🦫 Diseases A–Z
Tap any disease to expand. 40+ conditions covered.
Aspergillosis (Brooder Pneumonia)
Gasping, labored breathing, lethargy in chicks
Fungal infection caused by Aspergillus mold — usually from moldy bedding or feed. No effective treatment. Prevention is key: use clean dry bedding, never use moldy feed or hay. Affected chicks rarely survive. Remove and discard all potentially moldy litter immediately.
Read Full Article →Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
Sudden death, swollen head/wattles, neurological signs, drop in egg production
REPORTABLE DISEASE — call your state vet immediately. Highly contagious. No treatment. Government-mandated depopulation may occur. Prevent by keeping wild birds away from your flock, disinfecting footwear, and not sharing equipment with other flocks.
Read Full Article →Blackhead Disease (Histomoniasis)
Yellow sulfur-colored droppings, lethargy, darkened head in turkeys
Caused by a protozoan parasite. Primarily affects turkeys but can infect chickens. Treat with Metronidazole if available. Do NOT raise turkeys and chickens together. Earthworms carry the parasite — de-worm regularly and keep ground clean.
Read Full Article →Botulism
Progressive paralysis starting from legs up, "limberneck," death
Caused by Clostridium botulinum toxin from rotting carcasses or decaying vegetation. Remove any dead animals from the yard immediately. Treat with epsom salt flush (1 tsp per gallon water). Supportive care. Prevention: keep yard clean, no standing water, remove dead animals promptly.
Read Full Article →Bumblefoot
Limping, swollen foot pad, black scab on bottom of foot
Bacterial infection (Staph aureus) entering through cuts on foot pads. Soak in warm Epsom salt water daily for 15 min. Remove black scab, clean wound, pack with antibiotic ointment (Neosporin), wrap with vet wrap. Change every 2-3 days. Severe cases need a vet. Prevent with smooth roost bars and clean dry bedding.
Read Full Article →Coccidiosis
Bloody droppings, lethargy, ruffled feathers, poor growth in chicks
Most common killer of chicks under 8 weeks. Caused by Eimeria protozoa. TREAT immediately with Corid (amprolium) — 2 tsp liquid or 1.5 tsp powder per gallon of water for 5-7 days. Remove all other water sources. Separate infected birds. Prevent: dry clean coop, gradual exposure to ground builds immunity.
Read Full Article →Egg Binding
Straining, penguin walk, tail pumping down, sitting on ground, not eating
EMERGENCY — fatal within 48 hours if untreated. Soak hen in warm (not hot) water 20-30 min twice daily. Apply olive oil or KY jelly inside vent. Keep at 85°F in dark quiet space. Offer liquid calcium (Tums dissolved in water). Check every 30 min — no egg within 2-3 hours = vet visit NOW. Prevent with adequate calcium (oyster shell) year-round.
Read Full Article →Egg Peritonitis (Internal Laying)
Penguin stance, swollen abdomen, weight loss, pale comb, lethargy
Yolk material falls into the abdomen instead of the oviduct — causes life-threatening infection. Vet treatment needed: antibiotics + anti-inflammatories. In severe cases, surgical intervention or humane euthanasia. More common in high-production breeds. No home cure.
Read Full Article →Fatty Liver Syndrome
Sudden death, pale comb, obesity, reduced egg production
Excess fat accumulates in liver, leading to rupture and internal bleeding. Common in confined, overweight hens. Reduce high-energy feed, cut out scratch and treats, increase exercise. Add methionine supplement. Ensure proper protein balance. More common in Leghorns and high-production breeds.
Read Full Article →Fowl Cholera
Sudden death, green/yellow droppings, swollen wattles, labored breathing
Highly contagious bacterial disease (Pasteurella multocida). Treat with sulfonamides or penicillin — consult a vet. Vaccinate in high-risk areas. Rodents and wild birds spread it. Surviving birds become carriers. Full flock biosecurity lockdown required during outbreak.
Read Full Article →Fowl Pox
Warty scabs on comb/wattles/face (dry pox), or white lesions in mouth/throat (wet pox)
Viral — spread by mosquitoes and direct contact. No treatment — supportive care only. Dry pox: apply iodine to lesions. Wet pox: serious, can block airway. Vaccine available. Most birds recover from dry pox in 3-4 weeks. Wet pox has higher mortality. Prevent mosquito breeding near coop.
Read Full Article →Impacted Crop
Hard baseball-sized crop that doesn't empty overnight, lethargy, not eating
Crop blocked with long grass, hay, or fibrous material. Check crop each morning — should be empty. Treatment: massage crop 3x daily for 5 min, offer water with a few drops of olive oil, withhold solid feed for 24 hours. If not resolved in 24-48 hours, vet visit needed for manual emptying. Prevent by mowing grass short.
Read Full Article →Infectious Bronchitis (IB)
Coughing, sneezing, watery eyes, rattling, egg production drop, misshapen eggs
Highly contagious coronavirus. No direct treatment — supportive care only: warmth, good nutrition, electrolytes in water, ventilation without drafts. Birds usually recover in 3-4 weeks. Egg quality (wrinkled shells, watery whites) may be permanently affected. Vaccinate in high-risk areas.
Read Full Article →Infectious Coryza
Foul-smelling nasal discharge, swollen face, closed eyes, gurgling
Bacterial (Haemophilus paragallinarum). Very contagious. Treat with Sulfonamides or Erythromycin for 7-10 days. Isolate immediately. Survivors are lifelong carriers — do not introduce to clean flocks. Vaccinate in endemic areas. Cull chronically infected birds for flock health.
Read Full Article →Lice
Feather damage, bald patches near vent, constant scratching, pale comb
Flat fast-moving insects, tan/yellow color. Live on bird (not environment). Check vent area and under wings. Treat with permethrin poultry dust or spray — apply to bird directly under wings, around vent, and on neck. Repeat in 10 days to kill newly hatched eggs. Dust bathing with wood ash helps prevent reinfestation.
Read Full Article →Marek's Disease
Progressive leg/wing paralysis, weight loss, vision problems, tumors
Highly contagious herpesvirus — spreads through feather dander. No cure. Vaccinate all chicks at hatch (most hatcheries do this). Infected birds should be isolated and humanely euthanized if suffering. Good biosecurity: quarantine new birds 30 days, disinfect coop between flocks. Some breeds have genetic resistance.
Read Full Article →Mites (Northern Fowl Mite / Red Mite)
Feather loss, pale comb/wattles, anemia, restless birds, weight loss
Northern fowl mites live on birds (check vent area — white crusty buildup). Red mites hide in coop cracks during day, feed at night. Treat birds with permethrin dust or spray. Treat coop with permethrin spray, focusing on cracks and roost bars. Repeat every 7 days for 3 weeks. Diatomaceous earth in dust bath helps prevent.
Read Full Article →Molting
Feather loss, reduced egg production, pin feathers, irritability
NORMAL — seasonal feather replacement, usually fall. Lasts 8-16 weeks. Hens stop laying during molt. Increase protein in diet to 20%+ (feed grower pellets or supplement with mealworms, sunflower seeds). Avoid handling during molt — pin feathers are sensitive. Egg production resumes after molt completes.
Read Full Article →Mycoplasma (MG / CRD)
Wheezing, rattling breathing, foamy eyes, swollen sinuses, nasal discharge
Mycoplasma gallisepticum — most common respiratory disease. Treat with Tylan 50 (injectable 0.5ml for bantams, 1ml for standards) or Tylan powder in water for 5 days. Isolate immediately — very contagious. Whole flock likely exposed. Birds become carriers for life — never sell exposed birds without disclosure.
Read Full Article →Newcastle Disease
Neurological twisting, gasping, sudden death, green droppings, egg drop
REPORTABLE DISEASE — contact state vet if suspected. Highly contagious paramyxovirus. Velogenic (virulent) strain = near 100% mortality. No treatment. Vaccinate for endemic Exotic Newcastle Disease in high-risk states (CA, TX, FL). Biosecurity lockdown required. Wild birds are carriers.
Read Full Article →Omphalitis (Mushy Chick Disease)
Unhealed navel, distended abdomen, foul smell, death in first week of life
Bacterial infection of the navel in newly hatched chicks — usually from dirty incubator or hatchery. No effective treatment in most cases. Cull affected chicks humanely to prevent spread. Prevention: sanitize incubator between hatches, do not assist hatching too early.
Read Full Article →Predator Attack / Wounds
Lacerations, puncture wounds, missing feathers, shock, internal injuries
Apply firm pressure to stop bleeding. Rinse wounds with saline or diluted betadine. Apply Blu-Kote to disguise wounds from flock mates. ISOLATE immediately — flock will peck wounds. Puncture wounds from teeth may look minor but cause deep tissue damage and infection. Vet visit recommended for deep wounds or shock. Treat for shock: keep warm, quiet, offer electrolyte water.
Read Full Article →Prolapsed Vent (Blowout)
Pink/red tissue protruding from vent, other hens pecking at it
EMERGENCY — isolate immediately, flock will peck to death. Clean tissue with warm water, apply hemorrhoid cream (Preparation H) to reduce swelling. Gently push tissue back inside with a lubricated gloved finger. Keep bird in dark cool space to stop laying for a few days. High recurrence rate — consider a vet visit. More common in young hens or after large eggs.
Read Full Article →Sour Crop (Candidiasis)
Balloon-like crop, sour/yeasty smell from beak, white patches in mouth, weight loss
Yeast (Candida) overgrowth in crop — often after antibiotic use. Treat with Nystatin antifungal or 1 tsp apple cider vinegar per gallon of water daily. Feed plain unsweetened yogurt. Withhold sugary treats. Massage crop gently. Usually resolves in 1-2 weeks. Prevent by adding ACV to water regularly.
Read Full Article →Worms (Internal Parasites)
Weight loss despite eating, pale comb, diarrhea, reduced egg production
Most common: roundworms, cecal worms, capillary worms. Confirm with fecal float test at a vet. Treat with Safeguard (fenbendazole) — 1ml per 5lb body weight for 5 consecutive days, or Wazine in water. Repeat in 10 days. Withhold eggs during and 14 days after treatment. De-worm every 6 months in high-risk areas. Rotate pasture to break cycle.
Read Full Article →Wry Neck (Torticollis)
Head twisted back or sideways, stargazing, falling over, can't eat/drink
Usually caused by Vitamin E and selenium deficiency, head injury, or Marek's disease. Treat with Vitamin E (400 IU capsule daily, squeeze into beak) + selenium (1 Tums or selenium supplement) for 4-6 weeks. Hand-feed and water bird twice daily — it cannot reach food on its own. Many birds make a full recovery with consistent treatment. Do not give up too soon.
Read Full Article →Vent Gleet (Cloacitis)
White smelly discharge around vent, feather loss, itching
Yeast/fungal infection of the cloaca. Caused by stress, poor diet, or antibiotic overuse. Treat with Monistat 1% cream twice daily for 7-10 days. Clean vent daily with warm water. Add probiotics and 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar per gallon water. Isolate bird — can spread through shared water.
Read Full Article →Prolapsed Vent (Blowout)
Pink/red tissue protruding from vent — EMERGENCY
EMERGENCY — isolate immediately. Flock mates will peck tissue until fatal. Clean with warm saline. Apply Preparation H and push tissue back with a gloved finger. Place bird in dark quiet area. Vet visit recommended — recurrence is common.
Read Full Article →Fatty Liver Syndrome
Sudden death in heavy hens, pale comb, reduced egg production
Fat accumulates in liver of overweight laying hens until hemorrhage — often fatal with no warning. Prevention: reduce scratch grains, increase exercise, add Vitamin E and selenium. Most common in confined heavy-breed hens on high-calorie diets.
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