signs of respiratory infection
a disease-causing organism can affect more than one system, leading to a variety of different clinical signs. there is considerable overlap in the commons signs of respiratory diseases, making diagnosis difficult without a necropsy.
common signs of respiratory infection include the following:
- coughing
- sneezing
- rales (abnormal breathing sounds)
- gasping
- shaking head
- discharge from eyes
- conjunctivitis (inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye)
- discharge from the nose
- swelling of the face and/or wattles
- bluish-purple discoloration of the face
- retarded growth
- inactivity
- dirty wings (birds tend to wipe their nostrils on their wings)
less common signs of respiratory infection include the following:
- twisting of the head and neck (torticollis)
- paralysis
- diarrhea, which might be green and watery
- swollen joints
- lameness
- red or white spots on the legs and comb
- warts and scabs
signs of non-respiratory infection
common signs of non-respiratory infection include the following:
- labored breathing
- reduced water consumption
- dehydration
- reduced feed consumption
- weight loss or stunted growth
- emaciation
- bluish-purple discoloration of the face
- pale comb
- small comb
- abscessed wattles
- discharge from the mouth
- blindness
- enlarged abdomen
- navel infection
- swollen joints
- swollen foot pads
- lameness
- tremors
- paralysis
- twisting of the head and neck (torticollis)
- weakness
- diarrhea, which might be greenish
- white feces
- bloody feces
- pasted vent
- watery droppings
- thin-shelled eggs
- shell-less eggs
- reduced egg production
- increased mortality
- helicopter wings (that is, broken or twisted feathers)
- ruffled feathers
- foul odor
- inactivity
note: it is not unusual for poultry to die suddenly without showing any signs of disease