treatment.
They will usually give a prescription for penicillin and some other medication to add to fee and or water.

Air Sac Disease

Also known as airsacculitis is a disease that affects the lower respiratory tract of the chicken. It is an inflammation in one of the air sacs which form an important part of the chicken’s respiratory system.
Air sacs are thin bubble-like pockets that are used to circulate oxygen through the chicken’s body. They have one unpaired air sac and four paired air sacs making nine air sacs in total.
The paired air sacs can be found in the abdominal, caudal thoracic, the cervical and cranial area of the body. The unpaired air sac can be found in the chickens clavicular.
When the get air sac disease that causes the air sacs to thicken and they start to accumulate various pathogens caused by fungal or bacterial infections.
There are specific diseases that can cause Air sac disease some of them being:
Newcastle disease
CRD – Chronic Respiratory Disease
Aspergillosis
Avian chlamydiosis
Ornithobacteriosis

Signs and Symptoms:

Tail-bobbing
Breathing with their mouths open
Will not want to walk or do much of anything
Coughing
Difficulty breathing
Depression

Treatment:

The chicken will need to move to the medical coop immediately
Contact the vet who will advise on treatment
You can administer Vitamin E to the chicken
Try nebulization to help the chicken breathe easier

Thrush

Thrush, also known as Candidiasis is caused by a yeast infection or Candida albicans.
This candida generally infects the areas of the chicken’s gizzard, vent, crop and mouth.
It presents itself as thick white patches and may even become sores on the lining of the gizzard.
Thrush is really hard to detect and usually has to be done in a laboratory.

Signs and Symptoms:

Thin and dishevelled
Moody
Go off on their own

Treatment:

The chicken will need to move to the medical coop immediately
Contact the vet who will advise on treatment
Ensure that all waterers are clean
Feeders are clean
Candida’s thrive in damp overcrowded places.

Aspergillosis

Aspergillosis is a non-contagious fungal infection that is contracted by the chicken taking in the spores of a fungus of the Aspergillus genus.
The infection from these spores can affect the chicken’s central nervous system, their bones, skin, eyes and gastrointestinal tract.
This fungus usually affects those chickens with poorer immune systems the most.
It is found in dank moldy places that have poor ventilation.
This disease takes a long time treat and has to have a culture taken in order to have it diagnosed.

Signs and Symptoms:

Weight loss
Tail bobbing
Change in voice or complete loss of it
Won’t move
Has difficulty breathing
Increased thirst
Loss of appetite
Keeps to itself
Cyanosis (discoloring of the comb and wattles)
A cough
Depression
Crop stasis
Ataxia
Vomiting
Breathing with its mouth open
Makes a clicking noise
Lethargic
Gasps for breath
Cannot walk properly or is unsteady
Is Weak
Light sensitive
Wheezing
Eye swelling
Tremors
Paralysis
Falling
Drooping wings
Depression

Treatment:

The chicken will need to move to the medical coop immediately
Contact the vet who will advise on treatment
Treatment can take up to six months
The environment where the chicken lives will have to be redone to ensure the fungus has been eradicated

Fly Strike

Fly strike is also known as fly blown or myiasis. This disease is primarily caused by flies that lay their eggs in an open wound on a chicken.
As fly larvae grow very fast they only need around 12 hours to hatch and as they do the larvae or maggots eat on the wounded flesh and the tissue that surrounds it.
This not only causes bad tissue damage but increases the risk of the chicken developing a secondary bacterial infection.

Signs and Symptoms:

Tissue necrosis (dead tissue)
Bleeding from the wound
Maggots
Eggs in the wound

Treatment:

The chicken will need to move to the medical coop immediately
Contact the vet who will advise on treatment
The vet will give antibiotics
Keep the wound clean and take off the maggots
To prevent this happening ensure there is good fly control around the coop and chickens
When you see an open wound on the chicken be sure to treat it right away.
Especially keep an eye on the chicken’s vent area. If they have had diarrhea lately make sure the vent and surrounding feathers are kept clean.

New Castle Disease

NDV or Newcastle disease virus is a very contagious disease that affects most types of birds. There are quite a few different strains of the virus, but the most severe strain of the virus is the viscerotropic velogenic Newcastle disease or VVND and is usually referred to as exotic Newcastle disease.
The disease is spread from chicken to chicken and will infect an entire flock if not treated.
The main carriers are wild birds mostly waterfowl. The virus can stay alive for quite some time without a host in the environment. But will die if exposed to direct sunlight.

Signs and Symptoms:

Egg production with go down
Eggs may be abnormal
Gasping for breath
They may sound hoarse
Convulsions
Tilted head
Twisted neck
Shacking of the head
They may have respiratory distress
Lethargic
Blood in their stools
Diarrhea
Fluffed feathers
Not able to stay on the perch, be uncoordinated and wobbly on their legs

Treatment:

The exotic strain of ND has to be reported to your vet. It is the law in the United States.
The bird will need to be isolated
The vet will explain the best course of treatment for the bird(s).
You can add vitamin A to the birds daily feed
You may also add calendula Officinalis extract to the birds feed

Pullorum

Pullorum disease is quite a common disease in backyard chickens. It is also known as bacillary white diarrhea. It is a disease that is caused by Salmonella enterica subsp. Enterica Gallinarum-Pullorum bacterium.
This is a disease that more commonly affect young chicks that are between the ages of 2 to 3 weeks and mostly it would have been passed to them by their breeder hens.
It is quite a vicious strain of diarrhea that the young chicks will suffer and a lot of them do not survive. Most will be severely dehydrated or have blockages form at their vents from fecal built up on their bottoms.
It is passed on the chick by an infected mother, they can get it from poorly maintained hatching equipment, insect bites, rodents and wild birds.

Signs and Symptoms:

Little to no appetite
Stunted growth
Little peeping noises
Diarrhea
Vent covered in a white chalky substance
Drooping wings
Breathing difficulties
Swollen joints
Blind
Weak
They will huddle by the most warmth they can find

Treatment:

The chicken will need to move to the medical coop immediately
Contact the vet who will advise on treatment
Keep the chicks vent clean and dry
The vet may administer Amoxicillin and advice on other medications to supplement the healing.

Avian Influenza

One of the most contagious diseases that have to be reported to the vet immediately an outbreak is suspected.
It is caused by the type A influenza virus and has a high pathogenicity. It is not only a threat to the chicken population but to human health as well.
A suspected outbreak will result in the chicken(s) being tested through a rapid method of diagnostic like the AGID.
Direct contact with the feces of the infected bird, aerosol spread in the air, through the nose, etc. are way the virus spreads.
AI has an incubation period of 3 to 4 days.

Signs and Symptoms:

Cyanosis (discoloring of the wattles and comb usually a purplish color)
Reddish skin discoloration
Diarrhea
Nasal discharge
Decreased appetite
Decreased thirst
Facial swelling
Sneezing
Watery red eyes
Twisted neck
Weight loss
Tilting of the head
Egg production will drop off
Depression
Congestion
Death

Treatment:

The chicken will need to move to the medical coop immediately
Contact the vet who will advise on treatment
There is a vaccine

Bumble Foot

Usually, this infection is caused by a bacterium known as Staphylococcus aureus. But it can also be caused by other bacteria such as Streptococcus, E. coli sp., Actinomyces sp., Candida sp. and a few others.
Bumblefoot is also known as pododermatitis and footpad dermatitis. It is an inflammation and or degradation of the bird’s foot. It is graded in 5 different stages of infection severity.
Bumblefoot is quite common in birds that are kept in any type of an enclosure or captivity in general. This condition can be likened to that of bed sores in humans.
It is contracted by the bird putting constant, uneven and excessive pressure on their feet. If they are constantly on the wet muddy ground this can cause the skin to become moist and soften. Eventually, with the constant pressure, the skin is broken open, much like that of a blister on a human’s foot. Once the skin is open it becomes a prime target for bacterial infections to invade and infest right to the tender inner tissues of the chicken’s foot/feet.

Signs and Symptoms:

Early signs there may be a tiny lesion on the base of the foot/feet
A rough abrasion or mild discoloration
Dark color scab on the underside of the chicken’s foot/feet
Lameness and or limping
Depression
Swelling
Loss of appetite
You may notice a change in the bird behavior
They will not want to move or put pressure on the infected foot

Severity Grades of Bumblefoot:

Severity Grade 1 – Not infected but there is reddened shiny surface or a little lesion on the underside of the chicken’s foot.
Treatment Grade 1 – This is easier to treat and may only require a topical cream, a few environmental changes to the ground upon which the chickens are walking.
A good foot soaks for the chicken in warm water with some Epsom salts in.
It is, however, advisable even at this stage to separate the chicken from the flock.
Make sure it is in a clean, dry environment with plenty of fresh water and a warm, well-ventilated place in order to aid its recovery.
Bandage with medial honey or some other topical cream advised by the vet.
The Vet may give a neoprene shoe, suggest a gauze wrap or vetwrap.
Severity Grade 2 – The foot has become infected in the underlying tissues that are directly beneath the opened skin. At this stage that is only slight swelling.
Treatment Grade 2 – The vet will advise pretty much the same treatment, albeit a little more aggressive, than with Grade 1.
It is, however, advisable even at this stage to separate the chicken from the flock.
Make sure it is in a clean, dry environment with plenty of fresh water and a warm, well-ventilated place in order to aid its recovery.
The chicken will be set to have a bandage with some anti-infection/anti-biotic topical cream and may give medicine to help with the inflammation.
They may give a neoprene shoe, suggest a gauze wrap or vetwrap.
Severity Grade 3 – Is more severe at this stage the food has developed an abscess.
Be sure that the infected bird is kept on its own until it has fully recovered.
Treatment Grade 3 – This is a serious infection for the chicken and it will probably need constant medical care until the abscess has been completely healed. The chicken will need antibiotics and to have the abscess drained
There are various treatments and therapies that the vet will use at this stage.
The vet will also discuss the management of the wound and the best environmental changes for the garden/coop/run.
Severity Grade 4 – This is a very serve stage of the condition. At this stage, the chicken may start to show signs of other conditions such as arthritis, osteomyelitis or tenosynovitis.
Be sure that the infected bird is kept on its own until it has fully recovered.
Treatment Grade 4 – The wound is considered to be chronic at this stage and may or may not need surgery.
It is very likely that the vet will keep the bird at the clinic for pre-operation and or post operation until they are happy that the entire infection has cleared.
At this stage there could be some side effects to the conditions such as a deformity of the foot and or claws, they may be a bit of lameness or some loss of foot function.
Severity Grade 5 – Usually at this stage, it is very likely that the bird will have loss of function to its leg and severe deformity.
Treatment Grade 5 – The vet may suggest an operation or a few operations.
The vet will discuss the various option available to the owner at this stage. It may be heartbreaking, or they may be able to do something for the chicken.
The best is to try and detect the condition early so it does not get to this crippling stage.

Treatment:

If caught early enough a good foot soak in warm water with some Epsom salts or even some Chamomile tea
Ensure you tend to the wound at least once a day
All dressings must be kept clean
The bird should be confined to a clean, warm and well-ventilated sick bay coop
Ensure the bird is getting all the nutrients and nourishment they need
Keep fresh water for it at all times
Follow the management protocols the vet has advised
Keep the chicken away from the rest of the flock until it is fully recovered
Investigate the environment the chickens are walking around on and see where and or how you can implement changes to avoid more outbreaks of the condition.

Pasty butt

This usually affects chicks and can be quite fatal if not treated and controlled.
It is also referred to as pasted butt or pasting up.
This is when the vent of the chicken becomes clogged with feces. It becomes hard and has to be removed in order to unclog the blockage.
If the cause of the excessive tummy movement is not treated or the blockage at the vent not kept clean and free of feces, the chick will die.
As waste that cannot get out of the chicken send poison waste back into their little systems.

Signs and Symptoms:

Hard white chalky feces build up in the vent and surround feathers
Stunted growth
Lethargic
Protruding vent
Huddling
The chicken will chirp continuously and not sleep

Treatment:

Clean away the feces from the vent
Ensure the vent is kept clean and dry
Take the chick to the vet as there may be an underlying cause for diarrhea

END OF PART 12

This is the end of Part 12 of our “Health and Wellbeing of the chicken Flock” series.
Part 13 of the series is about WHY DEWORMING CHICKENS IS IMPORTANT
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