Infectious Bronchitis

kaseythomas86

Songster
5 Years
Mar 10, 2014
273
14
121
Alabama
I have 10 chickens. I raised 7 of them and I just bought 3 new chickens from a flee market and I think I made a huge mistake! Every chicken I have is sick now and I believe it's infectious bronchitis because they have laid funny looking eggs, have discharge coming from their nostrils, and making rattling sounds when breathing! What should I do I'm so torn! I really really like my chickens and don't want to cull all of them I am willing to have a closed flock but will eggs be safe to eat after they stop showing symptoms? I have put a lot of time and effort into these chickens and really don't want to cull someone please help me decide what to do!
 
It could also be mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG or CRD.) The respiratory diseases can have similar symptoms. IB is the mildest, but it can cause a decrease in laying during the disease along with causing wrinkled shells and runny whites or albumen inside the egg. IB makes chickens acarrier for 5-12 months after recovery, but the other diseases make carriers for life. It is possible to have IB that is complicated by a secondarybacterial infection such as mycoplasma, coryza, or E. coli. That is why many treat with antibiotics such as Tylan 50 injection, oxytetracycline, or Gallimycin, even though they won't treat IB, since it is a virus that has to run it's course. Whenever adding new chickens, it is best to always quarantine them for at least a month away from the others, and many will then add 1 chicken as a guinea pig for an additional time, to see if it gets sick. I would try to get one tested to see what you are dealing with. This can be done by a vet or local agriultural agency, or you can get a necropsy done on a sacrificed chicken by your state vet. Here are some links about diseases and finding your state vet: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_dis_spec/poultry/states/alabama.pdf
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044
 
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It could also be mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG or CRD.)  The respiratory diseases can have similar symptoms.  IB is the mildest, but it can cause a decrease in laying during the disease along with causing wrinkled shells and runny whites or albumen inside the egg.  IB makes chickens acarrier for 5-12 months after recovery, but the other diseases make carriers for life.  It is possible to have IB that is complicated by a secondarybacterial  infection such as mycoplasma, coryza, or E. coli.  That is why many treat with antibiotics such as Tylan 50 injection, oxytetracycline, or Gallimycin, even though they won't treat IB, since it is a virus that has to run it's course.  Whenever adding new chickens, it is best to always quarantine them for at least a month away from the others, and many will then add 1 chicken as a guinea pig for an additional time, to see if it gets sick.  I would try to get one tested to see what you are dealing with.  This can be done by a vet or local agriultural agency, or you can get a necropsy done on a sacrificed chicken by your state vet.  Here are some links about diseases and finding your state vet:  http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_dis_spec/poultry/states/alabama.pdf
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044
I think I may get one tested
 
I'm sorry that you are dealing with this. IB and MG are fairly common in backyard flocks, especially if they are mild strains. Your eggs would be safe to eat, after waiting up to a month after antibiotics treatment. MG can be transferred in hatching eggs, so eggs for hatching should not be sold, but for eating they are fine. Maintaining a closed flock (no new ones in , none going out) is what people with a carrier disease do, and many have good egg layers. Let us know if you find out what you are dealing with testing.
 
I'm sorry that you are dealing with this.  IB and MG are fairly common in backyard flocks, especially if they are mild strains.  Your eggs would be safe to eat, after waiting up to a month after antibiotics treatment.  MG can be transferred in hatching eggs, so eggs for hatching should not be sold, but for eating they are fine. Maintaining a closed flock (no new ones in , none going out) is what people with a carrier disease do, and many have good egg layers.   Let us know if you find out what you are dealing with testing.
thanks I will. I hope our local vet will test
 
Call the state vet number and ask about testing availability in the state--they should be able to answer any questions you have abut testing or necropsy.
 

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