Diseases of Chickens

Because common chicken diseases can spread through a flock quickly, it is important to pay close attention to your chickens and address any problems promptly. This will help you avoid costly treatments, most of which are geared more toward managing symptoms than curing illness.

Chicken Pox

Although not caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox in humans, chickens can get chicken pox. The chicken pox acquired by chickens is also called diphtheria or fowl pox.

Infectious Bronchitis

Infectious bronchitis is a highly contagious disease that only affects chickens. No other bird species is affected by this disease.

Egg Drop Syndrome

Chickens of all ages can start laying eggs with very thin shells or no shell at all. This is caused by a virus aptly named "egg drop syndrome."

Diagnosis

It can be hard to diagnose chicken diseases because so many of them cause the same symptoms, including wheezing, nasal and oral discharges, diarrhea and loss of appetite.

Fowl Cholera

Fowl cholera is a disease caused by a bacteria that can live one month in bird feces and three months in the body of a dead bird or in soil.

References

• Uiversity of Florida IFAS Extension
• Mississippi State University
• Urban Chickens