Comments for Common Chook Problems

Sonia, 2 August 2018

I have 2 young hens, one a silkie bantam and one a lavender bantam. I recently lost out silkie cockerel of a respiratory infection but my hens were fine for a few weeks. I then introduced 2 millie fleur bantams and one had a sneezy cold so I gave her the left over antibiotics for the cockerel and she recovered. Next day my 2 original hens got really ill crackly breathing and snoyyt face and the lavender has a swollen. I took the other 2 millie fleurs back and am treating my 2 with Baytrol. The lavender is still lethargic with closed swollen, the silkie better but still a bit snotty. This is 4 days into the antibiotic. These hens are only about 4 months old all from same breeder.

Kathryn, 5 June 2016

I have 7 chicks 5 weeks old (3 marans and 4 leghorns). One of the marans is much smaller than the others, eats less and has a red, swollen sore looking neck. It also seems to be itching. Could this be a parasite, or is it more likely that the others are bullying it? Hope you can help

Graham, 21 May 2016

Recently lost a healthy chicken for no apparent reason. Seemed broody at first so kept lifting out of nesting box, next day dead. Same now happening with another, only difference when I lift her out of box, she eats loads as she she hadn't been getting out of box to feed. Other birds attack her as she shows a weakness. I keep my coop clean, and spray with poultry disinfectant weekly after a clean. Could it be that?

Julie, 20 April 2016

We have recently (a week ago) obtained 5 young hens of different variations, I have just noticed that one of them seems a bit off? She is breathing with her beak open as if she is taking big breaths and every so often makes a loud noise. She seems to be drinking plenty and is scratching around. Other than this she seems healthy but just not quite right. Am I being too panicky or is this normal. All the others seem fine? Thank you. Julie

John, 15 March 2016

I have 8 hens in the back garden, all seem ok, but one seems to have a problem. she seems to walk with her rear end close to the ground. On feeling her rear end to see if it was an egg problem, she seems to be quite large and soft but can feel no egg. She eats fine, runs out of her roost with the others when let out in mornings. However she is not laying and her comb is not bright red like the other hens which are quite a deep red. Hope this all makes sense and that you can advise me what action to take.

Sandy, 3 September 2015

Great advice about hens

Vanessa, 14 December 2011

Make sure you dust with TOTAL MITE KILL powder - I dusted for red mites only, and it turned out my chicken had microscopic mites which were white and virtually impossible to see and left no visible dirt - sadly it was too late for Jolene, but the problem hasn't recurred since I've been dusting the other girls with a powder for ALL mites.

Beryl, 4 June 2011

Very good advise on chicken health , very good website. Thanks,.