What is an Internal Infection in Chickens?

Internal infections in your chicken can range from parasites, fungal infections to gastrointestinal infections. These kinds of infections are quite hard to confirm without testing but there are some signs you can look out for. If you can rule out other more common illnesses listed and your hen is still unwell and has any or all of the below symptoms then you may need to consult your vet for testing to ascertain if they have some kind of internal infection that may need an antibiotic treatment.

What are the main symptoms of an internal in chickens?

  • Lethargy
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Sudden weight loss and emaciation.
  • Anaemia, paling of the wattle and combes.
  • Runny and green poo.
  • Signs of a fungal infection in the back end with very white discharge and irritation.
  • Worms in their stool.
  • Reduced laying or a total stop in laying.

How to Treat Internal Infections in Chickens?

Once you have confirmed what kind of infection your hen has you can usually treat most with antibiotics or with over the counter remedies.

Vent Gleet is one of the most common internal fungal yeast infections found in chickens, antibiotics may not be effective in treating Vent Gleet, instead try using anti-fungal treatments instead. You can give your hen 1tbsp of natural live yogurt daily this is very good to help re-balance the PH levels in the gastrointestinal tract neutralising elevated yeast levels, you can also use an external fungal cream around the vent area.

Most gastrointestinal infections can be resolved with Bio Stop which is a great veterinary recommended product that is available on our website, this will help recondition the gut and stop diarrhoea it is very effective after an antibiotic treatment, during times of illness or stress.

Consult your vet if you have tried some of these remedies and nothing as proven effective.

Prevention.

To prevent your hens contracting an internal fungal yeast infection keep their area as clean as possible using our Virkon Sachets in a sprayer to disinfect their area regularly, avoid feeding mouldy food as this can cause a yeast infection and ensure bedding is dry and clean. if you have a hen with an infection such as Vent Gleet remove any cockerels as they can spread the yeast infection from hen to hen.