Necrotic Enteritis in Chickens Signs & Treatments

If your chicken has dark blood stained, feces with a strong odor, diarrhea, and is losing weight Necrotic Enteritis may be the problem. Scroll down to see signs, symptoms, causes, prevention, and treatments for Necrotic Enteritis here.

Clinical Signs & Symptoms That Indicate a Chicken has Necrotic Enteritis

Picturebirds were suffering from pasty vent and blood-stained droppings, typical of a mixed coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis infection. Photo courtesy of Poultry Industry. https://en.engormix.com/poultry-industry/articles/ban-on-agps-impact-on-asian-poultry-industry-t34469.htm
The most obvious signs that chickens have Necrotic Enteritis are:
Eats less
Dark blood stained feces (chicken poop) that has a strong fetid odor
Severely infected chickens will have diarrhea.
Emaciated (abnormally thin or weak)
​In early stages some chickens may  appear depressed and then die for no apparent reason.

Birds Most Susceptible to Necrotic Enteritis Are:

Necrotic Enteritis is a disease stemming from the domestication of birds and is not likely to threaten wild birds. Birds most susceptible are:
  • Rapidly growing young birds.
  • Chickens and turkeys 2-12 weeks of age are most susceptible.
  • Over crowded flocks.
  • Immuno-suppressed flocks.
  • ​Flocks kept in unsanitary conditions.
  • Most commonly affects broiler birds, roasters, and turkeys.
  • ​Ulcerative enteritis commonly effects pullets and quail.

Synonyms of Necrotic Enteritis 

Other synonyms or names for Necrotic Enteritis are enterotoxemia and rot gut.

Causes of Necrotic Enteritis

Necrotic Enteritis grows inside the intestinal tract and is contracted when a chicken ingests bacteria from:
  • Infected soil
  • Infected feces
  • Other infected materials
Necrotic Enteritis does not spread directly bird to bird. 

Treatment for Necrotic Enteritis in Poultry

The clostridia bacteria involved in necrotic enteritis is responsive to these medical treatments:
  • Bacitracin (most commonly used)
  • Neomycin
  • Tetracycline
  • Penicillin
  • Streptomycin
  • Novobiocin
As with any medication for poultry you will need to adhere to the legal withdraw time periods after discontinuing medication before eating or selling eggs or meat.
Natural Treatments
Sprinkling fresh oregano on top of feed or adding oregano oil to feed can improve your chickens health and help prevent them from contracting many poultry diseases.

RESPIVET immuno - 100 % NATURAL ​

Respivet Immuno is commonly used in the treatment of bacterial and fungal infections or parasitic invasions, especially in the respiratory tract, including Mycoplasma
It has strong anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory action and is often used in the treatment of salmonellosis, collibacterosis, necrotic enteritis. Respivet accomplishes this by cleansing the respiratory system and dilating the birds airways allowing it to breath easier. It also improves the immunologic status of the liver and cardiovascular system and helps birds to digest their feed better.​
Dosage: 1.5 ml per 2 liters of drinking water for 3-5 consecutive days. For complete protection, the 3-5 days treatment should be applied every 3 weeks.

How to Prevent Necrotic Enteritis in Poultry

Proper sanitation, waste disposal, husbandry, and management can significantly reduce the chances of your chickens contracting the clostridia bacteria in necrotic enteritis.
  • Keep your chicken coop clean and dry
  • Scoop the feces out of the litter if you use litter. Change scooped litter completely at least once per month.
  • Frequently turn the soil or move birds to a different area.
  • ​If you find a sick bird-isolate it from the flock, then clean and sanitize everything in and around the coop so other birds do not get infected.
  • Keep clean fresh water available at all times.
  • ​Make sure feces do not come in contact with feed or water.
  • Keep birds in a very large fenced run which does not let wild birds in

Necrotic Enteritis & Coccidiosis Often Occur at the same time

Necrotic Enteritis and Coccidiosis both have similar symptoms and often occur together so you may wish to also see information about coccidiosis here: Cecal Coccidiosis-Signs, Symptoms & Treatments:-Chicken Health: Chicken Heaven On Earth

Allivet RESPIMAXX 1L-LIQUID 100% NATURAL FOR POULTRY, HORSES, PIGS, CATTLE, RABBITS

Allivet Respimaxx is a 100% natural water soluble liquid garlic and eucalyptus supplement for horses, poultry, pigs, cattle, and rabbits. Used in antibiotic free farming. Treats necrotic enteritis by cleansing the respiratory system and dilating the airways, used for bacterial and fungal infections, used as an antiinflammatory, gets rid of invasive parasites especially in the respiratory tract including Mycoplasma. Boosts the immunologic status, helps protect the liver and cardiovascular system. Improves digestion.
Allivet Respimaxx Dosage:
Poultry, pigs, rabbits : 1 litre per 2000 litres of drinking water or 1 tonne of feed for 3 - 5 consecutive days
Adult cattle: 20-25 ml per animal per day or 700 ml per 1 tonne of feed for 3 - 5 consecutive days
Calves: 5-9 ml per animal per day in 2-3 portions for 3 - 5 consecutive days Horses: 10-20 ml per animal per day for 3 - 5 consecutive days
​For complete protection, the 3 - 5 days treatment should be applied every 3 weeks.
Scroll down to see how probiotics and oregano can help control necrotic enteritis.

Featured Video: WNF 2016 Poultry Breakouts: 03 Probiotics: A Modern Solution to Coccidiosis and Necrotic Enteritis

Published on Dec 12, 2016-This is a presentation held by Rami Dalloul (Virginia Tech) during the poultry breakout session at the World Nutrition Forum 2016 in Vancouver.

Sub-Clinical Necrotic Enteritis: It's Aetiology and predisposing factors in Commercial Broiler Production

Studies Show Oregano Can Prevent Necrotic Enteritis

Healthy alternatives to Antibiotic growth promoters commonly used on grower farms for broiler hens. Antibiotic growth promoters can produce antibiotic immunity in humans, as a result, new laws and regulations are being put in place to regulate poultry and livestock feed. Many farmers depend on these antibiotic growth promoters to keep their flock healthy and to make them gain weight faster but you may be surprised to find out that studies show oregano essential oil, carvacrol, and thymol can do the same things as them..but better...
​Go to Oregano for Necrotic Enteritis prevention
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Respiratory Disease in Chickens Signs & Treatments

If your chicken is having trouble breathing you should check out these various types of respiratory diseases in chickens to determine your treatment options. Go to Respiratory Diseases in Chickens

Herbs for Chicken Health

Herbs can be used in nest boxes, chicken coops, in chicken feed, and grown outside the coop to improve your birds health and even offer some protection against predators. Go to Herbs for Chicken Health

Sick Chickens-Signs, Symptoms & Treatments

Trying to figure out what's wrong with your chickens? See our symptoms chart.
​Go to: SICKNESS: Chicken (poultry) illness-signs/symptoms/treatments: Chicken Heaven On Earth
​Reference:
​1. Common Poultry Diseases. Retrieved Mar. 3, 2016 from ​http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044