Liver and Kidney Problems
Chickens can develop problems with their liver and / or kidneys. The three most common conditions being Fatty Liver Haemorrhagic Syndrome (FLHS), Fatty Liver and Kidney Syndrome (FLKS) and Enlarged Liver.
Health Problems
Here we have provided some guidance on some of the common health problems your pet hens can encounter.
This section is not intended to replace professional veterinary help and isbased on our own personal experience and that of our supporters. If you would like to speak to one of our team, hen help and reassurance is just a phone call away on 01884 860084.
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Newcastle Disease
Newcastle Disease is a highly contagious viral infection of birds and is classed as a notifiable disease. It is a legal requirement to report suspected cases to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
Egg Binding
Failure to pass the egg from the shell gland to the vent is referred to as Egg Binding (Dystocia) or more commonly as a hen being Egg Bound.
Avian Influenza
Avian Influenza is a highly contagious viral infection of birds and is classed as a notifiable disease. It is a legal requirement to report suspected cases to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
Red Mite
Red mites are yellow / brown in colour becoming red after feeding on blood from the hens. Mites are almost invisible to the naked eye (0.6 to 1mm).
Soft Shell Eggs
Soft shell eggs, caused by a lack of protein and calcium, can be difficult for a hen to lay as the egg has no hard shell to help it exit the vent easily.
Egg Yolk Peritonitis
A hen will sometimes become a ‘blind’ or ‘internal’ layer which can lead to Egg Yolk Peritonitis (EYP).
Sour Crop
This is caused by a yeast infection which makes the crop lining sore and inflamed. The condition is sometimes called thrush. It is possible to successfully treat the condition.
Pendulous Crop
Pendulous or spastic crop occurs when the crop muscle becomes stretched and the crop will fill to a massive size.
Impacted Crop
The crop is a muscular bag at the bottom of a hen’s neck which stores feed for the day and on occasion can become impacted.
Worms
Hens can pick up worms in exactly the same way as any other pet. However, caged hens are unlikely to have worms at the point of adoption as they have no contact with solid ground. Free range and barn hens often do have worms when adopted.
Scaly Leg
This is a condition caused by a mite called ‘Knemidocoptes Mutans’ which burrows under the skin on a bird’s legs to feed on the keratin.
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