Desperate for help....

We picked up an older 5 week old buff orpington chick appx 3 weeks ago from a trusted source. When we got her home she was open-mouthed breathing, wheezing and sneezing. (We had picked her up at a busy meeting place so I never really opened the box much to check her out before bringing her home). Not knowing what to do, and unable to find a Vet to see her, I put her on amoxi and Vet Rx for a little over a week. I have also been putting electrolytes and probiotics in her water, and keeping her nice and warm. During this time, her appetite was very poor as well. After the treatment, her symptoms remained the same until about a week ago. At mo time have I noticed any discharge coming from her eyes or nose, or any swelling or inflammation.

She is now eating very well, no open mouthed breathing or wheezing........but she still sneezes. Out of all the diseases I looked at, aspegillosis (brooder pneumonia) seemed to match her symptoms the closest (and I hope to God that I am wrong). However, if she has this, would she have improved like this?

I spoke to the gal I got her from and none of the other birds that were in the same brooder have any symptoms of illness at all, but of course she may have been infected at the hatchery before she purchased the birds to raise. She offered to take her back, but I love this little girl so much I could not bear to part with her.

We have 2 adult hens and 2 other chicks in another room and I have been extremely careful to keep them separated, and washing, even changing clothes between handling Emma and the other birds. The other chicks came from a different source.

If my information is correct, an x-ray needs to be done to diagnose breeder pneumonia to find any nodules that may be on her lungs, and treatment are anti-fungals such as itraconazole. I guess what I am looking for from this forum is if her symptoms seem to look like this particular disease or if it could possibly be something else I have not considered. Also, if it is brooder pneumonia, would her symptoms have cleared up like this w/o any anti-fungal treatment? I will be starting a saline rinse in her nose to see if it clears up her sneezing. Any help would be greatly appreciated.......

Warmest Regards,
Laura Mowrey and little Emma

I'm guessing it was a chest infection and she is now getting over it... it can take several weeks for all the symptoms of a chest infection to go away, even with antibiotics... The stress of being re-homed can lower their immunity and allow things that she would normally fight off to get to her...

She could have a virus, such as infectious bronchitis, which typically causes sneezing, and runs it's course over a month or so. An antibiotic, such as oxytetracycline or Tylan 50 injectable may help to prevent secondary infections, but the virus will not be affected. Make sure that there is no dust or wet spots in her bedding, no dust in her feed, and that overhead ventilation is good. She may need to be kept warm during her illness, but not too hot to cause panting.