Chicken Health Questions: What is Ailing Your Chicken

You are here more than likely because you have a chicken health question.

Are you desperate to find the answers as to what is ailing your chickens? Do you need to know why chickens do some of the things they do? We are here to help. During 2011 we have exceeded 1000 questions/answers in our library.

We’ve heard from people all over the world, just like you. Our knowledgeable staff has been able to respond quickly to most questions.

Visitors to Raising-Chickens.org are able to ask as well as answer questions creating a world-wide community of beginners to the very experienced at raising chickens.

We’ve found that no matter the breed, the climate or method of keeping chickens, people have very similar chicken health questions concerning problems and situations in the chicken house and chicken yard.

It is our goal to make sure you get the answers you need. To access our vast database concerning all things chicken, please click on our Chicken Sitemap. There you will find a complete listing of many subjects including your health questions. This is the quickest way to find the answers you need.

Chicken Health Question Warnings

Chicken diseases can be very contagious to other chickens and poultry. If you suspect that your chicken or chickens are sick immediately ISOLATE them from the rest of the flock until you determine the cause. It is not uncommon for a whole flock to be wiped out in a very short time.

Please be aware that it is impossible for us to scientifically diagnose any specific disease or condition in this forum. We always do our best to answer your chicken health questions, but in many cases professional veterinary testing and hands-on care are necessary, although many questions are answered thoroughly here. What we strive to do is offer the best information from those experienced in chicken health care helping you take the needed steps.

Based on what you are able to tell us, we can make suggestions based on our experiences and hopefully help answer your questions.

Anytime a chicken is acting sick it usually needs urgent care. Chickens will hide symptoms as long as possible to prevent drawing attention to themselves from the rest of the flock that may pick on them and predators. 

If you have questions that you would like to ask a vet, use the service below. Ask a Vet has qualified doctors that can answer questions about chicken health.

Some Chicken First Aid:

Be prepared for emergencies as it can take time, even for a veterinarian to answer chicken health questions fully. A lethargic chicken may benefit from a warmer environment if it’s cold outside. If it’s hot outside the chicken might be suffering from over heating, a cooler environment is needed, possibly a cool bath.

It’s a good idea to keep a supply of electrolytes and vitamins for chickens on hand. Once alert, offering electrolytes and vitamins in water may give strength to a chicken that has become weak.

Don’t offer liquids if a chicken seems unconscious as fluids can enter the lungs and make things worse. A conscious chicken will respond by swallowing when a single drop of liquid is placed at the tip of its beak.

Do’s and Don’t’s:

Many chicken health questions can be answered by fully reading medication instructions. When giving medications always follow dosing directions; remember some must be refrigerated between uses.

When using heat lamps always make sure a chicken doesn’t get too hot and that any wiring and plugs are safe and the area is clear of flammables. Never use heating pads on high as it might cause skin burns.

During and after antibiotic treatments replace lost digestive bacteria with pro-biotics. Don’t assume that any antibiotic will help; there are different types of antibiotics for different types of bacteria.

Make sure any medications are labeled for chicken use and the problem they are having. Keeping the chicken coop cleaned on a regular basis can prevent health problems. Scrubbing out and disinfecting chicken waterers regularly ensures a healthy water supply.

What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Can Rain Make A Rooster Sick? 
Can rooster get sick in rain?

Why Do 9 Week Chicks Have Deformed Feet? 
I have incubated and raised some Rhode Island Red chickens. They are now 9 weeks old. One of them has deformed feet (the toes are crooked), but it does …

Scaly Legs 
My chicken won't jump off her perch and is not very active. Her legs are peeling and look like they have growths

Foot wound 
My chicken looks like she has picked a hole in the top of her footit's bloody and raw looks like it might be a little infected

Chick walking upright-egg bound chick?  
I have a Golden Comet chick that is approxiamtely 6-8 weeks old. She is walking like a person-standing straight up, with her tail dragging the ground. …

Bumble foot surgery 
Question 3 weeks ago I did my first bumble foot surgery. I don’t think it went very well, there was a lot of bleeding, so It was very hard to see what …

Two weeks now...

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Question Flopsy is a Black Star sex-linked. She turned 2 years old in April. She keeps her tail down, she has has a very dirty vent (clean now). …

Chicken Poop

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Question Chicken Poop: This is my first flock of chicks, My girls are 1 month old, I have 8 of them, 4 are Buff Orpington and I'm not sure what the …

Lump on Rhode Island Red's face

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Question Lump on Rhode Island Red's face: I noticed today that one of my Rhode Island Red hens has a large lump below the eye behind the gills on the …

Buff Orpington not acting well

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Question Buff Orpington not acting well: She is separating herself from the rest of the flock. She either lays down or just stands in the corner. …

Big red & purple rash between legs

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Question: My hen is 3 years old. She has a big red & purple rash between legs! . This morning, it was very small and pink but it has gotten worse. …

Ear Cyst

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Question I have a 1 year old Copper Maran rooster that developed a cherry tomato sized ear cyst on one ear. When I palpated the cyst I found it …

Chicken with one leg

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Question My Chicken with one leg. Why? because at 4 months old a cat attacked her. She is now 15 months old and laying eggs, but with one leg the …

Chicken with broken wing

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Question What do I do I have a chicken with broken wing. Just over 2 weeks ago, one of my chickens looked like she had broken or sprained her left …

Chicken Prolapse 
Question Is it Prolapse? I have a few Modern Game birds. Four are hens and all are laying. One seems to lay a little bigger egg than the others. …

Mrs Madeleine Richards

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Question Mrs Madeleine Richards - Started off with messy vent - bit white, bloody etc. Once cleaned up no more discharge from vent. Not eating or …

Pullet With Stretching Neck

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Question Pullet With Stretching Neck - I had a black copper marans pullet. She was hatched on April 16. I purchased her along with 30 other chicks …

Is my chicken okay

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 Not rated yet
Question I am writing to make sure the my new chick is healthy and happy. To begin we bought six chicks, all girls, a week ago from the local country …

Bald bottom, yellow smelly discharge

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Question Bald bottom, yellow smelly discharge: One of our hens is laying and eating, has a bright red comb but has no feathers round her bottom and …

Miscellaneous Chicken Health Questions Not rated yet
Question: Chicken legs swollen: We just bought Three 5 month old Rhode island reds and 1 of their legs have swollen up and is yellow. She has …

Drooping Wings on Chickin

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Question: Drooping Wings on Chicken: I have 8 Rhode Island Red laying hens. The chickens basically get laying mash that I buy from a co-op. I also …

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