Species Guide
ðŠŋGeese Health Conditions
Embden, Toulouse, African, and more
Geese are the longest-lived common poultry species and relatively disease-resistant compared to chickens or turkeys. Their most common health issues involve parasites, bumblefoot from hard surfaces, and reproductive problems in breeding females. Geese are also sensitive to certain medications used safely in other poultry.
9 vet-reviewed conditions documented for geese.
Egg Binding
Egg binding in chickens occurs when a hen cannot pass an egg through the oviduct, often because of calcium deficiency, obesity, dehydration, an oversized egg, or weak muscle contractions. Affected hens strain, become lethargic, and may stand upright with a swollen abdomen. Warmth, humidity, and lubrication can help initially, but failure to pass the egg within a few hours requires emergency veterinary care.
Newcastle Disease in Chickens
Newcastle Disease (ND) is a highly contagious viral infection of poultry caused by Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV), a paramyxovirus with strains ranging from mild to rapidly fatal. Virulent strains (Velogenic NDV) are federally reportable in the United States and can kill an entire flock within days. Clinical signs include respiratory distress, neurological deficits, greenish diarrhea, and a sudden collapse in egg production. There is no cure; outbreak management relies on vaccination, biosecurity, and regulatory response.
Bumblefoot (Plantar Pododermatitis)
Bumblefoot in chickens is bacterial pododermatitis, usually caused when Staphylococcus aureus enters a cut or pressure injury in the footpad. Typical signs are footpad redness, swelling, limping, and a dark central scab. Mild cases need cleaning, topical antiseptic, and bandaging, while deep abscesses require veterinary debridement and sometimes systemic antibiotics.
Heat Stress
Heat stress in chickens is dangerous overheating caused when environmental heat and humidity exceed a bird's ability to cool itself by panting. Signs progress from open-beak panting and lifted wings to lethargy, collapse, seizures, and death. Emergency treatment is immediate shade, airflow, cool water, and electrolytes, followed by veterinary care if the bird does not respond quickly.
Poultry Mites
Poultry mites are blood-feeding external parasites, including northern fowl mites that remain on birds and red mites that hide in the coop by day. They cause irritation, dark debris near the vent, pale combs, anemia, reduced production, and weakness. Effective treatment targets every bird and the environment at the same time, then repeats on the product schedule.
Poultry Red Mite
Red mites in chickens are nocturnal blood-feeding parasites that hide in coop cracks and roost fittings during daylight. Infestations cause nighttime restlessness, anemia, pale combs, reduced production, and dark or red smears on nighttime inspections. Elimination requires simultaneous treatment of birds and the entire coop, repeated to break the mite life cycle.
Chicken Lice
Chicken lice are host-specific chewing insects that live on poultry and feed on feathers, skin scales, and debris. Infested birds scratch, lose feather quality, and carry fast-moving tan insects or pale egg clusters near feather bases. Treatment requires an approved poultry insecticide on every bird, repeated after eggs hatch, along with cleaning of nest and dust-bath areas.
Internal Parasites (Worms)
Worms in chickens are internal helminth parasites acquired from contaminated ground or intermediate hosts such as insects, earthworms, and slugs. Heavy burdens can cause weight loss, diarrhea, pale combs, reduced laying, visible worms, or respiratory gaping. Fecal testing identifies the parasite, and treatment uses a veterinary-selected dewormer with flock-wide environmental control.
Molting (Feather Loss)
Molting in chickens is the normal replacement of old feathers with new plumage, usually triggered by shorter daylight in late summer or fall. Birds lose feathers in a recognizable pattern, stop or reduce laying, and need extra dietary protein while feathers regrow. It requires supportive nutrition and low stress, not medical treatment, unless feather loss is caused by parasites or disease.