Chicken Health

November 21, 2019   Articles   Comment  

Your chicken’s health is dependant on several factors. The healthier your chickens are the better quality eggs they will lay and the longer laying season they will have. Chickens in poor health are stressed and do not lay eggs nearly as often as their healthy counterparts.

Vaccines

If you order your chicks from a commercial hatchery you can pay a nominal fee to have them vaccinated against some common fowl maladies. This is usually only a few cents per chick and is well worth the extra cost. You van also vaccinate your chickens at home. Some vaccines to consider are:

• Marek’s Disease is a highly contagious virus that causes tumors in chickens . Most hatcheries offer the vaccine for this disease. The virus is shed through dander and is then inhaled by the rest of the flock. There is no cure for this disease, and the only prevention once exposed is early vaccination. Give vaccine to one day old chicks.
• Newcastle Disease is a virus spread through infected chicken droppings and secretions from their mouth, nostrils, and eyes. Symptoms include respiratory difficulty, tremors, neck twisting, and death. Can cause flu symptoms and conjunctivitis in exposed humans. Vaccinate day old chicks to prevent this disease.
• Infectious Bronchitis vaccine should be given to 10 – 35 days of age. It can be given in their drinking water with Newcastle vaccine at this stage, or as an injection at 14-18 weeks.

Other vaccines are available but are only given if a problem arises in your flock.

Cleanliness

Your chickens coop and pens should be completely cleaned at least once a week. This will cut down on bacteria and other causes of illness significantly. Always make sure the food and water dishes are cleaned daily, and remove any unused food. Keep chicken feed in airtight, waterproof containers that rats can’t get in. If your chicken feed gets wet, replace it.

Using a movable coop or cage for your chickens is convenient and cuts down on the buildup of droppings. It also gives chickens fresh areas to forage for plant material, insects, and small pieces of grit. The bonus for chicken owners is that moving the pen around eliminates the bare, brown spots in the yard that are sure to occur with a non-movable pen.

Quality Food

Be sure to give your chickens the proper food for their age. Protein and carbohydrate needs vary with age. Supplement commercial chicken feed with greens and vegetables.

The healthiest chickens get to eat a wide variety of grains, seeds, and vegetables. They can have scraps from your salads and peelings from fruits and vegetables.
Don’t give them any meat products, or leftover salad that has dressing on it.

Signs of Illness

If one of your chickens has diarrhea, is sneezing, won’t get up to eat, or has drainage from its mouth, eyes, or nostrils, remove it from the rest of the flock and have it checked out. A chicken, like people, can get a cold. But until you know it’s safe, keep it separated.

Many chicken diseases can go through a flock quickly, and the first signs of illness are the same for many diseases. To know for sure whether or not you have a problem can be a simple look under the microscope, but many illnesses require a blood test.

Taking precautions to prevent illness is always easier and cheaper than having to diagnosis and find a cure for a sick flock.

Source: chickencoopplansonline.com/chicken-disease