Guides to common chicken illnesses, parasites, injuries and poisonings: what the signs look like, what causes them and when to call a vet. Every article in this section has been checked against veterinary and university extension sources, which are listed at the end of each article. Our writers are not veterinarians, so use these guides alongside advice from a poultry vet. If birds die suddenly or show swelling, purple discoloration, gasping or twisted necks, contact your state veterinarian or USDA (1-866-536-7593) right away.
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No. Chicken lice can’t live on humans. Poultry lice are species-specific: they feed on a bird’s skin scales and feathers, and they can’t survive on people. If you are itchy or getting bitten after handling your chickens, the likely cause is bird mites, usually the northern fowl mite or the chicken r
Chicken diseases and symptoms include respiratory issues, such as coughing and sneezing, and digestive problems like diarrhea and reduced appetite. Additionally, birds may experience skin inflammations and abnormal feather growth,…
To get rid of chicken mites, find out which mite you have, treat every bird and the coop with a product labeled for poultry, and repeat the treatment every 4 to 7 days, because treatments don’t kill mite eggs. Two blood-feeding mites cause most problems in backyard flocks: the northern fowl mite, wh
Inhaling chicken poop dust can be harmful to your health due to the presence of harmful bacteria, such as salmonella. Breathing in these particles can lead to respiratory issues and…
No, chickens should not eat blister beetles: the beetles contain cantharidin, a toxin that has killed young chickens and has no antidote. Blister beetles are a real exception among the insects chickens forage, and dead or dried beetles are just as toxic as live ones. This guide covers where chickens
You should not feed geraniums to chickens, but a few pecks at a garden geranium are unlikely to be an emergency: the plant is rated a low-severity poison, based mainly on reports in pets and horses. There is very little information specific to chickens, so the safest approach is to keep geraniums ou
Vent gleet is a wet, messy and inflamed vent in a laying hen; the Merck Veterinary Manual uses the name for diuresis syndrome, also called urate vent scalding, a poorly understood condition linked to heat and humidity rather than a simple yeast infection. Several other problems can look similar, so
Egg bound chicken is a condition where a hen is unable to lay eggs, causing symptoms such as swollen abdomen, lack of appetite, and paralysis in the legs. Treatment options…
VetRx Poultry Aid is an over-the-counter, camphor-based liquid that keepers use to ease the sniffles and rattly breathing of mild colds in chickens. It is applied as warm drops, rubbed on the head and under the wings, or floated on drinking water. It is not an antibiotic and it does not cure the con
Spraddle leg (also called splay leg) is when a young chick’s legs slide out to the sides so it cannot stand or walk normally, and it is most often caused by slick flooring or an injury soon after hatching. Caught early, it is commonly treated by holding the legs in a normal position with a soft hobb