Raising backyard chickens is so rewarding and fulfilling! There’s nothing better than watching your girls flock toward you or collecting fresh eggs from the coop. However, not every part of chicken keeping is fun—especially when sickness strikes. Respiratory infections are one of the more serious health risks your chickens can face, and as their caretaker, it’s important to know how to spot and treat them!
What Causes Respiratory Infections in Chickens?
Respiratory infections in chickens can be caused by poor air quality, viral infections or bacterial pests. These infections can spread quickly within a flock, making it crucial to monitor your chickens for early symptoms.
Symptoms of Respiratory Infections
Keep an eye out for these common signs of a respiratory infection in your flock:
Coughing or sneezing
Nasal discharge
Swollen eyes or sinuses
Labored breathing
Decreased egg production
Lethargy
Blue-tinged comb or wattles
If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s time to take action.
How to Treat Respiratory Infections
Treating respiratory infections in chickens requires a combination of isolating the infected bird, consulting with a veterinarian and providing supportive care to help them recover. Acting quickly when you spot symptoms can make all the difference!
Step 1: Separate Infected Birds
At the first sign of illness, separate the infected birds from the rest of your flock. This helps prevent the spread of infection and gives the sick chickens a stress-free environment to recover.
Step 2: Consult a Veterinarian
Contact your veterinarian for an accurate diagnosis. If the infection is bacterial, they may prescribe antibiotics along with supportive care. For viral infections, treatment will focus on supportive care to help your animal recover as the illness runs its course.
Step 3: Provide Supportive Care
Supportive care is key to helping your chickens recover. Focus on the following:
Balanced Diet: Ensure your chickens are eating a healthy, nutritious diet.
Fresh Water: Make sure they have constant access to clean, fresh water.
Electrolytes and Probiotics: Products like Flock Fixer can give your chickens the extra boost of essential oils, electrolytes, prebiotics and probiotics they need to manage illness. Personally, I’ve seen Flock Fixer save several of my chickens—it’s an incredible product!
Minimize Stress in the Coop
Stress can worsen respiratory infections, so it’s important to create a calm, clean environment for your chickens. Here are a few tips:
Clean Bedding: Keep the bedding fresh and dry to reduce bacteria and improve air quality. I use Coop Recuperate, which has transformed how I manage my flock. It extends the life of bedding and keeps it dry and fresh longer.
Ventilation: Make sure the coop has proper ventilation without drafts. Good airflow is critical for preventing respiratory issues!
Preventing Respiratory Infections
Prevention is always better than treatment. Here are some simple steps to reduce the risk of respiratory infections in your flock:
Practice Biosecurity: Limit exposure to outside birds and minimize foot traffic in your coop to prevent pathogens from entering.
Health Checks: Regularly inspect your chickens for early signs of illness. Catching issues early makes treatment much easier. I check over my girls everyday when I do chores!
Clean Environment: A clean coop is essential! I can’t stress this enough. Use products like Coop Recuperate to maintain a healthy living space.
Daily Vitamin: Keep your chickens healthy year-round with supplements like Chicken E-lixir. This daily vitamin has been part of my flock’s routine for the last six years, and I’ve had incredibly healthy chickens during this time!
Be Proactive, Not Reactive
Bottom line, if you suspect one of your chickens is sick, separate her from the flock and consult a veterinarian immediately. While prevention is always the goal, there will be times when illness strikes—and that’s okay! What matters most is doing what’s best for your flock and ensuring they have everything they need to recover.
Until next time,
–The Wing Lady
Flock Fixer - Hydrate & Restore Health During Times of Challenge
You can’t always see it, but your flock will experience a weakened immune system during times of challenge. Flock Fixer is a vitamin-rich additive that helps hydrate, restore vital nutrients and balance digestive health.
Coop Recuperate - Freshen Up Your Chicken Coop
Coop Recuperate is a safe and natural way to care for your coop. This coop refresher contains organic eucalyptus and lemongrass essential oil, along with diatomaceous earth to reduce odor and moisture and help improve the quality of your compost.
Chicken E-lixir - Daily Vitamin for Chickens Chicken E-lixir is added to drinking water as a daily vitamin for keeping chickens healthy by promoting digestive health. For everyday use, it contains a unique blend of organic oregano essential oil, prebiotics, calcium, vitamins D & E and electrolytes.