Reasons for chicken vet visit

From Livestock to Companion: Admission Causes, Diagnostics, and Clinical Findings in Chickens Admitted to the Avian Clinic of the Vetmeduni Vienna, 2009–2019

Cornelia Konicek 1, Anja Joachim 2, Joachim Spergser 3, Barbara Richter 4, Michaela Gumpenberger 5

Background
With the increasing popularity of chickens as companion animals in urban and suburban settings, veterinarians are encountering a growing number of non-commercial poultry in clinical practice. These animals, often regarded as pets, present distinct diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This retrospective study aimed to assess the clinical presentations, diagnostic methods, and outcomes of pet chickens admitted to a specialized avian clinic over a ten-year period.

Methods
A retrospective review was conducted on 419 individual chickens presented at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna between May 2009 and April 2019. Data were collected on age, breed, sex, presenting complaints, diagnostic modalities, clinical findings, treatments, and outcomes. Diagnostic techniques included imaging (ultrasound, radiography, CT), hematology, microbiology, parasitology, and pathology. Treatment outcomes were classified into categories such as recovery, euthanasia, or loss to follow-up.

Results
The majority of chickens were young females with a median age of 1.5 years. Common presenting complaints included lethargy, respiratory distress, and locomotor issues. Diagnostic imaging revealed conditions such as ascites, salpingitis, and skeletal abnormalities. Microbiological analyses frequently identified E. coli and Pasteurella multocida, while parasitological exams detected high rates of coccidia, Capillaria, and Ascaridia. The most prevalent clinical diagnoses were upper respiratory tract infections (13.8%), egg peritonitis (9.9%), and soft tissue trauma (9.4%). Surgical procedures were performed in 25.3% of cases, most commonly salpingohysterectomies. Approximately two-thirds of chickens survived to discharge; 32.2% either died or were euthanized.

Limitations
As a retrospective study, standardized diagnostic protocols were not uniformly applied. The study was limited by incomplete data in some cases, potential selection bias toward more severe presentations, and a lack of longitudinal follow-up. Additionally, the specific pathogen testing was not conducted uniformly across all cases.

Conclusions
Pet chickens present with a wide spectrum of health issues requiring advanced diagnostic tools and individualized medical or surgical management. Respiratory and reproductive disorders, as well as parasitic infections, are prominent. The findings emphasize the need for improved owner education on preventive health care and the importance of specialized veterinary support for backyard poultry. The study highlights the evolving role of chickens from livestock to companion animals in veterinary practice.

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