Respiratory Issues in Broilers

kensor601

Chirping
6 Years
May 12, 2014
33
0
82
I'm not totally new to chickens, I've had them nearly 2 years; however, this is my first time raising broilers. I got Cornish Crosses and they're 5 1/2 weeks old. I am raising them non-GMO/organic (but I did have to treat with amprollium once, for 5 days) as best as I can. Lately, I've noticed some of the chicks sneezing, so I've been giving them UP/ACV all week in their water, but they haven't been improving. Today, I noticed two seeming to struggle breathing, and one of them makes a pitiful squeaking noise every time it breathes and it's rather listless.

My questions:
1. I've been told (& read the bottle) that Sulmet is okay to use for broilers as long as I wait at least 10 days after treating to butcher (which won't be a problem). I've also been told that Tylan may work better. Any opinions? Is Tylan okay to use on meat birds?

2. Do I treat just the ones I notice sneezing or should I just give the whole batch (25 chickens) the treatment?

3. How long do you think they'll last before treatment? Since it can't get any of the meds tonight or tomorrow.

Thanks so much in advance!
 
Without seeing your chickens I can't see how serious it is....so take this for what it is. I know I, personally, am reluctant to use strong medication on my meat birds, although it's certainly better than losing them!

That said, my daughter had some 4-H meat birds that got a respiratory thing with horrible rattling and wheezing. I really didn't expect them to survive, but they fully recovered! We treated them with Vet RX (got it at TSC, probably). I've also seen a few in batches I've raised with some wheezing, but haven't treated them. I have culled one or two that showed symptoms like that, though.

I would separate the sick ones right away to try to keep it from spreading. I would also only treat those and keep a close eye on the others. Although, that's just my opinion and I do tend to try to avoid medication on my meat birds - just my preference.

I hope they all recover for you!
 
How is the air circulation where you keep them? What type of bedding? High ammonia levels from droppings, wet or moldy conditions, overheated coops, and poor air circulation can promote respiratory diseases. Sulmet is more for treatment of coryza, and coryza has a bad odor, usually causing swollen eyes with pus, and thick nasal drainage. Tylan will treat MG (mycoplasma) and help to prevent secondary infections in infectious bronchitis and other viruses. Aspergillosis is a resp. disease from mold or wet bedding. Tylan Soluble Powder used in the water 1 tsp per gallon of water for 5 days is fine to use on chickens. There is a 1 day withdrawal with Tylan. Here is a link about diseases: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044
 
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SIMZ, here's a video I took earlier of the worst one. It's sinuses look a bit swollen compared to the others. Does this video help you assess the situation?

Eggcessive, they are outside in a PVC tractor I created. It's all chicken wire except half of it is covered with a tarp to give them shelter from the elements. They have heat lamps for whenever the temperatures drop lower than what they seem to tolerate. I move them every couple of days. I generally just keep an eye on the grass and move them when it gets particularly poopy. And there's no odor (other than the usual poop-stink!), I didn't noticed any drainage, and you can tell me what you think about the eyes.
 
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SIMZ, here's a video I took earlier of the worst one. It's sinuses look a bit swollen compared to the others. Does this video help you assess the situation?

Eggcessive, they are outside in a PVC tractor I created. It's all chicken wire except half of it is covered with a tarp to give them shelter from the elements. They have heat lamps for whenever the temperatures drop lower than what they seem to tolerate. I move them every couple of days. I generally just keep an eye on the grass and move them when it gets particularly poopy. And there's no odor (other than the usual poop-stink!), I didn't noticed any drainage, and you can tell me what you think about the eyes.

I'd definitely take that one out from the rest - and any others that look like that. I really wouldn't worry a lot about sneezing. Although, if it's chilly where you are you may want to put up more wind block. (tarp more of it or something.) They're huddled up like they might be cold, and that will just add stress to them. I, personally, still wouldn't treat the rest unless they were showing symptoms because I like to keep my meat chickens as unmedicated as possible. I'd also try Vet RX with the really sick one, give him some scrambled eggs and electrolyte water and see how he does. But you can certainly use stronger meds on him if you want - he is definitely struggling.
 
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