Managing disease in poultry

Understand and recognise the signs and symptoms of diseases that affect chickens and other poultry so you can protect your animals.

Maintaining the health of your flock and protecting poultry from pests and disease will contribute to your farm's productivity and profitability.

Common diseases

Reportable diseases

In Queensland, you must report these diseases to Biosecurity Queensland:

Signs of disease

Common signs of disease:

  • feather loss (unless birds are going through a natural moult)
  • general inactivity
  • discharges
  • abnormal droppings
  • dull and/or closed eyes
  • ruffled feathers
  • drooped wings
  • sitting on haunches or lying down
  • breathing issues such as coughing and rattling.

Always contact your vet for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Adult poultry

  • Healthy birds

    • Erect
    • Tail held high

    Diseased birds

    • Tail and wings 'dropped'
    • Head held close to body or twisted over back or between legs

  • Healthy birds

    • Clean comb and wattles
    • Bright about the eye
    • Clean nostrils

    Diseased birds

    • Discoloured
    • Shrunken comb or eyes dull or watery
    • Nostrils caked
    • Face shrunken or swollen

  • Healthy birds

    • Bird feels firm with an even muscle tone

    Diseased birds

    • Loss of weight and strength
    • Uneven size of thighs
    • Keel protrudes under skin

  • Healthy birds

    • Clean waxy scales
    • Smooth joints
    • Cool to touch

    Diseased birds

    • Dehydrated with prominent tendons
    • Enlarged
    • Warm to touch
    • Cracked feet

  • Healthy birds

    • Smooth and neat

    Diseased birds

    • Fluffed out
    • Stained in abdomen area

  • Healthy birds

    • Breed and strain characteristics

    Diseased birds

    • Less colourful
    • In hens excess yellow may be from reduced laying rate

  • Healthy birds

    • Eat and drink often

    Diseased birds

    • Lose of appetite
    • Drink excessively

  • Healthy birds

    • Grey
    • Brown with white caps
    • Definite form
    • Caecal droppings may be frothy

    Diseased birds

    • White
    • Green
    • Red
    • Yellow
    • Very watery or sticky

  • Healthy birds

    • Firm to touch
    • Fat birds may feel hard

    Diseased birds

    • May be very hard or very soft

  • Healthy birds

    • Clean
    • Level with body surface

    Diseased birds

    • Inflamed around vent area
    • Pasted over with droppings
    • Protrusion of tissues

  • Healthy birds

    • Silent
    • Beak closed (in hot weather birds may breathe with mouth open)

    Diseased birds

    • Coughing
    • Rattling
    • Snickering
    • Obvious panting movements

Young poultry

  • Healthy birds

    • Smooth
    • Colour and appearance of normal skin

    Diseased birds

    • Thickened appearance and feeling of a 'button' or a knot of tissue
    • Black string of dry tissue protruding
    • Fluid exudate

  • Healthy birds

    • Clean
    • Level with body surface

    Diseased birds

    • Pasted over with droppings
    • Protrusion of tissues

  • Healthy birds

    • Legs under body
    • Toes straight and spread evenly

    Diseased birds

    • Legs sprawled
    • Sores on hock joints
    • Toes curved

  • Healthy birds

    • Extend to the base of the tail
    • Feathers show no distinct break lines

    Diseased birds

    • Wings droop
    • Feathers show clear 'fault lines' in vane