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
- Avian paramyxovirus
- Blackhead
- Botulism in poultry
- Coccidiosis
- External parasites
- Fowl cholera
- Marek's disease
- Spotty liver
- Worm parasites
Reportable diseases
In Queensland, you must report these diseases to Biosecurity Queensland:
- Avian influenza (bird flu) (highly pathogenic)
- duck virus enteritis (duck plague)
- duck virus hepatitis
- infectious bursal disease (hypervirulent and exotic antigenic variant forms)
- Infectious laryngotracheitis
- Newcastle disease (virulent)
- Salmonella Enteritidis infection in poultry.
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
- Last reviewed: 22 Nov 2022
- Last updated: 29 Nov 2022