If you notice that your chickens are acting differently or have stopped laying eggs, you should treat them like sick until you can figure out what’s wrong and fix it. We know how scary and worrisome it can be when your chickens are sick. After all, Freedom Ranger Hatchery—a family of hatcheries—started in a back yard over 40 years ago. Since then, we’ve been raising families, chickens, and eggs to become the number one hatchery in Pennsylvania.
And with that experience comes extensive knowledge on how to care for sick birds. In today’s blog post, we’ll talk about how to tell if your chickens are sick, how to treat them, and some common chicken diseases you should know about.
Raising backyard chickens can be a rewarding experience However, just like any other pet, chickens can sometimes get sick When your chickens are under the weather, it’s important to adjust their diet to help them recover. In this article, we’ll go over some tips for feeding sick chickens.
Replace Regular Feed with Mash
When chickens are sick, their appetite and digestion can be impaired. To make eating easier for them, replace their regular feed with a mash. Here’s how:
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Take their normal organic poultry feed and mix it with warm water until it forms a thoroughly blended mash The texture should be soft and easy to eat
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Offer the mash to the sick chicken in a shallow dish. Replace any uneaten mash every 4-6 hours.
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Avoid adding anything extra to the mash like treats or supplements which could upset their stomach further, Stick to their regular organic feed only,
Offer Soft, Nutrient-Dense Treats
Along with the mash, you can also offer small amounts of soft, easily digestible treats. Good options include:
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Chicken can easily digest cooked eggs, which are a good source of protein and nutrients. Add some egg to the pan and let the chicken eat it.
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Soft fruits: Try mashed bits of banana, melon, berries, or apple. Just a few bites will provide some extra nutrition and hydration.
Avoid Grit and Treats
When nursing sick chickens back to health, it’s best to avoid offering any of their usual treats or supplements. Things like scratch grains, mealworms, vegetables, etc. can be too much for their digestive system to handle.
Also avoid leaving out grit, oyster shell, or other free-choice supplements as overconsumption could cause further problems.
Monitor Water Intake
Dehydration is a serious risk for sick chickens. Make sure fresh water is always available. Most chickens drink 1-2 times per hour, so monitor to ensure yours are drinking frequently.
Add electrolytes or unflavored Pedialyte to the water to replenish lost nutrients and encourage drinking.
Consult a Veterinarian if Needed
If your sick chicken won’t eat or drink, you should call an avian vet right away. They can provide subcutaneous fluids and recommend medication if needed.
A vet may also prescribe a nutritional supplement such as baby food, critical care formula, or electrolyte gel that you can syringe feed to the chicken.
When to Separate from the Flock
It’s generally recommended to separate any visibly sick chicken from the rest of the flock while they recover. This helps prevent disease spread and also keeps the ill bird from being pecked at or bullied.
Monitor the chicken in isolation for signs of improving health. Once their appetite is back to normal, they can rejoin the flock.
Watch for Relapses
Even after a chicken seems to have recovered, continue watching them closely for any relapse of symptoms. Chickens are prey animals by nature and will often try to hide signs of illness.
If the chicken’s lack of appetite, tiredness, or other strange behavior comes back, keep it away from other animals again and call your vet if their condition gets worse. Most chickens get better quickly with good care and changes to their diet.
Basic Sick Chicken Treatment
Set up a way to handle sick chickens so that they don’t spread the disease to other birds in your flock. This will give the sick bird the best chance of getting better. And much like taking care of yourself or your children when they’re sick, home remedies for a sick chicken are similar.
Encourage Healthy Eating
Food isn’t nearly as important as water when your chicken is sick, and they may not even feel like eating. However, you can help encourage your chicken to eat by crushing layer feed and mixing with warm water or milk to make a mash. Use a spoon, syringe, or tube to feed the chickens when they don’t have the energy or motivation to feed themselves.
Is My Chicken Sick? How to Treat Chickens Naturally
FAQ
What is best to feed a sick chicken?
The first healthy treat that I usually offer a sick chicken who is off their feed is scrambled or boiled egg. Eggs contain all the essential nutrients except for vitamin C, which healthy chickens manufacturer on their own. I also offer cooked meat (like chicken or beef) or soft vegetables (like squash).
How do you perk up a sick chicken?
Nursing a sick chicken back to health Once indoors you will need to make sure your chicken has plenty of liquid. If really weak you may need to help her to drink. If she will eat, it is good to get her eating something. Mushy easy to swallow food is best, something like porridge or bread soaked in water for example.
Can a sick chicken get better on its own?
Most of the time, chickens that are sick only have a mild cold, which only lasts a few days. Once the symptoms are gone and the bird is fully recovered, it can be released back into the flock. Obviously, with severe illness the bird may not recover and subsequently die.
What is a homemade antibiotic for chickens?
Oregano The essential oil of Oregano is a natural antibiotic. Oregano can be given to ducks and chickens in the form of an essential oil, fresh or dried. It can help prevent coccidiosis, blackhead, E. coli, avian flu, and bronchitis.