What diseases most affect chickens?
There are many reasons why chickens may become ill, listless or just a little off colour. Mostly the health issue is localised and very curable. Poultry are affected by numerous diseases, while some are very serious and contagious, others can be treated and the effected bird can recover. In the case of the more serious diseases it is sometimes necessary to cull the entire flock to break the cycle. In small holdings’ flocks, it’s less likely to be the the more serious diseases, particularly if they are free ranging but there can be occasions when it is the only option. Close observation at feeding time, when collecting eggs and when they’ve settled for the night helps to identify any ill bird. A list of poultry diseases based on symptoms can be found in Mississippi State University Extension System and another excellent site is University of Florida IFAS Extension.
