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.
Free tools: Mite & lice check · Molt tracker · Winter coop checklist
More topics: Chicken Breeds · Eggs & Hatching · Coop & Equipment · Feed & Treats · Care & Management · Behavior
Deworm chickens when a fecal test or clear signs show they need it, not on a calendar. In the US, the only dewormer approved for laying hens that you can buy over the counter is fenbendazole (Safe-Guard AquaSol). It is given in the drinking water for 5 days, and its label requires no egg withdrawal.
A healthy, happy chicken exhibits active behavior, bright eyes, clean feathers, and a good appetite. Chickens that show these signs are likely in good health and well-being. Chickens are wonderful…
The best way to help molting chickens is to keep them on a complete feed, give them a dry, draft-free coop, handle them as little as possible, and check them for mites and lice, because molting itself is a normal process that needs no treatment. Each year, as days shorten, hens drop their old feathe
No, vinegar is not a proven way to kill mites on chickens. We could not find any veterinary or university extension source, or any published study, showing that vinegar (acetic acid) controls poultry mites. Vinegar can clean the coop, but to get rid of mites you need to treat every bird with a produ