Respiratory system in poultry

Understanding the respiratory system in poultry chicken

The poultry respiratory system is a complex and highly specialized network designed to meet the bird’s high oxygen demand for flight (particularly in wild species like guinea fowl) and metabolism. Proper understanding of the poultry respiratory system helps poultry farmers detect respiratory issues early and maintain flock health, especially in environments prone to airborne infections or poor ventilation.

Components of the respiratory system in poultry

The chicken’s respiratory system include

1. External openings – nostrils
2. Passage-ways – Pharynx
3. Lungs
4. Air sacs.

Nostrils –

These are also referred to as nares. It is the main external respiratory opening in poultry, allowing air to enter the respiratory tract. They are part of the upper respiratory system and are the first line of defense against airborne particles and pathogens.

Nasal cavities and Sinuses –

The nasal cavities are two hollow passages located just behind the nostrils, while, Sinuses are air-filled spaces located in the head, mainly around the bird’s eyes and beak.  The sinuses are prone to infections. The nasal cavities are the first part of the respiratory tract and play a key role –

1. Filters dust and pathogens from inhaled air using tiny hairs and mucus.
2. Warm and humidifies the air before it reaches deeper parts of the lungs.
3. Supports the bird’s sense of smell   

Pharynx and Larynx –

The Pharynx is a muscular passage located at the back of the mouth and nasal cavities. It serves as a shared pathway for both the respiratory and digestive systems.  The Pharynx performs the following functions

1. Channel air from the nasal cavity to the trachea.
2. Direct food from the mouth into the esophagus.
3. Acts as a crossroad that ensures air and food go in the right directions.
4. Contains openings to the entrance of the trachea (Eustachian tubes and glottis).

The Larynx is a short cartilaginous structure found at the top of the trachea, just behind the tongue. It performs the following functions –

1. Serves as the entrance to then trachea
2. Controls the flow of air into the lower respiratory tract

The pharynx and larynx are crucial passageways in the chicken’s respiratory and digestive systems. They ensure proper direction of air and food, also, protect the bird from choking or aspiration.

Trachea

This is a long cartilaginous, tube-like structure that connects the larynx to the lung. It serves as   airway through which air passes in and out of the poultry’s respiratory system. The key features are –

1. Made up ring of cartilages that keep the airway open and prevent collapse.
2. Lined with mucous membrane and tiny hairs that help trap and remove dust, mucus, and pathogens.
3. In chickens, the trachea is quite flexible, thus can stretch or bend especially when the bird moves its neck.

Note – At the lower end of the trachea is the syrinx, the voice box in birds. Chickens use syrinx to produce clucking and crowing sounds.

Lungs –

The lungs are vital organs in the poultry respiratory system responsible for gaseous exchange –from the lung oxygen is taken into the body and carbon dioxide is removed. In poultry, unlike in mammals, the lung is non-expanding, rather, it is embedded in the ribs. The poulry lungs are relatively small, air simply flows through them in one direction, ensuring constant oxygen exchange.

Air Sacs –

These are thin-walled, balloon-like structures connected to the lungs. They play a crucial role in the bird’s breathing process but do not take part in the gas exchange directly. The poultry chicken have nine (9) air sacs that are located around its body as below –

Air sac type	Location	Number
Cervical	Neck region	2
Clavicular	Around the clavicle	2
Cranial Thoracic	Front of the lungs	2
Candal Thoracic	Back of the lungs	2
Abdominal	Abdominal cavity	1

Signs of respiratory distress in your chicken –

Respiratory distress in your chicken refers to any difficulty or abnormality in breathing of the chicken.  It usually indicates a problem with the respiratory system of the poultry basically caused by

1. Infection
2. Environmental stress
3. Poor ventilation in the poultry house
4. Toxins

 Key signs of respiratory distress in poultry include

1. Gasping – open mouth breathing
2. Watery, thick or foamy discharge from the nostrils
3. Sneezing or coughing
4. Swollen head, eyes or wattles
5. Watery or pus-like discharge from the eyes
6. Noisy breathing when resting

NB – When you notice any of the signs listed above accompanied with weakness and loss of appetite in the birds, it is a clear sign of respiratory disease/ sickness. Please do not ignore the signs at all

Respiratory distress Management tips –

Whenever you observe signs of respiratory distress in your poultry — such as open-mouth breathing, sneezing, or nasal discharge, it is important to act quickly. Early detection and response can save your flock and prevent the spread of disease. Thus the following tips are recommending as such proactive actions, will improve flock management and significant reduce loose –

1. Immediately isolate affected birds to prevent disease spread
2. Improve on house ventilation to reduce dust or ammonia level in the coop
3. Serve flock clean water and quality feed to boost immunity
4. Disinfect poultry house and equipment – improve on hygiene in the poultry house

Conclusion –

Understanding the respiratory system of your poultry chickens and recognizing early signs of distress is vital to maintaining a healthy flock. From the nostrils to the air sacs, each part plays a crucial role in proper breathing and overall well-being of the bird. When issues arise, timely intervention can make the difference between recovery and loss. Therefore, don’t wait until it is too late before responding to the change in your birds.

As you know – the best management practice on your poultry farm is to prevent the disease. Prevention is better than cure, therefore ensure the following –

1. Daily monitoring of the birds behavior
2. Maintain clean and well ventilated housing system

Share this blog with fellow farmers and help create healthier farms one bird at a time.

Poultrygist – we are your colleague, partner and friend in all poultry matters.

Read more about vaccination in poultry to support your flock healthcare management

https://poultrygist.com.ng/2024/10/importance-of-poultry-vaccination/