How to identify signs of disease in poultry

IDENTIFYING SIGNS OF DISEASE IN POULTRY

If you suspect that your poultry may be unwell, the first step is to observe the flock carefully.

Observing your birds is best done while they are relaxed. Disturbing them or handling them can:

• disguise the signs of disease (e.g. a gasping bird might stop mouth-breathing when handled)
• increase the signs of disease (e.g. a nervous disorder, such as a tremor, might appear because the bird is frightened while being handled).

How to identify signs of disease in poultry

Common signs of disease in poultry

There are common signs of disease that you can use to detect potential illness in chicken and other poultry. Some of these include:

• feather loss (unless birds are going through a natural moult)
• general inactivity
• discharges
• abnormal droppings
• dull and/or closed eyes
• ruffled feathers
• drooped wings
• sitting on haunches or lying down.

The following table outlines the common characteristics displayed by healthy birds compared to sick or diseased birds in both adult and young poultry.
 

Adult poultry

Characteristic		Healthy birds		Diseased birds
Stance		Erect Tail held high		Tail and wings 'dropped' Head held close to body or twisted over back or between legs
Head		Clean comb and wattles Bright about the eye Clean nostrils		Discolored Shrunken comb or eyes dull or watery Nostrils caked Face shrunken or swollen
Muscles		Bird feels 'solid' Struggles vigorously when held		Loss of weight and strength Uneven size of thighs Keel protrudes under skin
Legs and feet		Clean waxy scales Smooth joints Cool to touch		Dehydrated with prominent tendons Enlarged Warm to touch Cracked feet
Feathers		Smooth and neat		Fluffed out Stained in abdomen area
Color		Breed and strain characteristics		Less colorful In hens excess yellow may be from reduced laying rate
Appetite and thirst		Eat and drink often		Lose appetite Drink excessively
Droppings		Grey Brown with white caps Definite form Cecal droppings may be frothy		White Green Red Yellow Very watery or sticky
Abdomen		Firm to touch Fat birds may feel hard		May be very hard or very soft
Vent		Clean Level with body surface		Inflamed around vent area Pasted over with droppings Protrusion of tissues
Breathing		Silent Beak closed (in hot weather birds may breath with mouth open)		Coughing Rattling Snickering Obvious panting movements
Young poultry
Navel area	Smooth Colour and appearance of normal skin		Thickened appearance and feeling of a 'button' or a knot of tissue Black string of dry tissue protruding Fluid exudate
Vent	Clean Level with body surface		Pasted over with droppings Protrusion of tissues
Legs and feet	Legs under body Toes straight and spread evenly		Legs sprawled Sores on hock joints Toes curved
Wing feathers	Extend to the base of the tail Feathers show no distinct break lines		Wings droop Feathers show clear 'fault lines' in vane

Keep records

keeping records on general production figures such as daily mortalities, feed and water consumption and egg production is essential. A drop in production or change in feed conversion ratio can often be the first sign of disease. Keeping and monitoring records can help to detect an illness early.

Large numbers of mortalities is an immediate alert that a problem exists.