Chicken Diseases You Need To Be Aware Of

One of the hardiest farm animals is the chicken. As long as they are given a clean environment with fresh feed and water every day, these animals barely get sick. This said, they are still outdoor animals and will be at some risk of catching a disease or falling ill. By knowing common varieties of chicken diseases, one can better prevent and take care of certain illnesses.

External parasites are quite possibly the most common ailment to which chickens are exposed. Lice and mites are the common perpetrators. Unless one handles his or her chickens on a regular basis, he or she may not see the infestation until the fowl become visibly sickened. Over time the chicken will develop a moth eaten look if they have Lice, as these parasites will eat the skin and feathers.

A persons chicken will be severely weakened if they have Mites as these are blood sucking parasites. These parasites are quite smaller than lice and are even harder to detect. A scaly appearance on the legs and face of a persons chicken will be an indication that they have Mites.. A good idea would be to consult a vet for advice if the chicken is showing these symptoms, but a person could also use an insecticide powder that is specifically designed for birds.

Along with external parasites, poultry also have to battle internal parasites. One of the most common internal parasites is worms, and chickens are very susceptible. These worms live in the ground and on the chickens' feces. If the poultry eats from these tainted areas, they are also eating the worms, thereby becoming infected. Many times, chickens have a small amount of internal parasites that are not harmful.

If one's chickens are kept in a highly contaminated area, they can obtain an overload of internal parasites that bring about diarrhea and can cause starvation. Any sickness can be identified by a veterinarian, who will also identify if it is a certain parasite that is causing the problems. The veterinarian will be able to prescribe the medication that will heal a persons brood of chickens by examining a sample of feces.

Various pox viruses also affect poultry, the same as the do humans. This "chicken" pox can bring about various skin lesions on one's animals. One bird can transmit this disease to the rest of a persons flock by contact and also by mosquitoes. I will become very difficult to contain the spread of the infection to the rest of the flock once a bird has become infected. One's poultry can survive this type of disease, but only if caught early enough and special care is given to the lesions on the birds. A person can prevent these types of diseases from spreading to their flock by using certain vaccines.

Another disease that affects chickens is fowl cholera. The older birds in a persons flock are more susceptible to this disease than the younger chicks. It is caused by a bacterium that can kill one's entire flock very quickly. Chickens can die within hours of being exposed to this disease. Swollen eyes and feet are a common symptoms as well as ear drainage. .

In cases where one's chickens die, he or she needs to take the birds to his or her veterinarian. Detection of cholera will insure that the rest of the chickens are treated appropriately to limit the loss of the entire flock. If no treatment is given, this disease can spread to other animals through contact and through contaminated soil.

For more information about chicken care and further information about chickens as a whole please visit my website. You can also pick up a set of FREE Plans For Chicken Coop at www.plans-for-chicken-coop.com