The diseases that cause swollen heads and eyes in chickens are mainly mycoplasma, influenza, Escherichia coli and infectious rhinitis. Next, we analyze them one by one.

1.Mycoplasma

  • Clinical signs and necropsy: After infection, flocks have coughing and nose flushes. Individual chickens will only have red, swollen and tearing eyes on one or both sides, and there is foam-like liquid in the eyes.
  • There is also foamy fluid in the abdominal cavity, and the air sac wall is cloudy, thickened, and has a yellow cheese-like substance.

2.Influenza

  • It is most likely to occur in winter and spring, with rapid onset and high mortality, which is closely related to the virulence of the virus.

Chickens of all breeds and ages are susceptible to infection, mainly through horizontal transmission through air, water, feed, etc.

  • Clinical signs and autopsy: The most obvious symptoms in chickens in the early stages of the disease are respiratory symptoms, cough, rales, neck and mouth opening, edema of the head and eyelids, and discharge of yellow, white or green feces.
  • Feed intake decreased, drinking water increased, laying hens dropped or stopped laying eggs, and the quality of eggs decreased, such as sharp-preserved eggs, soft-shell eggs, and small eggs.
  • Anatomy of glandular stomach, gizzard hemorrhage, intestinal bleeding, irregular bleeding spots on intestinal mucosa, hemorrhage and congestion of respiratory mucosa;
  • Coronary fat hemorrhage, myocardial hemorrhage, pancreatic margin hemorrhage, kidney swelling and hemorrhage, and urate deposition, follicle deformation, degeneration, hemorrhage or congestion in laying hens; fallopian tube mucosa swelling, with discolored purulent secretions.

3.Infectious rhinitis

  • It occurs in autumn and winter, and is the most common disease in commercial laying hens, which can easily lead to a decline in flock feeding and production performance, and the disease is most likely to recur.
  • Clinical symptoms and necropsy: thin nasal fluid in the early stage of infection in chickens, which gradually thickens and smells, and forms yellow scabs after drying.
  • Causes flocks to sneeze, shake their heads, sticky nose, inflamed conjunctiva, tearing, swelling around eyelids, necropsy nasal cavity, nasal cavity and sinus mucosa with bleeding or congestion, and a lot of mucus and cheese-like material.

4.Escherichia coli

  • Escherichia coli is an opportunistic pathogen and is prone to resistance to some antibiotics; it is most likely to occur when chickens are stressed, such as sudden weather changes, vaccine immunization, and poor ventilation in the chicken house. Once induced, it is difficult to control.
  • Clinical symptoms and autopsy: Infected chickens have swollen conjunctiva, tearing, severe purulent or cheese-like secretions, and pericarditis, perihepatitis, and yolk peritonitis may occur for a long time.

How to reduce the risk of disease and disturbance in chickens?

In the daily feeding process, the level of the diet and the balance between different nutrients are all important factors that cause E. coli infection. If the nutrition is insufficient, the resistance of the flock will decrease. Additionally, flocks with a higher prevalence of E. coli infection had more pronounced symptoms if they drank contaminated water. Chicken flocks should formulate scientific immunization procedures and strictly implement them.

Regularly give high-efficiency traditional Chinese medicine mixes to prevent bacterial diseases, and mix micro-ecological additives into chicken feeds for a long time to maintain and adjust the balance of intestinal flora. At the same time, reducing the ammonia concentration in the chicken house is a key measure for breeding.