How to reduce illness risks when it keeps raining

A shower does not automatically make chickens sick. The trouble often starts when repeated rain leaves their living area damp, their feed spoiled and their usual dry resting places unusable.

In warm, humid weather, it is especially important to look beneath the surface. Bedding that appears dry on top may be wet underneath, and a roofed pen can still collect water running in from the yard.

Fix the route the water takes

Walk around the coop during or just after rain. Look for roof leaks, overflowing gutters and water flowing towards doors or nesting boxes.

Divert runoff away from the housing where practical. Give the flock a raised, dry area to stand and feed. Cover part of the run without sealing the whole structure shut.

If bedding becomes soaked every day, adding more bedding alone will not solve it. The leak, drainage problem or overflowing drinker needs attention first.

Remove wet bedding instead of hiding it

Lift bedding near drinkers, entrances and walls. Remove wet or caked sections all the way down to the floor, then let the area dry before replacing them.

For an ordinary backyard coop, do not keep burying saturated bedding under fresh material and expect it to stay healthy. Managed deep-litter systems need deliberate control of moisture and ventilation; a wet heap is not the same thing.

If you notice a strong ammonia smell or eye irritation, improve ventilation and remove the source. Chickens live much closer to the litter than we do.

Protect feed from moisture

Keep feeders under cover and check the feed itself, including the bottom of the hopper. Discard feed that is mouldy, musty, wet or clumped from moisture. Do not dry it out and feed it later.

Store bags off the ground in a dry, rodent-resistant area. Keep batch details when opening a new bag so a suspected feed problem is easier to investigate.

Offer complete feed consistently. Extra herbs, garlic or apple cider vinegar will not make spoiled feed safe or prevent infectious disease.

Provide clean drinking water

Empty and clean drinkers regularly, then refill them with fresh water. Position them so scratching birds cannot easily fill them with litter.

Reduce access to muddy puddles and floodwater, especially where wild birds visit. Protect feed and water from wild-bird droppings as far as practical, and use dedicated poultry footwear rather than walking between pens in dirty boots.

Pay extra attention to young birds

Damp litter creates conditions that can favour coccidiosis, a gut disease that can make young birds very ill. Warning signs may include a hunched posture, poor appetite, weakness, diarrhoea or blood in droppings. Blood is not present in every case.

Seek veterinary advice promptly rather than treating every loose dropping as worms. Treatment depends on the cause, and delaying the right treatment can be dangerous.

Rain also increases the risk of chilling for chicks. They need a dry, protected area and dependable warmth, whether they are in a brooder or with a hen.

Do a short morning and evening check

Watch who comes to feed, who stays apart and whether anyone is breathing differently. Check feet, vents and feathers when birds have been standing in wet conditions.

Isolate a sick bird safely and contact your vet. Several sick birds, sudden unexplained deaths, severe breathing trouble or unusual nervous signs need urgent advice. In Australia, report suspected emergency animal disease through the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888. Call before transporting affected birds.

Keep your Henmergency kit and refills sealed and dry so they are ready if an injury occurs. A recovery product may have a place in a vet-guided care plan, but no kit or supplement can replace dry housing or diagnose illness.

Sources and further reading: University of Minnesota: litter and ventilation; University of Maryland: poultry disease management; Queensland Government: avian influenza advice; WorkSafe Queensland: reporting suspected avian influenza.