Common Chicken Health Problems and How to Spot Them
Healthy hens are active, curious, and eating well. When something's off, they'll usually tell you ā if you know what to look for. This guide covers the most common health issues backyard flock owners encounter and what to do about them.
ā ļø Important: This guide is for informational purposes only. For serious illness, always consult a licensed poultry veterinarian. Early intervention saves birds.
Signs a Hen Is Unwell
Before diving into specific conditions, know the general warning signs that something is wrong:
- Lethargy, standing apart from the flock, or hunched posture
- Reduced or stopped eating and drinking
- Discharge from eyes, nostrils, or mouth
- Labored or rattling breathing
- Swollen face, wattles, or eyes
- Diarrhea or abnormal droppings
- Sudden drop in egg production
- Loss of feathers outside of molting season
- Pale comb and wattles
Any hen showing multiple signs should be isolated immediately to prevent spread and observed closely.
Respiratory Illness
What it looks like: Coughing, sneezing, rattling breath, nasal discharge, swollen sinuses, reduced laying.
Common causes: Mycoplasma (MG), Infectious Bronchitis, Newcastle Disease, or poor coop ventilation causing ammonia buildup.
What to do: Isolate affected birds immediately. Improve coop ventilation. Consult a vet ā some respiratory diseases are reportable in NC. Vaccinated flocks (like ours) have protection against several common strains.
Mites and Lice
What it looks like: Feather loss, pale comb, restlessness at night, hens scratching excessively. Check under wings and around the vent for tiny moving insects or eggs at the base of feathers.
Common causes: External parasites introduced by wild birds, new flock additions, or contaminated bedding.
What to do: Treat the birds with poultry dust (permethrin-based) and clean and treat the coop thoroughly. Repeat in 10 days to break the egg cycle. Provide a dust bath area ā hens use it naturally to control parasites.
Worms (Internal Parasites)
What it looks like: Weight loss, pale comb, diarrhea, reduced production, general decline in condition despite adequate feed.
Common causes: Roundworms, cecal worms, and capillary worms are most common in backyard flocks, especially those with access to soil.
What to do: A fecal float test from a vet confirms the type of worm. Treatment with a poultry-approved dewormer (fenbendazole is common) is effective. Rotating pasture or run areas reduces reinfection.
Egg Binding
What it looks like: A hen straining, walking penguin-like, sitting in the nesting box for extended periods without laying, or appearing lethargic and uncomfortable.
Common causes: Calcium deficiency, obesity, a large or malformed egg, or a young hen whose system isn't fully developed.
What to do: This is a medical emergency. A warm soak (15ā20 minutes in warm water) can help relax the muscles. If the egg isn't passed within a few hours, see a vet immediately. Untreated egg binding is fatal.
Bumblefoot
What it looks like: Swelling on the bottom of the foot, often with a dark scab. The hen may limp or favor one leg.
Common causes: A small cut or abrasion on the foot that becomes infected, often from rough roost surfaces, wire flooring, or jumping from height onto hard ground.
What to do: Mild cases can be treated by soaking the foot, removing the scab, cleaning the wound, and bandaging. Severe cases require veterinary treatment. Prevent it by using smooth, wide roost bars and avoiding wire-bottom floors.
Coccidiosis
What it looks like: Bloody or very watery droppings, lethargy, hunched posture, reduced appetite. Most common in young birds under 6 months.
Common causes: A protozoan parasite (Eimeria) that thrives in wet, dirty conditions. Chicks raised on medicated starter feed have some protection.
What to do: Treat with Corid (amprolium) in the water. Clean and dry the coop and run. Older hens typically develop immunity, but young pullets are vulnerable.
Molting
Not a disease, but often mistaken for one. Annual feather loss with reduced egg production is normal. See our full guide: Molting: What It Is and How to Support Your Flock ā
Prevention Is Everything
Most health problems in backyard flocks are preventable with good management:
- Keep the coop clean and dry
- Provide quality layer feed and fresh water daily
- Quarantine new birds for 2ā3 weeks before introducing them to your flock
- Do a weekly visual health check on each bird
- Start with vaccinated pullets from a reputable source
Our Golden Comet pullets are vaccinated before leaving the farm, giving your flock a healthy head start.
Browse Available Pullets ā | Back to The Learning Coop ā