Is My Chicken Sick? Signs to Look For

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     Chickens, just like any animal, cannot vocalize when they are feeling a bit under the weather. Therefore we need to be a bit more observant towards our flock to be sure that they are not falling ill. One sure fire sign to tell if a chicken is falling sick is if their daily habits are beginning to change, but what other signs should one look for to be able to tell if their chicken is getting sick?

1 ?Is your chicken acting unusual or out of the ordinary? Often times when a chicken is feeling ill they will act sluggish, or lethargic, just as you would if you were not feeling 100%. They may not want to be around the other members of the flock, and may stay cooped up in their chicken coop. Your chicken may shiver, or become withdrawn. If your chicken is showing any extreme signs, contact your veterinarian immediately.

2 ?Their eating habits change or stop. If your chicken is not eating as much as it would normally, or is not eating at all, that is a big sign that something is wrong. As they cannot talk, chickens will display their feelings through their behaviors, and feeding is naturally one of the first behaviors that will alter.

3 ?Look at physical signs that your chicken may be displaying. Is your chicken hunched over, or slouching? Are their eyes runny, cloudy, or dim? Are feathers easily falling out, or falling out in clumps? These are all physical symptoms that your chicken may display if severely ill.

Additionally, monitor your chicken's restroom behaviors, or any discharges that may be coming from them. Diarrhea and vomiting are both signs that something is wrong with your chicken. Lastly, check for any bumps, scabs, or open wounds throughout your chicken's body, be sure to check for any signs of infection such as swelling, or pus.

4 ?Monitor your chicken's movement or motions. If you chicken is staggering or swaying to one side these are both signs that something is amiss. Additionally, if your chicken is wheezing, coughing, or displaying any abnormal breathing habits then this could be tied back to a respiratory problem. If any abnormalities are being displayed through breathing contact your veterinarian immediately.

Whenever a chicken is found to be displaying any symptoms of illness these chicken should immediately be separated from the rest of the flock until you are sure that whatever they have fallen ill with is not contagious to the rest of the flock. Also be sure to monitor the remainder of the flock to catch any symptoms early on.

If the symptoms are severe or continue for too long, contact your veterinarian immediately to seek medical attention. Regardless of what the illness may be, one should speak to a veterinarian to be aware of the best way to cure and treat any illness or injury. And last but not least, always be aware of your flocks normal day to day habits so that you may catch any illness early on.