Poultry farming can be very profitable… when things go well. But experienced farmers know one painful truth: chickens can die very fast and in large numbers when something goes seriously wrong.
Here are the real-world major reasons why chickens die on Nigerian farms (and most tropical small-to-medium farms), arranged roughly from most common to less frequent but still very dangerous.
1. Heat Stress (The #1 Killer in Nigeria – Especially During Dry Season & Harmattan)
- Chickens have no sweat glands → they depend almost completely on breathing to lose heat
- Above 32–33°C inside the pen + high humidity = serious stress
- Above 36–38°C sustained → mass mortality within hours possible
Typical signs before death
- Wings spread wide
- Panting heavily with beak open
- Very little movement, lying down
- Sudden death with neck stretched backward (classic heat stroke position)
Worst periods in Nigeria
- February–April (peak hot season)
- Late November–early January (hot dry Harmattan afternoons)
2. Poor Ventilation + Overcrowding = The Silent Combination Killer
Even when temperature is “only” 30–32°C, poor airflow turns the pen into a death trap.
Common situations that cause mass death:
- Birds stocked 12–18 birds/m² in deep litter (should be 8–10 max in hot climate)
- Blocked side curtains during rain → no cross ventilation
- Fans not working + power failure at night
- Houses built too wide (>9–10 m) without ridge vents or roof vents
3. Infectious Diseases That Cause Sudden/High Mortality
| Rank | Disease | Age most affected | Mortality rate | Speed of death | Main signs before death |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newcastle Disease (ND) | 3–16 weeks | 50–95% | 2–5 days | Twisted neck, greenish diarrhoea, sudden death |
| 2 | Infectious Bursal Disease (Gumboro) | 3–7 weeks | 20–60% | 3–7 days | Wet vent, trembling, depression |
| 3 | Avian Influenza (H5N1) | All ages | 80–100% | 1–3 days | Very sudden, high mortality, cyanosis |
| 4 | Fowl Cholera | >8 weeks | 10–80% | Acute 1–3 days | Swollen wattles/face, sudden death |
| 5 | Coccidiosis | 3–8 weeks | 10–50% | 4–10 days | Bloody faeces, huddling, ruffled feathers |
| 6 | Fowl Typhoid / Pullorum | Chicks 1–14 days | 50–90% | 2–10 days | Weak chicks, pasting vent, high chick mortality |
Most painful truth in 2024–2025 Nigeria: Many farmers are still losing birds to very preventable Newcastle and Gumboro because of:
- Fake/vaccine handling mistakes
- Skipping booster vaccinations
- Using expired or poorly stored vaccines
4. Bad Management & Nutrition Mistakes That Kill Thousands
| Problem | Typical mortality | Age group | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water deprivation (blocked drinkers) | 20–100% | All ages | 12–36 hrs |
| Feed deprivation > 12–18 hrs | 10–60% | All ages | 24–72 hrs |
| Moldy feed (aflatoxin) | 5–40% | Growers + layers | 1–4 weeks |
| Vitamin E + Selenium deficiency | 5–30% | Fast-growing broilers | 3–8 weeks |
| Salt poisoning (too much salt in feed) | 30–90% | All ages | 12–48 hrs |
| Carbon monoxide (poorly ventilated brooder + charcoal) | 50–100% | Chicks 0–14 days | 1–4 hrs |
Quick Summary – Top 8 Real Killers on Nigerian Farms (2024–2025 reality)
- Heat stress + poor ventilation (especially February–April)
- Newcastle Disease (still the #1 infectious killer)
- Gumboro (very common in 3–6 week old birds)
- Water deprivation / drinker failure
- Moldy/aflatoxin contaminated feed
- Coccidiosis (especially during rainy season)
- Poor brooding (cold + wet + carbon monoxide)
- Fake/poorly handled vaccines
Final Quick Action Checklist Every Farmer Should Keep
- Daily: Check drinkers & water flow 2–3× per day
- Weekly: Walk through at hottest time (2–4 pm) → look for panting birds
- Monthly: Clean drinkers properly, change litter if very wet
- Before every vaccine: Check expiry date + vaccine cold chain
- During harmattan/hot season: Open all ventilation at 12–3 pm even if dusty
- Always: Keep records of mortality – pattern tells you the cause faster than guessing
Because in poultry farming… dead birds don’t pay loans.
Stay vigilant. Good farmers don’t just love birds — they obsess over not letting them die unnecessarily.
Good luck and low mortality to your farm! 🐔
