Baby chicks are prone to many different diseases and different types of injuries so today lets talk about what they are and ways that you can help prevent or treat them!
Common Diseases-
Coccidiosis-
One of the most common diseases that your chicks can get is coccidiosis, it is caused from parasites in the soil. Symptoms of this include a bloody vent and diarrhea. To treat coccidiosis you will want to remove all sick chicks because it is spread through their feces, dirty water or contaminated food. After you remove them you will also need to clean out and sanitize their brooder and everything that you have in it. You can help prevent coccidiosis by removing wet bedding and keeping the brooder clean, keeping their water clean and adding apple cider vinegar to it, and by feeding them a healthy, organic chick starter.
Marek’s disease-
Marek’s disease is another illness that chicks can get. Marek’s disease is a contagious virus that chicks can get when they are between 12-25 weeks old. Symptoms usually involve the nervous system and include paralysis in the legs or wings, a grey iris or a different shaped pupil, a collapsed crop, and visible weight loss. The mortality rate of some of the different strands is only around 30 percent. To prevent your chicks from getting it, keep a clean and well ventilated area. If any of your chicks get any of the symptoms isolate them away from the others.
E. Coli
E. Coli is a disease that can easily be prevented. Proper sanitation and thorough cleaning is key to preventing your chicks from getting it. Symptoms of E. Coli include a fever, diarrhea, lethargy, and breathing difficulties. The most common way to treat E. Coli is with antibiotics. Make sure to avoid overcrowding and stressing out your chicks as this makes them more susceptible to diseases.
Common Injuries-
Spraddle Leg or Splay Leg-
Spraddle leg can be caused if there wasn’t enough moisture during incubation, or if the floor in the brooder is slippery, this is why I prefer to use pine shavings. Symptoms of spraddle leg are easy to detect because your chick’s legs will be spread out and it will have a hard time walking. To treat Spraddle leg check out this post here.
Pasty Butt-
Pasty butt is very common and needs to be treated as soon as you notice it. It happens when a chicks vent becomes blocked with poop, and if not treated right away it can cause your chick to die. Thankfully it is pretty simple to treat it, you can read how to here!
There are more injuries and diseases that your chicks can get, or your chicks could have died for what seemed to be for know reason, but don’t worry because with proper care and preventative steps you can raise your chicks to be healthy and strong chickens! What chick diseases or injuries have you had to deal with? Be sure to let us know how you treated or prevented your chicks from getting any injuries or diseases.
The 1912 Homestead 