Health > Respiratory System
This category contains information about the respiratory system and its problems in poultry—diseases including Mycoplasma, Infectious Bronchitis, Aspergillosis, Infectious LaryngioTracheitis, Gapeworms and up to date information on Avian Influenza (Bird Flu).
Symptoms are mostly associated with respiratory difficulty-gasping, wheezing, gaping (neck stretching) and gurgling, but can also include fluid and bubbles in the eyes.
Articles are grouped as follows:
Health problems that affect a bird’s respiratory tract, causing breathing problems.
One of the most common veterinary complaints of backyard chickens is snicking, sneezing and coughing. In this article, Poultry Vet Richard Jackson runs through the different respiratory diseases we might encounter in our flock.
Gapeworms (Syngamus trachea) are included under ‘respiratory system’ since the adult worms reside in the trachea (or windpipe) and often produce a gurgling or ‘tracheal rattle’ that
Avian Influenza, or bird flu, is an infectious virus that affects many species of birds, including chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese. There have been many outbreaks worldwide,
Many backyard flocks these days are carrying Mycoplasma. There are many different kinds of Mycoplasma, but Mycoplasma Gallisepticum (M.G) is the most common.
Newcastle disease was first found in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1926.The disease is caused by a virus called Avian Paramyxovirus Type 1. Whilst we tend to think
Aspergillosis is an infectious fungal disease affecting poultry in which birds will usually be left gasping for breath. The disease is contracted by inhalation when there
There is a misconception that Chlamydia can only be caught by humans from parrots, but it is common in pigeons, occasional in turkeys and ducks and
Whilst we tend to think of ducks as being bulletproof in terms of disease there are a few deadly conditions that can infect them. One
When we think of respiratory disease in poultry we often think of infectious bronchitis virus or Mycoplasma, however there is another rather harmful virus that belongs to the herpes
Infectious bronchitis (I.B) is the most contagious poultry disease. It has very similar symptoms to mycoplasma. The main difference is the number of birds it affects.
The very mention of the words Avian Influenza (AI) or Bird Flu strikes fear into the hearts of poultry keepers and the general public alike.
Newcastle disease is fairly common around the world but thankfully, the UK doesn’t have many outbreaks (the last one according to DEFRA was 2006). The
Antibiotics are often used by poultry vets to treat respiratory problems and poultry wormers are used to treat Gapeworms. Drug use isn’t without risks and there are longer term drug-resistance issues to consider.
Tylan is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that treats diseases in the respiratory tract of bacterial or mycoplasmal origin in chickens and turkeys. Tylan is a prescription-only
Baytril is a broad spectrum antimicrobial antibiotic that is effective against primary and secondary bacterial and mycoplasma pathogens associated with chronic respiratory disease in chickens and
The backyard poultry market is growing rapidly but many novice poultry owners are unaware of simple preventative health routines that can significantly improve the health
If you would like a good reference book on poultry health, these are the books I would recommend.
This in-depth guide will tell you everything you need to know about worming chickens. Most of the general information also applies to other poultry.
Should I vaccinate my flock? This is a question often faced by vets in practice, and the answer is often a complex one. Firstly, let’s
I am a layman when it comes to veterinary science. I have no qualifications in this field, so this information should naturally be taken as
Prevention is always better than cure, so good husbandry, maintaining good biosecurity, and quarantining new birds you bring in to your flock should be your aim. Using the correct (dust free) bedding material and keeping your chickens healthy can also help.
I have been giving Apple Cider Vinegar to my chickens for many years, and combined with good husbandry, I have seen a positive difference in my flock’s health.
Jeremy Hobson, the author of Success With Chickens, tries to uncover the truth behind some long-held chicken health myths and potions used as natural remedies.
In European countries where they consume large amounts of garlic in their diets, they have a lower risk of cancer and are less likely to suffer from heart disease, but what about garlic for chickens?
How good is Verm-X for chickens? Verm-X comes in a liquid or pelleted formulation and I tried it out over 6 months, but how can you be sure it’s working?
Feathers, beak, skin, scales, spurs, eyes, comb, nails, legs and wings. Problems such as lameness, feather loss, external parasite infestation, frostbite, blindness, cuts and wounds.
Respiratory problems including Avian Influenza, Aspergillosis, Gapeworm, Infectious Bronchitis and Mycoplasma.
Typical digestive system problems include internal parasites, loss of appetite, swollen crop, bad or sweet-smelling breath, diarrhoea, or messy bottoms.
Reproductive system problems include egg-laying problems (but not egg problems) in chickens and other poultry.
Common quality problems with eggs, such as soft or missing eggshells, wrinkled or misshaped eggs, watery whites, double yolks or blood spots.
Skeletal, muscular and nervous system problems.
Diseases such as Marek’s or Toxoplasmosis.
Diseases and disorders relating to major organs or the cardiovascular system include acute heart failure and Avian Leukosis.
Every effort has been made to provide accurate information about poultry diseases and illnesses, and it is provided in good faith; however, content on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for veterinary advice. Reliance on any information provided on this website is solely at your own risk.