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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It is best not to feed onions to chickens: onions contain sulfur compounds that damage red blood cells in many animals, and they caused anemia, liver damage and deaths in a flock of geese. Research on chickens specifically is limited, but there is no benefit that outweighs the risk. Onions can also
Rooster Booster Poultry Cell is a poultry supplement that aids in growth and overall health. It contains a combination of essential vitamins and minerals to support optimal nutrition. Shop Rooster…
If your chicken’s beak is bleeding, it could be due to several reasons such as injuries, infections, or nutritional deficiencies. Injuries can occur from pecking fights or rough handling, while…
A lash egg is not a true egg but a rubbery mass of cheese-like pus and debris passed by a hen whose oviduct is inflamed, a condition called salpingitis that is most often caused by a bacterial infection, mainly E. coli. Finding one means the hen who laid it has a reproductive tract infection and nee
A chicken that drinks much more than usual is most often coping with hot weather, but excess salt in the diet and kidney damage can also cause heavy drinking. Chickens have no sweat glands, so they pant to cool down and lose water as they do. If the weather is not hot, or the bird looks unwell, look
Fowlpox is a viral infection with no specific effective treatment; affected birds get supportive care while the disease runs its course, and prevention by vaccination is key. Fowlpox is a…
Scissor beak or cross beak in chickens is caused by genetic abnormalities or nutritional deficiencies leading to misalignment of the upper and lower beak. This condition can affect a chicken’s…
Probiotics may support gut health in chickens under some conditions, but research results are inconsistent and they are not a treatment for disease. They are live microbes given in feed or water, and their effects depend on the strain, the dose and how the birds are kept. Here is what the evidence s
Chickens need vitamin K for normal blood clotting, and a complete commercial feed already supplies enough, so most backyard flocks never need a supplement. Deficiency is uncommon, but bleeding problems can also come from rat poison, some medications or coccidiosis. Here is what to know and when to c
Black spots on a chicken’s comb are most often the dark scabs of dry fowlpox or the blackened tips left by frostbite. Less commonly, a comb and wattles that turn purple or black and swell can be a sign of avian influenza, which must be reported. This guide helps you tell these causes apart and expla