What to do and how to treat diarrhea in laying hens at home with drugs and folk remedies

How to treat diarrhea in laying hens - a novice poultry farmer may not know the answer to this question. But it is important to understand what is considered diarrhea, because loose stools are not a cause for concern. If the bird is lethargic, drinks a lot, refuses food and behaves strangely, then you should think about how to treat it. If a person does not understand and is encountering such a problem for the first time, then he should assess the general condition of the chicken and remove it as soon as possible, otherwise the entire chicken coop may die.

Possible causes of diarrhea

Birds often die en masse due to infection with the virus, but there are other factors that can lead to similar problems.

Hypothermia

When a chicken sleeps on a wet bedding and it’s cold in the chicken coop, her body is in a stressful situation. This weakens the immune system and leads to the development of viral and infectious diseases. For this reason, poultry farmers advise regularly “renewing” the top layer of litter and maintaining an optimal temperature in the chicken coop.

Dietary disorders

Or, in simple terms, vitamin deficiency. In this case, it is worth feeding, “adding vitamins.” Such a decision would be correct, especially if the problem with stool arose in the off-season, and the bird has no obvious symptoms of the virus.

Infection in the intestines

The entry of pathogenic bacteria into the body and their active reproduction is dangerous. Antibiotics will help correct the situation and save the bird’s life.

The main signs of an intestinal infection are:

1. Copious clots of mucus or blood in the droppings.
2. Refusal to eat, lethargy.

Such a laying hen should be isolated, because infectious diseases spread quickly.

Virus in the body

It is believed that a viral disease cannot be cured, but this statement can be disputed. A bird suspected of having a virus is isolated from the chicken coop, given antibiotics if necessary, the bedding is changed, the water is kept clean, and feed is added regularly.

Poisoning

While free-range, a chicken may eat “something wrong”: buttercup, milkweed, celandine.These herbs can lead to poisoning. Poultry are also often “poisoned” by metal; such poisoning is caused by improper storage of feed and the use of aluminum and zinc utensils for this purpose.

Power change

In this case, the situation is not dangerous because it is temporary. Once your poultry gets used to the new food, its stool will return to its previous consistency.

Dirty water

If the water in the drinking bowl is stale, then it creates a favorable environment for the proliferation of pathogenic flora, which increases the chances of poisoning.

Regularly replacing the water in the drinking bowl will help to avoid such problems; the liquid should be fresh and fresh.

Parasite infestation

Helminths are another reason for changes in stool; Parasite eggs can be found in water and soil. To avoid infection, do not forget about prevention. Carry it out regularly, giving the laying hens specialized medications.

Moving

It is believed that chickens have a hard time withstanding transportation. A change in place of residence and usual diet leads to the development of diarrhea. But the situation will stabilize on its own as soon as the bird adapts to its living conditions.

Low-grade feed

They also lead to vitamin deficiency and weaken the body. But it’s worth replacing the food, revising the diet, and the problem will solve itself.

Infectious diseases

There are a number of diseases that lead to the development of similar symptoms:

1. Pasteurellosis is caused by the bacterium Pasteurella, resistant to environmental factors. The pathogenic microorganism affects both wild and domestic poultry. It persists for a long time in corpses, manure, and water. The disease occurs in both acute and chronic forms, and is popularly called “bird cholera.”
2. Pullorosis or typhus - appears when pathogenic microorganisms enter the chicken's digestive system. In this case, the sick bird produces eggs, from which infected chickens hatch. If typhus becomes chronic, the chicken may suffer from it throughout its life.
3. Salmonellosis is a well-known bacterial disease with specific symptoms that can infect humans. In sick chickens, the eyelids swell and stick together, and the joints become weak. The hens fall on their backs and twitch their paws. Infection occurs through water, as well as by airborne droplets from sick individuals. Salmonella easily penetrates egg shells and can kill adult birds and young birds.
4. Coccidiosis is a disease caused by parasites and is more often observed in young animals than in adults. Infection with parasites occurs when a healthy bird comes into contact with a sick or recently ill bird. Because after treatment, chickens are considered carriers of parasites for another 7-8 months.

Attention! Colibacillosis and mycoplasmosis can be accompanied by similar symptoms and occur with indigestion and disruption of the gastrointestinal tract. Don't forget about bird flu, one of the symptoms of which is diarrhea.

Symptoms of diarrhea in chickens

Pay attention to the following changes, indicating that not everything is in order in the chicken’s body:

1. In winter or summer, the bird is lethargic and weak.
2. She refuses food and has poor appetite.
3. Worried about strong thirst, the chicken drinks a lot.
4. The consistency of the stool changes, streaks of blood, mucus, and a foul odor appear.
5. Increased body temperature.

Green diarrhea

If the litter has acquired a similar shade, it should be regarded as a sign of several diseases:

1. With Newcastle disease, the droppings develop a putrid odor, coordination of movements is impaired, and mucus leaks from the beak. Over a long period of time, paralysis develops and difficulty breathing occurs.
2. Pasteurellosis - the comb fades or changes color, becomes bright red, and chickens develop blindness. The disease occurs against a background of increased body temperature. Chicken stool is liquid, with a characteristic gray-green tint.
3. If the droppings resemble green jelly and there are other signs indicating an infection, then it could be typhus.
4. Trichomoniasis - a disease accompanied by diarrhea with a strong smell of rot.

White diarrhea

In chicken it is observed in two cases:

1. When infected with salmonella. At the initial stage, the hen sleeps a lot, wheezing is heard when breathing while sleeping, and refuses to eat.
2. Pullorosis - transmitted from wild birds and rodents; as the disease develops, the cloaca becomes clogged with white discharge.

Yellow, brown, brown diarrhea

This indicates that the bird is not doing well with its liver. You should be wary of worms that can penetrate this organ.

Yellow or brown diarrhea is also regarded as a symptom of Gumboro disease, when infection of adults occurs from chickens. The following symptoms are of concern:

• the chicken is trembling, its feathers are ruffled;
• she refuses food.

Bloody feces

Infection with coccidiosis is accompanied by bloody diarrhea. This may be a consequence of eating low-quality feed. Most often, birds under 2 months of age are affected, not older. The disease occurs in autumn or spring. The color of the chicken's comb changes, it becomes lighter, the bird is lethargic and apathetic.

How to recognize diarrhea

In laying hens, stool has its own characteristics:

1. If gas bubbles appear or the smell of the droppings changes, then it is worth thinking about the causes of the problem.
2. When the bird became lethargic, apathetic, its behavior changed - this should be regarded as a symptom of infection.
3. If you notice mucus, blood, or inclusions in the droppings, then isolate the chicken; there is a high probability that it is sick.

There are two types of normal litter:

Methods of treating the disease

It is not so easy to cure a bird at home, since laboratory tests are often required to make an accurate diagnosis.

Antibiotics

The dosage is determined by the veterinarian, since only a doctor can choose the right drug. Preference is given to products in the form of drops - they are mixed into water and given to chickens.

If it is not possible to consult a doctor, then preference is given to universal remedies. When there is no veterinary pharmacy nearby, you can give the bird an antibiotic intended for humans, for example, Levomycetin or Biseptol.

Help: Antibacterial therapy is effective in case of infection with pathogenic bacteria; in relation to viruses, it will not bring the desired result.

Probiotics

Flosan, Emprobio - suitable for birds, they are given strictly following the instructions. You can supplement your diet with curdled milk; it will help restore the microflora even after antibacterial therapy.

Vitamins

It is better to give after complete recovery. Taking antibiotics weakens the body, the following supplements will help restore it:

1. Undevit is a universal drug that accelerates metabolic processes in the body of birds.
2. Biovit is a complex feed additive that will help laying hens recover from illness or infection.
3. Trivit - acts as a prophylactic agent, helps in the fight against vitamin deficiency.

Folk remedies

If the bird is poisoned, then you should do the following:

1. Add activated carbon and potassium permanganate crystal to the drinking bowl.
2. A decoction of rice and oats will help; it is given to laying hens because it has an astringent effect. And at the same time it will not allow the bird to weaken or lose strength.
3. You can also give chickens a decoction of oak bark and crushed walnut partitions.

Disease prevention

Is as follows:

• It is worth keeping the bird clean and changing bedding regularly;
• monitor the quality of the feed, change the water every day;
• when purchasing new chickens, keep them separate for 2 weeks, during which time infections, if any, will appear;
• regularly carry out antiparasitic treatments, give vitamins to laying hens;
• eliminate the possibility of rodents getting into the chicken coop, avoid contact between poultry and wild birds.

Diarrhea for chickens is dangerous due to dehydration; the bird becomes weaker and loses interest in food. This is regarded as a reason for her isolation. To find out the reason for the change in the condition of the hens, they are resettled, shown to a doctor, and treated. This allows the poultry farmer to save the chicken coop and avoid mass death of the livestock.