11 Reasons Your Baby Chick May Be Sick (with Symptoms)

*This post may have affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclaimer for additional details.

In any species, when rearing babies there are sometimes complications and issues. Raising chicks is no exception.

While the diseases themselves are varied, the biggest thing to focus on your flock is understanding what they are and then focusing on prevention.

Whether your new bundles of joy are chickens, turkey’s, guineas or quail, this list of baby chick diseases and treatments is for you.

Keep in mind that age ranges here are general. Each flock is different, so remember that your birds may fall outside of that range on either end.

Remember to always consult your local veterinarian for accurate diagnosis and treatment recommendations for your flock.

Table of Contents

11 Baby Chick Diseases

Here are 11 of the most common issues and diseases you may encounter when raising baby chicks.

Disease	Age	Symptoms
Aspergillosis	1 – 6 weeks	Trouble breathing, fever, weight loss
Avian Encephalomyelitis	>2 weeks	Stumbling, shivering, paralysis
Coccidiosis	>4 days	Bloody Stools
Fowl Pox	>1 week	Scabs, eye swelling, weight loss
Infectious Bronchitis	>1 day	Sneezing, coughing
Marek’s Disease	≥ 3 weeks	Paralysis, gray eyes
Mushy Chick Disease	0 – 2 weeks	Navel infection, unabsorbed yolk sac, excess fluid (edema)
Newcastle Disease	>1 day	Trouble breathing, coughing, sneezing, head twisting, paralysis
Pasty Butt	0 – 10 days	Poop stuck to butt
Pullorum	0-4 weeks	Seek out heat, look weak, diarrhea, loss of appetite
Rot Gut	2 – 5 weeks	Death, ruffled feathers, diarrhea

1. Aspergillosis

Affects: Chickens, turkeys, guinea, quail
Age: 1 – 6 weeks old

Aspergillosis is a respiratory infection that can affect chickens at any age. It’s very dangerous for chicks and those that catch it often don’t survive.

The disease is caused from the inhalation of mold spores that may be present in the environment. The main type of spores are from the genus Aspergillus though other mold species can cause the disease as well.

If you live in regions with warm temperatures and humid air most of the year, this disease will of special concern to you and you’ll want to make sure items are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

Cause: Inhalation of mold spores from the environment.
Prevention: Use clean bedding and thoroughly sanitize the brooder between use. Ensure the area you are keeping the chicks is mold free and has good ventilation (but not drafts).
Symptoms: Trouble breathing, fever, loss of appetite, weight loss.
Treatment: None

2. Avian Encephalomyelitis

Affects: Chickens, turkeys, quail
Age: >2 weeks old

Avian Encephalomyelitis is a virus that affects chicks as well as full-grown chickens. Mildly affected birds that recover remain disease resistant but can still transmit the disease to others in the flock.

Severely affected chicks are most easily distinguished as their condition deteriorates. They will begin to have trouble standing, may fall repeatedly, and eventually will lay prone on their side unable to get up.

Once a chick reaches the point where it can no longer stand, euthanasia is typically the kindest option.

Cause: Viral transmission from infected birds.
Prevention: Vaccinating hens before they lay the eggs results in immunity to the resulting chick.
Symptoms: Stumbling, inability to walk correctly, shivering, paralysis, laying down and can’t stand up.
Treatment: Once a chick shows sign euthanasia is typically the best option.

3. Coccidiosis

Affects: Chickens, turkeys, guinea, quail
Age: >4 days

Coccidiosis is one of those diseases that, although prevalent in poultry, is almost entirely preventable with the use of either a vaccine or medicated feed (but never both).

Coccidia are ubiquitous. If you have chickens, you probably have coccidia but, many adult bird have developed a resistance to the parasite.

Cause: Exposure to protozoa that cause the disease. It is so widespread that you can assume any place that has chickens also has this protozoa.
Prevention: Vaccination, routine cleaning/removal of droppings, medicated feed
Symptoms: Bloody stool, dehydration, poor growth
Treatment: Antibiotics, vitamins

4. Fowl Pox

Affects: Chickens, turkeys, guinea, quail
Age: >1 week

Fowl pox is caused by a virus and results in “chicken pox” looking scabs that can appear on a chicken, noticeably on the face, comb, and wattles. These same lesions, though, are present on the internal organs and that is where the danger lies.

Young chicks in a brooder environment don’t typically encounter this disease but it is possible. It is spread through aerosols emitted from an affected bird, mosquitos, and direct contact with the scabs on an affected bird.

There is no treatment for Fowl Pox. As with other diseases, the best thing to do is focus on prevention. The disease must run its course in affected birds, some may die but those that survive should have immunity.

Cause: Exposure to virus.
Prevention: Vaccination
Symptoms: Scabs, eye swelling, weight loss, dehydration
Treatment: None

5. Infectious Bronchitis

Affects: Chickens
Age: >1 day

Bronchitis in chickens is especially dangerous. The disease is caused by a virus similar to what causes the common cold in humans. Don’t worry though, the strain your chickens can get is not zoonotic and won’t transmit to humans.

In chickens, however, mortality rates can be extremely high. So much so that you can expect any chicks that are infected to die.

Adult birds, however, can survive the disease and, during their recovery may shed the virus. This is one of the main methods of transmission to chicks.

This disease is present only in chicken chicks so if your turkey poults, guinea keets, or quail chicks have symptoms this is not the cause.

Cause: Transmission from the respiratory droplets of infected birds. Can also be transmitted by poop from affected birds or contaminated items like feed, bedding, clothing, water, etc.
Prevention: Maintain good biosecurity protocols by changing clothes, shoes, etc when visiting other farms with chickens. Isolate any birds that could be affected. Vaccines are available for some strains.
Symptoms: Sneezing, coughing, bubbling sounds when breathing, conjunctivitis, etc.
Treatment: In chicks this disease has a 100% mortality rate. Adults are usually treated with antibiotics and providing a heat source. Consult your veterinarian for specific treatment for your flock.

6. Marek’s Disease

Affects: Chickens primarily, rarely turkeys, guinea, quail
Age: 3 Weeks and older

Marek’s disease is a highly contagious, deadly virus with no treatments available. Luckily, though, there is a safe and effective vaccine available.

This insidious virus causes tumors to grow, eventually leading to death. Because these tumors grow slowly over time, it is possible for the disease to be present in your existing flock without knowing, thus endangering new birds that are added.

Chickens can develop a genetic immunity to Marek’s however, the disease is so widespread the best way to ensure your flock is not affected is to vaccinate against the disease.

Cause: Exposure to Marek’s virus
Prevention: Vaccination
Symptoms: Paralysis, gray eyes (if the eyes have tumors)
Treatment: None

7. Mushy Chick Disease

Affects: Chickens, turkeys, guinea, quail
Age: 0 – 2 weeks

Mushy chick disease is a name that was developed for the physical result of the underlying issue, navel ill.

Just prior to birth a chick must absorb the yolk into their body. Just after birth, they are more susceptible to infection because the pathway from the outside of the body to the internal organs has not sealed properly.

If the chick is exposed to bacteria, dirt, or debris during this critical stage, it is possible for an infection to develop. This can lead to sepsis and death.

Most commonly you will see that your baby chick has a swollen bottom and signs of infection. When touched, the mass is squishy due to fluid accumulation (edema).

The chicks bottom may be bald due to the skin stretching to accommodate the infection. This is almost always fatal and affected chicks should be euthanized.

Cause: Infection before the navel is healed
Prevention: Always clean the incubator between batches, candle eggs to remove ones that are not developing so they don’t explode, make sure chicks go into clean brooders
Symptoms: Navel infection, unabsorbed yolk sac, excess fluid (edema)
Treatment: None

8. Newcastle Disease

Affects: Chickens, turkeys, guinea, quail
Age: >1 Day

Exotic Newcastle Disease is an extremely deadly disease that is also highly transmissible. Because of this, the easiest way to prevent transmission to your flock is to limit who has access to your birds.

Newcastle Disease is a reportable disease in the United States. In all cases, if diagnosed, your entire flock will likely be euthanized.

In California, there was recently an outbreak of Newcastle which resulted in all the backyard birds in many counties being preventatively euthanized.

There are three different types of Newcastle Disease in poultry and all strains are zoonotic. Luckily though it does not seem to easily transmit to humans and when it does, the symptoms are mild.

There is a vaccine available which can be administered in the drinking water.

Cause: Exposure to infected birds, respiratory droplets, contaminated farm equipment
Prevention: Vaccination, strict biosecurity practices
Symptoms: Trouble breathing, coughing, sneezing, head twisting, paralysis
Treatment: Euthanasia

9. Pasty Butt

Affects: Chickens, turkeys, guinea, quail
Age: 0 – 10 days

Pasty butt is almost a given when it comes to raising chicks in a brooder. It is a term derived simply for the symptoms, but the condition can have a variety of different causes.

These include stress, over-heating, or as a symptom of other diseases that have resulted in diarrhea. It can also be caused by sudden changes in diet including introducing treats.

In all cases, you will notice a buildup of fecal matter on your chick’s butt. It will be either sticky or hard and dry.

In any case, the material needs to be gently removed with warm water to ensure the chicks vent is not blocked and that he can eliminate properly.

Cause: Stress, diarrhea, overheating, diet change
Prevention: Use a heat plate instead of heat lamp, avoid feed changes
Symptoms: Fecal matter blocking the vent
Treatment: Remove fecal matter with warm water, use Vaseline around vent to prevent feces from sticking

10. Pullorum

Affects: Chickens, turkeys, guinea, quail
Age: 0 – 4 weeks

Pullorum has been eliminated in most commercial flocks and is one of the diseases tested for as part of NPIP certification.

Pullorum is caused by the salmonella bacteria that is passed to a chick either by the mother hen or through contact with the respiratory droplets or poop from animals that are carriers.

The easiest way to avoid ever having to worry about Pullorum is to ensure all your birds come from NPIP breeders or have been tested before adding them to your flock.

While some chicks could survive infection, this would cause the disease to persist in the flock. Because of this, euthanasia is recommended and may even be required by law in your state.

Cause: Salmonella bacteria present in the mother or indirect contact with the disease through respiratory droplets or fecal material from carrier birds
Prevention: Purchase chicks from NPIP certified sources only
Symptoms: Seek out heat, look weak, diarrhea, loss of appetite
Treatment: Affected birds should be euthanized to prevent ongoing issues.

11. Rot Gut (Necrotic Enteritis)

Affects: Chickens, turkeys, guinea, quail
Age: 2-5 weeks old

Rot Gut is the common name given to the disease Necrotic Enteritis. This disease is usually seen following some other type of primary infection i.e., coccidiosis.

Caused by the Clostridium bacteria, which is present on almost all farms. Rot gut occurs when chicks pick up the Clostridium toxin, usually from the ground, and that toxin begins to grow in the anaerobic conditions of the chicken’s digestive system.

Unfortunately, Rot Gut may not be suspected in a flock until a postmortem exam on a chick identifies the issue.

Cause: Exposure to Clostridium bacteria especially following another illness.
Prevention: Vaccinate chicks for coccidiosis, avoid food changes especially feeds high in animal byproducts
Symptoms: Death, ruffled feathers, diarrhea
Treatment: Antibiotics administered in the drinking water