8. Chick Health

Health Indicators

There are several health indicators that will help guide you in evaluating your chicks on a day to day basis. Observing your chicks closely, and using these identifiers to catch issues early, will contribute to successful treatments and help resolve problems before they get out of hand.

Key Points Summary

• Using health indicators can help you identify issues early on, leading to better treatment outcomes.

A PDF version of the table below is available for download on the main course page under Materials.

Contagious Diseases

Coccidiosis and Marek’s Disease are both contagious diseases chicks are susceptible to. We will cover how to protect your chicks from contracting these diseases, how to recognize symptoms, and what the treatment options are for each disease.

Environmental Illnesses and Issues

Good brooder management should always be your first defense against illness and other issues. Let’s talk about the most common environmental illnesses and issues, how to avoid them, and how to treat them if problems do arise.

Key Points Summary

• Splayed Leg
• Caused by high incubation temp or slick flooring.
• Treated by hobbling the chick until the legs stay in the proper position.
• Wry Neck
• Treatable if the cause is a vitamin deficiency by using vitamin E and selenium.
• Pasty Butt
• Easily treatable but can lead to death if not addressed.
• Often caused by incorrect brooder temp, or incorrect diet.
• Carefully remove dried droppings by softening them with warm water and picking off gently by hand.
• Brooder Pneumonia
• Caused by damp, moldy bedding.
• In order for chicks to recover, the bedding must be removed and replaced with clean, dry bedding.
• Omphalitis (Mushy Chick Disease)
• Infection of the navel, usually caused by bacteria in the incubator.
• Recovery is very rare, and chicks with omphalitis are usually culled.
• Predators
• Chicks are highly susceptible to predators.
• Brooders must be extremely secure, as predators will exploit any means of entry.
• Stress
• Overly stressed chicks are more susceptible to illness.
• Good brooder management keeps stress at sustainable levels.