Keeping a Backyard Flock Healthy

Most backyard hens stay healthy with very little intervention, and prevention does nearly all the work. A clean, dry coop, good feed, fresh water and a daily look over the flock catch the vast majority of problems before they become serious.

Parasites: mites, lice and worms

External parasites are the most common backyard nuisance. Red mite hides in coop crevices and feeds at night, while lice live on the bird, and both cause itching, pale combs and dropping production. Check under the wings and around the vent regularly, keep the coop clean, and treat with a suitable poultry product when you find them. Scaly leg mite lifts and crusts the leg scales and responds to a smothering treatment. Worms are managed by rotating ground where you can and worming when needed.

• Inspect birds regularly under the wings and around the vent for mites and lice
• Keep the coop clean and dry, and offer a dry dust-bathing spot, which is how hens manage parasites themselves
• Watch for scaly, crusted legs, a sign of scaly leg mite

Other common problems

Bumblefoot is a swollen infection of the footpad, often from a hard perch or a cut. Respiratory illness shows as sneezing, rattly breathing or discharge and spreads in a damp, poorly ventilated coop. An egg-bound hen strains without passing an egg and needs prompt help, often a warm bath and calcium, or a vet. A sour or impacted crop that stays full overnight also needs attention.

Prevention and when to act

The daily once-over is your best tool. A healthy hen is bright-eyed, active and alert with a red comb and a clean vent. Isolate any bird that looks hunched, still or off its food, since separating a sick hen protects the flock and lets you watch it closely. New Zealand has good access to avian vets, so a bird that is clearly unwell, injured or not improving is worth a professional look rather than guesswork.