What do you do when a chicken looks sick?

Answer 1

Chickens often get respiratory diseases. Some are curable easily and others are not.

If you want to try a home remedy then add 1 teaspoon of cider vinegar to a liter of water and use this as it's only drinking source. The vinegar helps clear mucus. More is not better and can actually harm the hen so do not try to speed up the process by adding extra vinegar!!!

You can go to where ever you buy your feed and ask for a water soluble Tonic. The extra vitamins plus symptom specific medication is available over the counter.

Try wiping the nasal passages with warm salty water on a damp, not wet, cloth. This will allow the bird to breath better.

Answer 2

Examine stool for worms, check under eyelids and in mouth for thick almost chunky material (bacteria) very foul smell. If it is worms you may be able to worm them, but often times it is too late. Keep your animals wormed, simple to add to water sources but very hard to get rid of once they make it to your farm. In most cares you will destroy the animal but at very least IMMEDIATELY quarantine the animal and all of it's waste.

Answer 3

To reduce mucus production which can clog the chickens nasal passages and cause coughing. Add two teaspoons of cider vinegar to each gallon of water provided. Do not over do this treatment as they will not drink water too heavily acidulated. Use this treatment for three to four days and do not provide any other water source so that all the chickens are getting the same water. For birds that are heavily congested, use warm water and a soft cloth to wipe away built up mucus from the beak area.

There are also tonics available from the store where you buy you chicken feed.

Answer 4

Give them an antibiotic medicene. You put in the water and let your chicken drink it. Thank you!