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Diseases of birds. Diseases of chickens, their symptoms and treatment

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A fascinating and profitable occupation is breeding and keeping domestic chickens. But they may develop pathologies and diseases for which prevention can be carried out. If they did appear disease symptoms, it is necessary to correctly establish the diagnosis and engage in surgical treatment.

Chicken sneezing

Could be a symptom of a viral infection(contagious rhinitis, tuberculosis, colds, infectious bronchitis, mycoplasmosis). Treatment of symptoms is carried out by warming chicken coops, drinking birds with a decoction of nettles, and conducting inhalations. Infectious chicken bronchitis is eliminated with disinfectants (aluminum iodide, Glutek aerosol, Lugol's solution, chlorturpentine). Antibiotics are also used.

Cough

Wheezing

Rattling is uncharacteristic of the breathing of healthy chickens.. Often they appear in colds and bronchial diseases (bronchopneumonia, infectious bronchitis), colibacillosis. The chicken breathes heavily, wet and dry rales appear in the sternum.

diarrhea in birds

It can manifest itself as a result of a cold, poor-quality food, gastritis, stress, pullosis, worms, coccidiosis, pasteurellosis, salmonellosis, bird flu. In laying hens, a nervous breakdown is possible with fright, a change in the environment, and can pass in a day. If the bird began to cough with colds due to hypothermia, it is transferred to a warm room. Poor quality food is excluded. To treat discomfort it is necessary to accurately determine the diagnosis, you can not prescribe self-medication.

Runny nose

Birds runny nose may appear as a result of damage by pathogenic fungi, bacteria, worms, coccidiosis and other serious pathologies (infectious bronchitis, smallpox, feed diphtheria). Cause of pathology there may be a lack of vitamin A, a change in diet, a change in temperature, poor ventilation.

Leg diseases in chickens: growths on the paws, lameness and more

There are many causes of leg disease in chickens.. If they are improperly maintained, there is a lack of space, mobility decreases, which causes the musculoskeletal system to be disturbed and the chickens begin to limp. Pathologies of the legs include gout, curvature of the fingers, joint diseases (tendovanginitis, arthritis and arthrosis), knemidokoptosis. Also, a symptom may be a sign of salmonellosis.

Why can chickens go blind?

The bird can go blind as a result of damage by sinusitis, panophthalmitis, inflammation of the conjunctiva. To eliminate this symptom, antibiotic treatment is prescribed.

Infectious diseases, signs and methods of treatment

Many bird diseases are easier to prevent than to treat. Why can chickens get sick? It is recommended to create appropriate conditions for chickens with optimal care. They are provided with the correct temperature and light conditions, timely nutrition, and chicken coop hygiene. But even in excellent conditions of detention there is no one hundred percent protection against the appearance of pathologies. Most infections develop as a result of stress, lack of movement, impaired metabolic processes and daily routine. The health of chickens is also subject to change under the changing climate zone.

To maintain health and prevent infections, the chicken coop must be kept clean, monitor your own hygiene. It is important to correctly identify the symptoms of diseases for the correct treatment of infections..

Pullorosis-typhoid

Pathology manifests itself in adults and young birds, manifested by a disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Bacteria, causative agents of infection, are transmitted by airborne droplets from affected eggs and sick individuals. Manifested profuse diarrhea, intense thirst, lack of appetite, general weakness and rapid breathing. Pullor antigen is used to determine the disease. Antibiotics are prescribed when the causative agent is accurately identified.(neomycin, biomycin) and isolation from healthy individuals.

colibacillosis

It manifests itself in young and adult individuals in the form of fever, thirst and lethargy. Respiratory tract infection, resulting in wheezing, which will increase with movement. But the pathology is not always detected by wheezing, the help of a specialist may be required. The causative agent is Escherichia coli, striking internal organs.

After the diagnosis is determined, treatment is prescribed- penicillin, biomycin or terramycin is introduced, multivitamins are added to the feed, only nutritious and fresh grain is recommended.

pasteurellosis

Pathology manifests itself in wild and domestic birds. The causative agent can be in food, water, manure for a long time, it is transmitted to healthy individuals from infected ones. Prevention- Do regular cleaning and disinfection of the poultry house.

The symptom of pathology is blue comb and wattles, lethargy, lack of appetite, intense thirst, digestive disorders, high fever and mucus in the nose. With an acute form of pathology there may be swelling or curvature of the joints of the paws.

Treatment is based on the use of sulfa drugs and their addition to feed, water. Also, birds are given vitamins E, B, A and fresh herbs. If left untreated, the livestock will die.

salmonellosis

Mostly appears in young individuals in the form of conjunctivitis, lameness, shortness of breath, high lacrimation. With an advanced form of the disease chickens fall on their side and die. Antibiotic treatment (sulfanilamide, chlortetracycline, chloramphenicol) should not be delayed by adding small doses to feed for about 2 weeks.

Newcastle disease (pseudo-plague)

Pathology is characterized by acute dysfunction of the nervous system, digestive organs. Transmitted from birds and animals that were previously sick, through their water, feed and droppings, is not treatable. After the defeat of the birds, their death is observed, which can destroy all individuals.

Most often affects young birds manifested by outgrowths-pockmarks on the skin in the area of \u200b\u200bthe cloaca or head. At first they have a yellow tint, but gradually darken. If left untreated, the growths may coalesce and grow in size. They begin to bleed, harden and wither.

Non-communicable diseases, home treatments

Sometimes poultry can be exposed to diseases that are not inherently contagious. But from them there is no less harm than with the defeat of infections. They do not have a specific pathogen and are mainly associated with inappropriate care of chickens, wrong choice feed, mechanical damage, injuries.

Atony goiter in laying hens

Pathology manifests itself only in laying hens, the cause of which is an irregular or unbalanced diet, the poor quality of the compounds that can accumulate in the goiter, forming an obstruction. The disease is easily determined by palpation of the goiter, which sags for a long time and is dense. In the absence of immediate assistance, the chicken dies instantly and abruptly., since the goiter blocks the jugular vein and the airways.

Atony goiter in chickens

One of the methods of treatment is the use of a probe, into which a couple of milliliters of vegetable oil are dripped, a hard goiter is massaged and the bird is turned upside down, gradually removing the contents. After the procedure, it is desirable to pour a solution of potassium permanganate into the goiter.

Gastroenteritis (intestinal flu)

Manifested as a result of eating poor-quality feed, untimely feeding. When pathology appears, weakness, indigestion and loss of appetite appear in birds. For the prevention and treatment of the disease, the causes are eliminated, quickly digestible feeds, laxatives and antibiotics are introduced into the diet.

Dyspepsia

This is a simple indigestion that appears in young individuals that are 21 days old. The reason for the violation is the use of coarse and poorly digested food, poor-quality and polluted water. It can be acute or chronic, characterized by high fever, anorexia, bloating, cramps, and diarrhea. Eliminate pathology with a diet with products that do not lead to decay and fermentation.

cloacite

The disease manifests itself in individuals that eat food with a lack of vitamins and mineral salts. The provocateur of the development of pathology is the inappropriate keeping of birds. Laying hens often suffer from cloacitis, which suffer from a decrease in weight, the number of eggs, and intestinal upset. In the treatment of laying hens, they should be separated from the herd, washed with inflamed areas of the cloaca with a solution of rivanol, lubricating with a special composition.

Bronchopneumonia or pneumonia

Appears in violation of the care of chickens. Pathology manifests itself in young individuals under the age of 20 weeks with hypothermia. The symptoms are low mobility, severe wheezing and loss of appetite. For treatment, antibiotics are used in individual dosages.

Keratoconjunctivitis - an eye disease, how to cure

The disease affects birds kept in barns, where there is no timely cleaning of litter and cleaning. Fresh litter is a source of ammonia, the vapors of which penetrate the bronchial tract and cause inflammation of the eyes. Pathology can be identified by wet, dirty plumage, watery eyes, yellow accumulations on the eyelids. When the pathogen is eliminated, the sheds are cleaned of litter and the eyes are treated with a decoction of chamomile.

Keratoconjunctivitis in chickens

Avitaminosis

Often the disease manifests itself in laying hens kept in cages, for which mixtures are used to feed. Vitamin deficiency symptoms are lack of weight, conjunctivitis, loss of feathers, weakness.

Diseases caused by insects, what to do?

Diseases caused by insects, belong to a separate section. Due to the variety of symptoms, it is possible not to make a definite diagnosis, so the treatment of pathologies is difficult.

If you do not want to lose chickens, then you should periodically take preventive measures, separating sick individuals from healthy ones, destroying those who cannot be cured. Once every 30 days, the poultry house should be treated with disinfectants. Birds need to be provided proper care, balanced diet.

Good afternoon, our readers and readers. The easiest to breed and further maintain among all poultry are chickens. Therefore, they are most often bred in a personal compound. Most breeds of laying hens are characterized by high productivity - in addition to good, they receive tender tasty dietary meat, as well as by-products - feathers and down. Let's talk today about diseases of chickens - read the symptoms of diseases and methods of treatment.

What symptoms should you pay attention to and how to take care of sick chickens? Reading, watching photos and videos.

Most often, offspring and adult chickens begin to get sick en masse, because their owners do not pay attention to sick individuals in time, they do not immediately begin to treat them. As a result, the disease can spread to most livestock.

All diseases of chickens that can occur in these individuals can be divided into the following groups:

Infectious diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria, viruses). These diseases are spread by airborne droplets, when diseased birds come into contact with healthy individuals, through common feeders and drinkers, so if you do not pay attention to the first signs of illness in chickens or in time, then almost all inhabitants will get sick very quickly.

Non-contagious diseases that occur in individuals due to malnutrition, unsanitary conditions in the house. Such diseases of chickens are not transmitted to other birds.

The main infectious diseases of chickens and their treatment

All novice poultry farmers should be aware of what infections their hens can lie in wait for, be able to recognize them in time and treat them correctly.

salmonellosis in chickens

Salmonellosis (paratyphoid) - the cause of this intestinal disease is salmonella. This is a disease of nature for chickens, and it is very dangerous, affecting almost all organs of the bird. In humans, this pathogen affects the gastrointestinal tract.

In birds, this disease is transmitted by air, a person can become infected after eating infected meat or eggs. Salmonella dies when exposed to high temperatures, so infected products should be subjected to prolonged heat treatment.

All eggs laid by a sick laying hen are also infected with salmonellosis, and if chickens are hatched from them, then the brood will also be infected, all such young animals are born either very weak or dead.

Symptoms of the disease:

the bird's stomach is upset, diarrhea begins - liquid frothy white litter;
eating poorly, not active, tail drooping, drinking more water than usual;
development slows down;
eyes stick together due to discharge;
at the last stage of the disease, the lower limbs are affected, which prevents them from walking;
the last symptom is that the chicken falls, and before death, she begins to have convulsions.

A course of antibiotics (furazolidone or streptomycin) is usually prescribed. Streptomycin is given to birds for 10 days, furazolidone - for 20 days. Then you need to take a break for a week, and repeat the treatment. Sick chickens are isolated from the main herd to prevent an outbreak of the disease in the poultry house.

To avoid an outbreak of salmonellosis in the chicken coop, at the slightest sign of illness, all sick birds are placed in a separate room. And healthy individuals should be given special means for the prevention of salmonellosis (for example, a weak solution of potassium permanganate).

Conjunctivitis in chickens

Conjunctivitis - with this disease, the mucous membrane of the eyes becomes inflamed. It occurs for the following reasons:

the presence of burning, dust, strong wind in the air;
eye injury;
infectious diseases;
improper feeding - lack of vitamin A in the body of chickens;
poor conditions in the chicken coop - high humidity, no ventilation and other reasons).
Symptoms of conjunctivitis:
eyes swell;
the mucous membrane turns red;
eyes fester (because of this, they swell) and itch;
chickens do not open their eyes well;
tears flow.

On the basis of this disease, adults and young animals become lethargic, see poorly, eat worse. If treatment is not started on time, then chickens may stop seeing altogether.

Many poultry farmers treat this disease with folk remedies, but it is better to immediately contact a specialist who will prescribe the necessary antibiotics.

In the initial stage, conjunctivitis in poultry can be done using folk remedies:

wash your eyes with ordinary black tea or special eye drops;
give more with feed to strengthen the immunity of chickens.

When symptoms of the next stage of conjunctivitis appear (the mucous membrane turns red, tears swell and begin to flow), then sick birds should be isolated from the main herd in order to prevent the spread of this contagious disease.

At any stage of conjunctivitis, it is necessary to give the birds a solution of vitamin A; a solution of boric acid is used to wash the eyes. When a bird's eyes swell, tetracycline eye ointment should be used - this remedy is used to treat eye diseases in humans, but is also good for animals. It is enough to put a small amount of the drug behind the eyelid of the bird. You can also use chamomile infusion to wash inflamed eyes.

As a preventive measure, experts advise constantly introducing vitamin food into the diet of these individuals, which includes all the necessary macro and microelements. If home treatment does not give a positive effect, you need to contact a veterinarian who will prescribe special medications.

Marek's disease

This disease is one of the most contagious among poultry, affecting the limbs of both young and adult chickens.

This disease occurs in poultry houses quite often, if the owner does not take timely measures, then as a result, the rest will get sick from one sick rooster or chicken. As a result, mass mortality of poultry will begin.

The virus of this disease spreads from a sick bird to a healthy bird through the air, through the gastrointestinal tract and feather follicles.

Symptoms of this viral disease:

eye color changes to grey,
there are clear signs of a violation of the central nervous system - lack of coordination, lameness, paralysis of various parts of the body:
goiter expands;
involuntary convulsions;
stop laying eggs
the mucous membrane of the eyes becomes inflamed;
breathing is disturbed;
body weight is reduced, chickens do not eat well, diarrhea is white.

There is no cure for this disease, so sick birds are slaughtered and destroyed. But some chickens cope with this disease on their own.

But birds are vaccinated against this disease. Therefore, the main preventive measure is the total number of poultry.

Pseudoplague (Newcastle disease)

Or pseudo-plague is the most dangerous of the diseases found in poultry. With it, all the organs of the bird are affected in the bird. Every year, a huge number of these individuals die from it. And it is also dangerous for people.

The source of infection is a sick chicken, as well as those individuals who have an incubation period. Carriers of infection - mice, rats, wild birds. It is transmitted through infected eggs and other products obtained from these birds.

Symptoms:

no more than two weeks pass from the onset of the disease to the manifestation of the disease;
if these pets have weak immunity (or timely vaccination has not been carried out), then their death occurs a few hours after infection (even without obvious symptoms);
lack of appetite;
lethargy;
temperature increase;
impaired functioning of the affected organs.

This disease is incurable, in order to save the livestock, it is necessary to carry out preventive actions to prevent this disease in chickens.

Preventive measures:

bird vaccination;
treat the chicken coop with boiling water;

the pathogen dies under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, so you should purchase a UV lamp, which is periodically turned on in the house. Products should be subjected to prolonged heat treatment.

The most dangerous diseases of chickens are caused by various aggressive microorganisms - bacteria, viruses and fungi.

Infections are characterized by the following common symptoms:

sudden onset of symptoms;
mass distribution;
severe course, high mortality;
the presence of characteristic symptoms.

Viral diseases

Viral diseases are remarkable in that they are not treated. The only way to deal with them is to slaughter all the sick birds and vaccinate the healthy ones.

Newcastle disease (pseudoplague of birds)

A very dangerous disease. On the territory of our country, outbreaks often occur both in poultry farms and in private farmsteads. Susceptible, ducks, geese, sparrows, pigeons, pheasants. A person can also become infected with this virus, but the illness passes easily, within 3-4 days with symptoms of a runny nose, mild conjunctivitis can sometimes develop.

With an outbreak of the disease on an unvaccinated population, the death of a bird occurs in 2-3 days, the mortality rate reaches 70-100%.

Symptoms of Newcastle disease. On the vaccinated livestock, the disease can proceed in different ways. Basically, there are signs of damage to the nervous and respiratory systems: paralysis of the wings, neck, tail of chickens. On non-vaccinated livestock, the bird develops a cough, runny nose, purulent discharge from the eyes and nose, diarrhea and hemorrhages in the internal organs. Sometimes there is a sudden mass death without any outward symptoms.

Control measures. A sick bird is destroyed by a bloodless method, a healthy one is vaccinated with live vaccines.

Vaccine from Strain "H" (dry) produced by FSUE "Stavropol biofactory".

bird flu

Another name for the disease is bird plague. The virus that causes the disease is extremely diverse and constantly changing. Most types of this virus are not dangerous to humans; some can cause mild illness with cold symptoms. The exception is the infamous H5N1 type, which appeared in Russia in mid-summer 2005. Cases of human avian influenza in the territory Russian Federation not registered.

bird flu symptoms. Plague is characterized by the rapid course of the disease, the sudden death of a large number of chickens (up to 70-100% within a few days). There are also general depression, swelling of the head and neck, cyanosis of the earrings and comb, mucous membranes, a coma develops with subsequent death.

Control measures. All sick birds and those in contact with them are destroyed in a bloodless way.

Infectious bursal disease (Gamboro)

This chicken disease is usually introduced with chickens bought from dysfunctional factories. Young chickens aged 2-20 weeks are susceptible to it. The virus attacks the immune system.

Symptoms. Signs of Gumboro disease are uncharacteristic: yellowish-white diarrhea, ruffled plumage, decreased or no appetite, and depression. Symptoms such as trembling of the muscles of the neck, head, torso, as well as are not excluded. The disease can occur without any symptoms. The virus greatly reduces the bird's resistance to other infectious diseases.

Control measures. Sick chickens are killed and after boiling the carcass can be eaten. The Gumboro virus can persist in the litter for a long time. The expediency of vaccination of healthy chickens is determined by a veterinarian. Sometimes only disinfection of the poultry house is required.

Inactivated vaccine Hipraviar-TRT4. Available in various dosages, in the photo - a jar for 500 doses.

Infectious bronchitis of chickens

All ages of chickens are susceptible, but chickens up to 30 days old are more likely to get sick. Laying hens who have been ill with bronchitis reduce egg production by 50-60% and have shell defects. Mortality in IB is from 10 to 35%, in chronic cases there are also large losses from the lack of weight gain and eggs.

Symptoms. In young animals, the virus infects the respiratory system, in laying hens - the organs of reproduction. In chickens with infectious bronchitis, lethargy, drowsiness, loss of appetite, runny nose, inflammation of the eyes, discharge from the nose and eyes are noted. Inhalation is difficult due to the accumulation of mucus in the respiratory tract, the beak is open, with each breath the chicken stretches its neck forward and upward. You can hear dry or wet rales, distinguishable from a distance as a squeak, squeak, or a faint "meow of kittens". Dry rales are detected at close range, if you bring such a chicken to your ear, then it seems that there is an accordion inside it.

Control measures. In acute cases, treatment is inappropriate. In chronic bronchitis, chickens are given broad-spectrum antibiotics, aerosol treatments are carried out in the presence of birds with antiseptic agents: iodotriethylene glycol, iodine monochloride, Monclavit, ASD-2, Ecocide.

The nomenclature of the veterinary antiseptic "Monklavit-1" is diverse and includes volumes from 350 ml to 20 liters.

Pneumovirus rhinotracheitis (big head chick syndrome)

With this disease, the upper respiratory tract is affected: the nasal cavity, larynx, trachea, and also the mucous membrane of the eyes. The main symptom is swelling of the head, eyelids, discharge from the eyes. In most cases, chicks recover but are severely stunted.

Treatment the same as in chicken bronchitis.

Marek's disease

The virus mainly infects chickens, but other chicken species are also susceptible. Chicks become infected in the first days after hatching, later the susceptibility decreases.

Symptoms. Marek's disease develops for a very long time. The first signs appear at the age of 70 to 120 days. Characterized by paralysis of the limbs, wings, tail, neck - depending on which nerve attacked the virus. In adult chickens - tumors in the internal organs, an increase in the liver and spleen several times. characteristic feature for laying hens is a change in the shape of the pupil (iridocyclitis).

Control measures. Sick chickens are killed. The meat can be used as food if there is no sign of rebirth. The internal organs are disposed of. Vaccination at day old is necessary to prevent the disease. They can do it only on, as the vaccine requires special conditions storage and use.

Dry vaccine against Marek's disease "Avivak-Marek-3" with a diluent. (All photos below can be enlarged by clicking)

Infectious laryngotracheitis

All ages of chickens are susceptible to the disease, but usually ILT appears from 20-30 days to 8-9 months of age. Often the disease manifests itself when a vaccinated population is introduced into an unvaccinated herd.

Symptoms. The disease affects the larynx, trachea and bronchi. Difficulty breathing, discharge from the eyes and nose, frequent coughing, wheezing and signs of choking. The bird dies due to mucus and inflammatory products that form a plug in the trachea. Characterized by the formation of a blood clot in the trachea.

Control measures. Affected chickens are destroyed, healthy ones are vaccinated. Carry out therapeutic measures, as with bronchitis of chickens.

Avivak-ILT - dry vaccine against infectious laryngotracheitis produced by NPP "Avivak"

Smallpox birds

The disease is contagious for many species of birds - more than 60, including chickens, turkeys, guinea fowls, pigeons and sparrows. Birds between the ages of 4 and 12 months are most susceptible. Mortality ranges from 5-8% of the population in the cutaneous form and up to 50-70% in the diphtheria.

Symptoms. With the skin form of smallpox of birds, nodules are formed - pockmarks - on the scallop, earrings, around the beak and cloaca, on other non-feathered parts of the body. The pockmarks increase in size and coalesce to form a smallpox eschar. With diphtheria, the virus infects the respiratory tract: nasopharynx, larynx, trachea.

Control measures. A sick bird is killed or treated (depending on the severity of the disease), a healthy one is vaccinated. Pockmarks are lubricated with oils, glycerin, ointments to soften the crust, then cauterized with tincture of iodine or a solution of potassium permanganate. Antibiotics are given to prevent bacterial infections.

In the photo - dry vaccine "Avivak-Pox" and a diluent (7.5 cm3).

Bacterial diseases

Bacterial infections can be as dangerous as viral ones. But most of them can be successfully treated with antibiotics and other medicines. In addition, for some diseases there are specific sera containing antibodies to infectious agents.

salmonellosis

Salmonellosis-paratyphoid - is caused by the bacterium "Salmonella".

Symptoms. The disease is accompanied by depression, drowsiness, muscle weakness, loss of appetite, lacrimation, nasal discharge, shortness of breath, and diarrhea. Sometimes there is inflammation of the joints: they are swollen, hot to the touch.

This disease can be transmitted to humans, and it can also serve as a source of infection for chickens. When eating meat or eggs with salmonella, a person develops a toxic infection.

Salmonella treatment. Drinking or injection of antibiotics: enrofloxacin, neomycin, tetracycline, gentamicin. The introduction of anti-salmonella therapeutic serum is effective. It is also recommended to inject it to young animals upon admission to the farm to prevent the disease. Attention! Meat and products from chickens with salmonellosis should not be eaten.

"Vaccine OKZ" produced by the Moscow LLC "Agrovet" against salmonellosis and colibacillosis.