Symptom checker
Tap a symptom to see the conditions most often behind it and what to do first. Many signs overlap, so use this to narrow things down, not to replace a vet. Nothing is saved, and it works offline.
Pick a symptom above to see likely causes and first actions.
The common problems, explained
External parasites: mites and lice
The most common backyard problem by far. Lice live on the bird, laying egg clusters at the feather base near the vent. Red mites live in coop cracks and feed at night, causing anemia, pale combs and a flock that hates the coop. Check under the wings and around the vent regularly, treat with a poultry-approved product, clean and treat the coop including every crevice, and keep a dry dust bath going.
Intestinal worms
Roundworm, cecal worm and others are picked up from the ground. Heavy burdens cause weight loss, pale combs, runny droppings and a drop in laying. Worm on a sensible routine, rotate or rest ground where you can, and keep feed off the dirt. Ask your vet or farm store about a suitable poultry wormer and timing for your area.
Respiratory illness
Sneezing, rattly or labored breathing, nasal discharge, swollen face or eyes and gurgling are signs of respiratory infection, which spreads quickly in a flock. Causes range from dust and ammonia to bacterial and viral infections. Improve ventilation without drafts, isolate affected birds, and see a vet, since some respiratory diseases are serious and need proper diagnosis.
Sour crop and impacted crop
The crop should empty overnight. A crop still full and squishy or sour-smelling in the morning suggests sour crop (a yeast overgrowth); a hard, packed crop suggests impaction, often from long grass or litter. Withhold food briefly, offer water, and gently massage an impacted crop. Stubborn or repeated cases, or a bird going downhill, need a vet.
Egg binding
A laying hen straining, sitting puffed up, walking like a penguin, with a swollen abdomen and not passing droppings, may be egg bound, with an egg stuck in her tract. This can turn life-threatening within a day. As first aid give a warm bath, extra calcium, and a warm, dark, quiet space. If she does not pass the egg within a few hours, treat it as an emergency and see a vet.
Bumblefoot
A swollen footpad, often with a dark scab and limping, is bumblefoot, a bacterial infection that enters through a cut or pressure sore. Keep perches smooth, litter dry and landings soft to prevent it. Mild cases respond to cleaning and dressing, but deeper infections need veterinary treatment.
Marek's disease awareness
Marek's is a common viral disease, most often in young birds, that can cause leg or wing paralysis, tumors and wasting. There is no cure, so prevention through vaccinating day-old chicks and good biosecurity is what matters. If you see paralysis or unexplained deaths in young birds, a poultry vet can help confirm the cause and protect the rest of the flock.
At-a-glance reference
| Problem | Key signs | First action |
|---|---|---|
| Mites & lice | Itchy birds, pale comb, lice eggs near vent, mites in coop cracks | Treat bird and coop with a poultry-approved product; dry dust bath |
| Worms | Weight loss, pale comb, runny droppings, lower laying | Worm on a routine; ask vet or farm store for the right product |
| Respiratory illness | Sneezing, rattly breathing, discharge, swollen face | Improve ventilation, isolate the bird, see a vet |
| Sour / impacted crop | Crop full or sour in the morning, hard or squishy | Withhold food briefly, offer water, gently massage; vet if it persists |
| Egg binding | Straining, penguin stance, swollen belly, no droppings | Warm bath, calcium, warm quiet space; vet urgently if not resolved |
| Bumblefoot | Swollen footpad, dark scab, limping | Clean and dress mild cases; vet for deeper infection |
| Marek's disease | Leg or wing paralysis, wasting, young birds | Prevent by vaccinating chicks; see a vet to confirm |
Prevention is most of the battle
The vast majority of backyard chicken illness is prevented by a handful of habits:
- Keep the coop clean and dry. Damp bedding and droppings breed parasites, mold and ammonia. Clean regularly and keep litter dry.
- Ventilate without drafts. Good airflow up high clears moisture and ammonia, the root of many respiratory problems.
- Provide a dust bath. A patch of dry earth or sand lets birds control mites and lice themselves.
- Feed and water well. Balanced layer feed, calcium for shells, fresh clean water and grit keep birds strong.
- Worm and check regularly. A quick weekly handle-and-look catches most problems early, when they are easy to fix.
- Quarantine new birds. Keep newcomers separate for two to three weeks before joining the flock, the single best way to keep disease out.
Log health, treatments and laying in one place
The free Planting Season app and its Poultry and Flock tracker let you record a health log for each bird, note treatments and worming dates, set reminders, and watch laying patterns that often reveal a problem before other signs show. A bird that suddenly stops laying is worth a closer look.
Questions people ask
How do I know if my chicken is sick?
Chickens hide illness well, so watch for changes from normal. Warning signs include sitting fluffed up and still, not eating or drinking, a pale or shrunken comb, closed or watery eyes, labored breathing, runny droppings, a soiled vent, limping or a drop in laying. A bird that stops eating or isolates itself needs prompt attention and often a poultry vet.
What are the most common backyard chicken health problems?
The most common issues are external parasites like mites and lice, intestinal worms, respiratory infections, crop problems such as sour or impacted crop, egg binding in laying hens, and bumblefoot. Most are preventable with a clean, dry coop, regular checks, good feed and quarantining new birds. Persistent or serious illness needs a poultry vet.
How do I treat mites and lice on chickens?
Check under the wings and around the vent for crawling lice, lice egg clusters at feather bases, or red mites that hide in coop cracks by day. Treat with a poultry-approved mite and lice product, clean and treat the coop including all crevices, and provide a dry dust bath. Severe infestations cause anemia and need a vet's advice on safe products.
What is egg binding and is it an emergency?
Egg binding is when a hen cannot pass an egg stuck in her tract. She strains, sits puffed up, walks like a penguin, may have a swollen abdomen and stops passing droppings. It can become life-threatening within a day. As first aid, give a warm bath, calcium and a warm quiet space, but if she does not pass the egg within a few hours, see a vet urgently.
What is bumblefoot?
Bumblefoot is a bacterial infection of the foot, usually from a cut or pressure sore, seen as a swollen footpad often with a dark scab. Catch it early by keeping perches smooth, bedding clean and litter dry. Mild cases respond to cleaning and dressing, but deeper or worsening infections need veterinary treatment and sometimes antibiotics.
What is Marek's disease?
Marek's is a common viral disease of chickens that can cause paralysis, especially of the legs or wings, tumors and wasting, most often in young birds. There is no cure, so prevention through vaccination of day-old chicks and good biosecurity is key. If you see paralysis or unexplained deaths in young birds, a poultry vet can help confirm the cause and protect the rest of your flock.
How do I prevent chicken health problems?
Keep the coop clean, dry and well ventilated, provide a dust bath, give balanced layer feed and fresh water, and worm and check for parasites regularly. Quarantine any new birds for two to three weeks before adding them to the flock. Most backyard illness is prevented by clean, dry conditions and catching problems early.
When should I take my chicken to the vet?
See an avian or poultry vet for any serious, sudden or persistent illness: a bird not eating for more than a day, labored breathing, suspected egg binding that does not resolve in a few hours, paralysis, deep wounds, or unexplained deaths. This page is general information to help you understand symptoms, not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment.
Keep a health log for every bird
Record symptoms, treatments and laying in the free Poultry module and catch problems early.