1 Wheezing & 1 with a turned head - help

[McButterpants]

I just integrated some new birds with my layers and added some capons to the run to make room in another. After some initial jostling things seemed to settle. I found one of the capons sitting by itself in the coop with its head turned around facing almost backwards, at first I thought it was the result of pecking since this bird seemed to be at the bottom of the order. 24 hours later one of the new birds (a Marans) is wheezing/ gurgling when breathing. I have separated the 2 birds into crates with water (still in the run ) for now. Does anyone recognize this combination as related (I heard Bronchitis might, but the turned head seemed to be breathing fine). All other birds in the flock seem healthy as can be.

 

[leadwolf1]

How long have you had these birds? First things first, remove and quarantine them away from the other birds. The one with its head turned might be an injury or wry neck. The other sounds respiratory and you need to remove that bird away from the others immediately.

 

[McButterpants]

Thank you, it certainly seems respiratory. I have her in a crate in the run is that a sufficient amount of space (bars physical contact) or should I move her out altogether? The new birds have only been here for 48 hours - the one with twisted neck was getting pecked pretty hard by the others (he is a capon and they don't have much "fight"). IN my original flock of 5 I have 1 barred rock who has from time to time sneezed (if you can call it that- but that's what it sounds like) - this has been observed maybe once every couple of weeks, but she has always seemed healthy, lays well and noe of the other birds she was with have ever done this. The new birds (about 8) seemed very healthy on arrival and come from an established breeder (not hatchery stock). The breeder's facility is bio secure and has a stellar reputation, so it seems unlikely the birds arrived sick - could the hen have developed a respiratory ailment that fast?

 

[leadwolf1]

It is best to quarantine any new birds for 30 days before integrating them into your flock. That gives you the chance to make sure that none of the new birds are sick.

I would move her completely out of the area. Inside, if at all possible. Stress brings out things that are 'hidden' in home flocks. When put into a stressful situation, those symptoms then come out. If at all possible, I would return the sick birds back to the breeder.

 

[McButterpants]

Thank you again,
I removed her to a shed- the wheezing now sounds like gurgling
Returning is not practical- although I'm sure they would reimburse

Would a broad spectrum antibiotic be in order? Is there one for chcikens? Or should I bite the bullet and cull- better safe than sorry?

 

[leadwolf1]

You could get some Duramycin or Tylan 50 to treat them with. If just treating the one, I would use Tylan. It comes in an injectable form and can be found at TSC You will need a syringe/needle to draw up the dosage but, then it can be given orally by putting the meds on bread and feeding it. Dosage is for 5 days, .5mls per day for Large fowl and .25mls per day for bantam.

 

[McButterpants]

Thanks will try!