Diarrhea in chickens: types of diarrhea, symptoms and how to treat at home

As poultry farmers know, chickens are not very he althy, and until they grow up, they can get sick with infectious diseases. Diarrhea is often a symptom of infection. Consider the types and characteristics of diarrhea in chickens, the causes and symptoms of its appearance, what complications can be. How to treat diseases and how to prevent their occurrence among the livestock of domestic chickens.

Types of diarrhea in broilers and their characteristics

Frequently, diarrhea in chickens is caused by infection with pathogens of infectious diseases. You can roughly determine which one is by the color of the discharge and other signs.Diarrhea caused by infections is more common in chicks from birth to 1-3 months of age. The disease can be acute and subacute, but, in any case, it spreads quickly and can cover the entire livestock.

Salmonellosis

Infection with salmonella occurs from sick or recovered chickens, since even recovered individuals remain carriers of the bacillus all their lives. Chickens become infected through water and feed. The intestines and lungs are affected. Signs: Chicks stand with open mouths and closed eyes. The diarrhea is whitish, frothy, the cloaca is polluted.

Helminthiasis

Yellow diarrhea in chickens is a sign of the presence of nematode roundworms in the intestines. Infection can occur at any time, often chicks become infected while on a paddock where sick birds used to be. With helminthiasis, chickens lose a lot of nutrients, lose weight, move little, sit more, their scallops turn pale.

Pullorose lesion

Signs of pullorosis: white or green diarrhea with mucus, soiled cloaca. The chickens are oppressed, lower their wings, close their eyes, squeak, spread their legs, breathe with difficulty, feel thirsty.

Pasteurellosis

Diarrhea with white-green discharge, often frothy, indicates pasteurellosis. Other signs: runny nose, difficulty breathing, wheezing. The disease is not treatable, sick chicks die.

Coccidiosis

Brown or brown-red stools with mucus in chickens appear with coccidiosis. The transmission of the pathogen occurs through water, inventory, dirty damp bedding. The bird becomes infected with a crowded content, with a large population. Signs of infection: decreased appetite and thirst, emaciation, unkempt appearance, drooping wings, depression, pale scallops.

Gastritis and other types

Problems with digestion are manifested by clear discharge. The chicken does not eat, but drinks a lot of water. The causes of diarrhea in this case are malnutrition, poor-quality food, lack of vitamins, overeating, a sharp change in food, poisoning.

Main causes of occurrence

Infections appear and spread among chickens if they are kept crowded, in a small area. Infections accumulate in the litter, stale food in the feeder, stale water. Chicks can become infected, and simply in contact with sick individuals. The weakening of the immune system due to keeping in a cold, damp, dirty room, with drafts increases the likelihood of infection. Stress from crowding, fighting also reduces the immunity of the bird.

Symptoms of the problem

With diarrhea, the main symptom is liquid stools. With diarrhea, there is an excessive loss of water and mineral s alts, which greatly depresses the body of the bird. Chickens quickly weaken, sit a lot, move little. Appetite decreases and water intake increases. The color of stool changes.

The normal stool color of he althy chickens is brown, but it always changes with diarrhea. On this basis, this violation can be accurately determined.

What are the complications?

Due to the loss of water and mineral elements, there is a sharp violation of physiological processes. For the body of a bird, especially a young one, this is a big stress. Chickens quickly lose weight, weaken and, if you do not help them, they die. Those who are lucky enough to recover will lag behind in growth for some time, gaining weight poorly.

Methods for treating diarrhea in chickens

Treatment consists of antibiotics and plenty of water. Drugs are selected depending on the pathogens that caused the disease. Helminthiases are treated with anthelmintic drugs. All sick birds are separated from he althy birds for the duration of treatment. The brooder is being cleaned and disinfected.

After completing a course of antibiotic therapy, chickens are fed with probiotics, which normalize the content of beneficial microflora in the intestines. Additionally, they give vitamin-mineral complexes to restore the content of vitamins and minerals.

With gastritis, you need to adjust the diet, remove foods that provoked inflammation. When overfeeding, chickens will not have to be treated, all that needs to be done is to leave the chicks on a diet for a day and give chamomile infusion, oatmeal or rice water as a mild fixative.

Prevention

In order for the chickens not to vilify, you need to keep the brooder clean, often change the litter, water in the drinker, remove food leftovers in the feeder. Keep birds in an amount that does not exceed the area norm. The room should be warm, dry and light, drafts are not allowed. Be sure to disinfect at least once a month.

It is important to vaccinate or water birds with drugs that develop immunity against common infections. Feed the birds only high-quality and fresh food. Do not keep together with adult birds. When buying new birds, keep them in quarantine for at least 2 weeks. An ill and recovered bird should be fattened for meat, not used for breeding.

Chicken diarrhea is a sure sign of indigestion or a symptom of an infectious disease. In any case, you need to start fixing the problem immediately. Infections spread rapidly among birds and can kill part or all of the flock in just a few days.

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