Help! IBV?? New to chickens and don't know what to do!

KNelly

Chirping
5 Years
Sep 2, 2014
148
3
63
My whole flock is sneezing with runny noses and shaking their heads but I think it's just from the runny noses. I have two laying hens. Ones egg turned from green to blue and has stopped laying eggs altogether now and the other is laying less frequently and has laid a slightly rigged egg and now a shell less egg less than 24 hours after she laid the last one. The shell less egg was found under the roost in the coop and that was her first time ever laying outside the box. I know it was less then 24 hours after because my husband and I were outside all yesterday and I saw her lay the rigged one and them my husband and I added another roosting bar and there was not the shell less egg in the coop at the time which was right when the chickens went to bed that night. Both eggs are white and she is my only white egg layer. Anywho could this be ibv? If so what do I do? This is my first flock and I'm really scared that I might lose them. :( Any help would be amazing! I don't have a vet close to me that takes chickens and the only store close for farm animals is big R.
 
As you probably already know, Infectious Bronchitis Virus is not treatable. I dont know what you mean by "rigged" egg, unless you mean "wrinkled" egg. Wrinkled, soft shelled and/or shelless eggs are common with hens infected with IBV. Eggs with watery whites are also a sure sign of IBV. If there arnt any deaths with IBV, depending on the strain, hens will slowly recover and eventually lay eggs at a slower rate. Eggs may appear to be normal again, but stress can start symptoms all over again.
Here's a link for you to read regarding IBV:
http://www.shagbarkbantams.com/ib.htm
Here's another link, scroll down:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044
 
The egg was watery today. What do I do? Will they recover? I just have them as pets and for eggs for my family. I'm not a breeder and I don't sell eggs. I only have 2 laying will this effect the other 10 pullets who haven't started laying yet? I ordered tylan powder and have given them vetrx. Do I still need to scrub the coop down after I give them the tylan? I read a lot of the ib buts not giving me all the info I'm looking for.
 
Also can I eat the eggs they are producing now or should I throw them out? I saw that cold temps can make their symptoms worse... We are expecting a snow storm and Temps to drop below freezing should I temporarily add a heat lamp just while they are showing symptoms?
 
You can eat the eggs until you use antibiotics. Most grown chickens recover from IB in 4-5weeks, but remain carriers to other birds for 5months to 1year. Tylan will only help to prevent secondary bacterial infections, but won't treat the IB virus. IB does cause chilling, and extra heat may be required, but very careful if using heat lamps. Symptoms also can increase in the evenings.
 
Outstanding info; bookmarked.
It was a great loss for you having to cull your flock. Since MG doesnt survive long in the environment, do you intend to repopulate?
Don't want to take over the thread, but yes. In April I have 50 BBS Ameraucana coming from Whitmore Farm and 12 Salmon Faverolles coming from R Fuzzy Butt Farm - both MG clean tested breeders. Thanks for asking :)
 
Quote:
thumbsup.gif
Good for you! I wish you the best.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom