In every rural setting, you will find back yard chickens, commonly known as Kienyeji in Kenya. They are always roaming around looking for food ,scratching and bathing in the sand as it is their natural behavior. The Kienyeji are known for their tender, delicious meat which is loved by all.
Most are the times that these kukus fall ill and you do not notice. You only get to know it was suffering from a certain disease when it starts to curve around one corner on the room and that is when you rush to act.
So when exactly are supposed to seek medical intervention for our chicken? The following are the signs that will guide you to determining if your chicken are ill;
- Not eating well: going off feed is a tell-tale sign of illness in animals
- Bubbly or watery eyes or nose
- Rasping when breathing
- Sneezing or coughing
- Swelling around the eyes
- A strange odor to the bird(s)
- Swelling of the comb and/or wattles
- Unusual lesions (sores) on the comb and/or wattles
- Limping or inability to stand
- Diarrhea or stools that look or smell different
- Parasites visible in stools
- Feathers that look bedraggled, broken
- Bald spots with an unusual loss pattern
- Bloody stools
- Visible wounds and sores
- Enlarged crop
- Hunched appearance when it isn’t cold
- Standing by itself
- Straining to pass an egg
- Holding the wings in an odd position
