Have you ever had chickens that never got sick?

[Debbie292d]

I wasn't hatching/buying chicks, integrating, no one got sick/injured so there wasn't really anything to post about.

Exactly. That's why some of us have threads in Pictures & Stories of My Flock so that we can post about our flocks, good, bad, or otherwise.

 

[I Miss u Loaf]

I have only had three chickens get legitimately sick (Prolapse, Vent Gleet, Sour crop), but I've had probably around 150 chickens maybe more. the three sicknesses listed above did end with my chimkins death but only because my parents neglected to let me take them to a vet that probably could have saved them. we also raise organic, so no medicines. but only three getting sick is not bad, considering that those ailments are relatively uncommon.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Have you ever had chickens that never got sick?

That's like asking if you've ever known someone who has never gotten sick... But my answer is yes - ones that were killed by a predator or butchered for meat. The rest have had illnesses that range from coccidiosis to mite infestations to respiratory infections to ascites and peritonitis. Some are genetic, some are from the environment, and the illnesses are sporadic...just like in people.

The healthiest chicken I've ever had is an Easter Egger. She has been sick only once in her 9 years of life if I recall correctly, and it was when she was a very young chick. This is very rare.

I've had chickens long enough that I've had one die of "old age." Everyone knows that "dying of old age" is not really a thing - they get sick and die of organ failure. Mine appeared to be in heart failure for a few weeks then died of a heart attack.

 

[McChooky]

I raise other chickens besides brown leghorns but I like them best because they're so healthy and independent. I have to keep a couple 'broody' hens to hatch their eggs and raise the chicks but its worth it

 

[McChooky]

I chose to raise/breed silkies who are more prone to vitamin deficiencies and diseases like Marek's.

In nearly a decade, we've lost one to liver disease (vet affirmed), and other than treating one with a persistent URI (upper respiratory infection), a few other losses were just happenstance. I don't count the several splayed legs and neurological issues over the years, or other physical ailments some have come up with. Those are few and far between, and we just treat them.

Sticking to clean, secure, well-ventilated coops, fresh water, good feed, healthy treats to a minimum, and plenty of room per bird in the coop/run are the basics. Occasional probiotics and vitamin boosts can help.

Choosing to raise silkies is a testimony to your courage and commitment to raising them .They can be more difficult than most but by meeting their needs you've proven it can be done.

 

[anncahill]

I think people think too that chickens will live for many years without problems. In the old days, people butchered their older chickens for meat and got new chickens when they did not lay well. They are bred to lay as many eggs as possible, sometimes daily, so then people will see reproductive issues that may end a life prematurely. Also, I think some people just jump in a get some chickens not knowing anything about them, or realizing that they can get sick, learn about illnesses, or that some people will sell you sick birds.

I have had chickens for 12 years and usually all die when they get old. I started feeding them “roosters” and all of a sudden a month later two sick chickens, one with gurgling and one with sour crop. Taking her to the vet this afternoon. Weird all of a sudden they are getting sick.

 

[CraziChknLady]

I really think it's just depends on where you are and what's prone to your area. And sometimes where the chickens are sourced, but even then that's no guarantee. For the first 6 or so years of chicken keeping, we had many pass from predators and respiratory once or twice but that was about it. Then May of 2024. The previous fall I just sold everything. Quite the respite I needed. I started with a small mixed flock of 8. Half hens were standard and a few Banty, 1 roo. To say I was surprised that one Banty became broody within a month and hatched out 15, all chicks made it, was an understatement. Then the following months at least 3 more became broody hatching out 12 or so. Sadly 1 hen only had one hatch out so I got 6 from the store but she didn't accept them. I sold the first batch of 15. By the time the others started to be older, by Aug/ Sept it's like getting hit with a brick wall. First a respiratory infection that only effected 3. Then a month later it was 2 more that got sick (quarantined the longest) but everyone else was fine. Then mites, 2 with each a vitamin deficiency ( 1 from a hatched chick and another from a hatchery chick. Shortly after that I tested only a few but they came back with Mycoplasma. Fate was sealed at that point and I just decided to keep a closed flock. I would cull a first batch in spring 2024 was roosters, hens that weren't laying and the most sick. I decided to hang on to rest to get whatever eggs I could and cull rest in fall 2025. Which was done in July (about 20 or so) Egg production had slowed a lot by that point. Course in-between the cullings dealt with 2 dog attacks ( they got 5) and then I had a hen that had a lash egg. I have never had that many problems back to back, it was insane. I do think the original ones I got were sick, or carriers and when the flock sized increased, it just compounded the issue. Or maybe one of the hatchery chicks brought something in. Or it's possible wild birds. I also am not sure what age some of the hens were either. After the 2025 culling and letting the ground settle, disinfected, etc, I just started over fresh a few months ago and things are going well. Just have a few bantys. I don't think we can ever definitively say what caused what and sometimes sickness and illnesses just happen. I do think some breeds or individual chickens can be more susceptible than others but it's true for all species and humans. All we can do is our best when it comes to biosecurity and safety. And sometimes learn the hard way.