10/05/2025
MamaHen update. Back in the hospital, 4th time in 2 months. Heart failure yet again but I'm still alive & kicking. May be lying down doin it but that's ok too. I'll be back one day soon. God is good, all the time. Thought it'd be a good time of the year to post my info on feathery friend ailments. Since fall is upon us & it might just help one of you friends out there. So here ya go. Be safe. Stay strong. And always remember ol MamaHen here at Cackleberry Farm. God bless.
14 Major Chicken Diseases & Viruses
1. Marek’s Disease
Symptoms: Paralysis, weight loss, blindness
Prevent: Vaccinate chicks early
Treat: No cure — prevention is key
2. Newcastle Disease
Symptoms: Breathing trouble, twisted neck, paralysis
Prevent: Vaccinate and keep coop clean
Treat: No cure — isolate sick birds and give supportive care
3. Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
Symptoms: Coughing, diarrhea, sudden death
Prevent: Keep wild birds away, strict hygiene
Treat: No cure — report it to authorities if you're inclined to
4. Fowl Pox
Symptoms: Scabs on comb, mouth sores
Prevent: Control mosquitoes
Treat: Supportive care — soft food and clean water with apple cider vinegar, oregano flakes & garlic in it.
5. Infectious Bronchitis
Symptoms: Sneezing, watery eyes, fewer eggs
Prevent: Sanitize coop
Treat: No cure — keep birds warm and hydrated. Ease symptoms with Vitamins, electrolytes and VetRx from tractor supply
6. Coccidiosis
Symptoms: Bloody p**p, weakness, weight loss
Prevent: Dry bedding, medicated feed
Treat: Use coccidiostat meds in water or feed immediately
7. Salmonella
Symptoms: Diarrhea, fever, poor growth
Prevent: Clean water and feed, control rodents
Treat: Vet-prescribed antibiotics. Hard to fight without em
8. E. coli Infection
Symptoms: Swollen belly, diarrhea, sudden death
Prevent: Clean coop, avoid overcrowding
Treat: Antibiotics from vet a must most of the time
9. Mycoplasma (CRD)
Symptoms: Coughing, nasal discharge, slow growth
Prevent: Buy disease-free chicks, good airflow
Treat: Antibiotics and supportive care. Find a place that sells Fishmox use 1 capsule per quart of water if ya can't afford a vet
10. Infectious Coryza
Symptoms: Swollen face, smelly discharge, breathing issues
Prevent: Quarantine new birds
Treat: Antibiotics and isolate infected birds. Get that hard pus out of them eyes. Use antibiotic eye ointment from tractor supply
11. Fowl Cholera
Symptoms: Green p**p, swollen wattles, sudden death
Prevent: Clean coop, vaccinate
Treat: Antibiotics — act fast it's a quick killer
12. Aspergillosis
Symptoms: Gasping, weakness, slow growth
Prevent: Keep bedding dry and mold-free
Treat: No cure — remove mold sources and support recovery. Pray it makes it through
13. Egg Drop Syndrome
Symptoms: Soft or missing eggs, poor shell quality
Prevent: Buy clean stock, good nutrition
Treat: No cure — manage stress and improve diet, TLC
14. Botulism
Symptoms: Weakness, paralysis, droopy neck
Prevent: Remove spoiled feed and dead animals
Treat: Give activated charcoal and fluids — vet care needed unless you have time to do 24hr care
Disclaimer: ol MamaHen ain't no veterinarian and these here tips are fer entertainment purposes
only and not intended to be a substitute for professional care., diagnostics or treatment of disease. Now that means I gotta say all that because somewhere out there somebody gonna say ol MamaHen told me to. And I'm gonna say. Uhhh I aint no vet, just got 45 years experience. Use information at yer own risk. Love yall
