Why chickens are sick and wheezing, how to treat it?

Poultry is more susceptible to various diseases and infections, compared to wild ones.

Of course, there are breeds that are highly resistant to pathogenic bacteria and viruses because they have a strong immune system, but in most cases with improper care and maintenance, chickens are sick and wheezing often, they gain weight slowly, and the eggs are bad.

In this article we will look at the underlying causes and diseases of poultry, in which chickens can wheeze, cough, and sneeze, and their breathing can be difficult.

What is this disease?

Wheezing for a healthy bird is unnatural and is a symptom of a disease. If time does not eliminate the cause and do not cure the bird, then it can not only die itself, but also infect all the livestock.

In the household and industrial areas, the first signs are very easy to determine, since the beginning of wheezing is usually preceded by difficulty and rapid breathing. If the bird is kept at the dacha, the owner may not notice the onset of the disease in time, but catch it in a progressive state.

Depending on the reason for which wheezing appeared, it can be dry and wet. Roosters can sit singing voice. He will be hoarse and muffled.

Possible causes, symptoms and how to treat

So what are these diseases in which chickens wheeze? The main causes of wheezing are diseases, colds and viruses. Unfortunately, in the livestock very rarely one bird is sick.

Therefore, if you see obvious symptoms of voice disorder, which is very often heard among cockerels than among chickens, then the entire population needs to be treated and prevented.

Colds

1. The reasons - colds chickens can get sick due to hypothermia. This can occur if the bird has been in free range for a long time in the winter season, either there are drafts in the hen house or the floor is rather cold and wet, and the temperature in the hen house is below normal.
2. Symptoms:
   • Raising the temperature is possible only in advanced cases; in all other chickens, they usually do not have temperature.
   • The bird can breathe through the beak, there is a wet cough, wheeze, mucous discharge, and sneezing.
3. Treatment - in order to determine whether it is really a cold etiology, you should contact your veterinarian.

   The treatment boils down to protecting the sick bird from healthy ones, providing the most comfortable conditions and drinking an additional course of vitamins to raise the immune system.

Infectious bronchitis

This disease is of infectious origin, so there is a high probability that a whole population will become infected if the diseased birds are not isolated in time.

In this disease affects the respiratory system, which affects the reproductive function of the bird.

1. The reasons - The causative agent of this disease is a coronavirus, which contains ribonucleic acid. The causes of the disease can be:
   • infected litter;
   • water;
   • bedding.

   This is possible if wild birds have free access to the house, they can bring this infection to healthy ones.

2. Symptoms may vary depending on how old the bird is at the moment.
   • If the bird is young enough, the virus most often affects the respiratory organs, while chickens begin to cough, sneeze, have difficulty breathing, and in some cases shortness of breath may appear. Chickens lose their appetite, become lethargic, conjunctivitis may appear.
   • Adult birds are susceptible to damage to the reproductive system. Breathing becomes difficult, dry rales can be heard, the shell of a laid egg can be soft with growths or bumps. The hen can move with the wings down and drag the legs.
3. Treatment:
   • Conduct frequent disinfection of the insulated premises.
   • The room should be clean, ventilated, dry and warm.
   • Add vitamins and minerals to the diet of diseased birds.
   • Incubating eggs from a sick chicken should be stopped for 2 months.

Bronchopneumonia

Bronchopneumonia is a swelling and severe inflammation of the bronchioles. If time does not address the treatment of a sick bird, then death may occur within a couple of days, as the disease progresses rapidly.

1. The reasons:
   • Infections of the upper respiratory tract, passing into the lower (staphylococcal, pneumococcal, escherichiosis).
   • Complications after infectious bronchitis.
   • Cold coop, the presence of constant drafts, reduced immunity.
2. Symptoms:
   • The bird quickly loses weight, it is exhausted.
   • Shows complete apathy, sits in one place, the head can be lowered on a floor or thrust under a wing.
   • Breathing with the presence of wet rales, the bird sneezes, coughs, it is possible the manifestation of conjunctivitis, mucous discharge from the nose.
3. Treatment:
   • Spraying a special solution containing soda, water and bleach in certain proportions.
   • If the disease is in a severe stage, the diseased bird should be quarantined and treated with antibiotics (penicillin or terramycin).
   • Provide extra vitamin supplements to boost immunity.

Mycoplasmosis

1. The reasons:
   • The main causes are a polluted environment in which a microorganism can develop.
   • The disease can be transmitted from an adult bird to its offspring, as well as through infected water, food, or litter.
2. Symptoms Symptoms in adult and young birds are different.
   • Juveniles are prone to shortness of breath, secretions resembling foam from the respiratory tract, breathing is heavy and frequent, and the bird may lag behind in development.
   • In adult chickens, the reproductive system is affected. When incubating embryos may die, egg production will also be reduced, possibly damage to the mucous membrane of the eyes - conjunctivitis.
3. Treatment:
   • The main guarantee of victory over the disease is antibacterial therapy (farmazin, pneumotyl, as well as other drugs based on the active substance).
   • Chicken Coop Disinfection with Ecocide, Lactic Acid or Monklavit.
   • Adding vitamins to feed.

Respiratory tract infection

1. The reasons:
   • High humidity in the hen house.
   • Litter infected birds.
   • Infected food, water and bedding.
2. Symptoms:
   • At the initial stage of the disease, you can hear dry rales, but subsequently they flow into wet ones. Also a bird can cough and sneeze, and its breathing will be heavy.
   • Chickens can lag behind and be severely depleted.
   • With progressive disease, paralysis and even convulsions are possible.
3. Treatment - It is necessary to treat this disease with antibacterial drugs, such as aminopenicillins, chloramphenicol and other antibiotics that neutralize E. coli.

Aspergellosis

This is a fungal disease, it can affect the respiratory tract and the serous membranes of the bird.

1. The reasons:
   • The fungus can be on fresh grass that the bird has eaten away.
   • Also, the disease can be caused by high humidity and temperature in the chicken coop.
   • The main difference of the disease is that a sick bird does not necessarily infect others, as in infectious etiology.
2. Symptoms:
   • Shortness of breath and heavy breathing, the presence of dry rales.
   • The bird exhibit increased apathy, it seems sluggish and sleepy.
   • Possible death of eighty percent, if the disease is not detected on time.
3. Treatment:
   • Antifungal drugs, such as Nystatin or a specially prepared aqueous solution (the correct ratio of iodine and water).
   • Food should contain vitamin supplements.

Preventive measures

1. Creating an optimally comfortable microclimate in the room for chickens, where the humidity should be no more than seventy percent for chickens and no more than fifty percent for chickens of older ages. This will ensure that the fungus does not begin to show up in the chicken coop, which can lead to the serious disease mentioned above.
2. Temperature conditions must also comply with the norm. Not more than twenty-five degrees and no less than fifteen. In such conditions, it will be harder for the bacteria to spread.
3. Feeding chickens should be well balanced, and vitamin supplements and minerals should be given in a timely manner.
4. It is possible to inoculate a bird from some types of diseases, then it will be able to transfer it in a mild form or not get sick at all, since it will develop immunity to the pathogen.
5. The hygiene of the room where the bird lives, as well as walking, should be carried out at least once a year. With full general cleaning and replacement of floor sheeting, cleaning of cages, perches and paddocks.

   ATTENTION! It will be better if during cleaning you not only replace the floor and clean the nests, but also disinfect the whole chicken coop completely!

6. Separate keeping of birds of different ages. This is very convenient because different conditions of detention are acceptable for different ages. Therefore, the birds will be the least prone to disease.
7. A purchased egg for incubation before laying in the incubator is useful to wash in a weak solution of potassium permanganate to exclude pathogenic organisms.
8. For prevention, the bird can be drunk with a solution of manganese in the correct ratio.
9. You should choose only high-quality grain and feed, be sure to check the expiration date.

Conclusion

Birds, like any other animal, is prone to many different diseases, but if you carefully and carefully treat the health of your livestock, you can easily see the disease at an early stage and eliminate it.

Watch the video: Natural At-Home Remedies : How to Treat Bronchitis Without Antibiotics (November 2024).