1 year old Hen has IBV..what can I do for her?

[theFox]

Quote:
I suppose if you had a fraction of knowledge of chicken diseases, you would definitely know what IBV was, because this is a common one. If I were you, I would vaccinate my chcikens from this. It is quite nasty...

I'll lay odds that Sonoran knows far more about chicken diseases than most vets.

I also don't care for alphabet soup because there are instances where the same soup are entirely different things.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
I suppose if you had a fraction of knowledge of chicken diseases, you would definitely know what IBV was, because this is a common one. If I were you, I would vaccinate my chcikens from this. It is quite nasty...

Gee, I've always heard it referred to as either "infectious bronchitis" or simply "brochitis."

Thank you so much for the compliment

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
I suppose if you had a fraction of knowledge of chicken diseases, you would definitely know what IBV was, because this is a common one. If I were you, I would vaccinate my chcikens from this. It is quite nasty...

I'll lay odds that Sonoran knows far more about chicken diseases than most vets.

I also don't care for alphabet soup because there are instances where the same soup are entirely different things.

Thanks, Fox

 

[ihvpower]

Well, if Sonoran knows more than a vet, what treatment plan would you follow for Infectious Bronchitis?

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
I do not know more than a vet; if in doubt, I will take my chickens to a vet. Yes, I am lucky to have a good one who knows chickens. I also look up as much information as possible in several references that I trust: The Chicken Health Handbook & The Merck Veterinary Manual being two of my top choices

ihvpower, why do you keep insulting me? I do not know you, nor you me.

A virus has to run its course. You can provide relief for symptoms and support the immune system. Some people give antibiotics to ward off secondary bacterial infections; others do not. It is somewhat controversial. For myself, it is a case by case decision. Fogging or nubulizing with oxine will help, especially if a bird has difficulty breathing.

Separate birds who are ill from those who are not. Treat and handle all ill birds last, after caring for those who are well. Wash thoroughly and change chothing and shoes after handling birds who are ill.

No magic formulas, just symptomatic care and common sense precautions.

 

[dawg53]

Quote:
I do not know more than a vet; if in doubt, I will take my chickens to a vet. Yes, I am lucky to have a good one who knows chickens. I also look up as much information as possible in several references that I trust: The Chicken Health Handbook & The Merck Veterinary Manual being two of my top choices

ihvpower, why do you keep insulting me? I do not know you, nor you me.

A virus has to run its course. You can provide relief for symptoms and support the immune system. Some people give antibiotics to ward off secondary bacterial infections; others do not. It is somewhat controversial. For myself, it is a case by case decision. Fogging or nubulizing with oxine will help, especially if a bird has difficulty breathing.

Separate birds who are ill from those who are not. Treat and handle all ill birds last, after caring for those who are well. Wash thoroughly and change chothing and shoes after handling birds who are ill.

No magic formulas, just symptomatic care and common sense precautions.

I too refer to the same things as Sonoran Silkies as well as msucares and a few other sources. I find Sonoran Silkies advice helpful, to the point, and accurate. Infectious bronchitis does cause wrinkled eggs over a long period of time but will eventually become normal looking eggs. The hens will lay less frequently also. Unfortunately it's contageous and you must have a "closed" flock. By that I mean you cant sell, trade or give away any of your chickens... the virus will spread to healthy chickens. Likewise new chicks/chickens cant be introduced neither as they will become infected. A sure way to tell if it's infectious bronchitis are the eggs....crack an egg open and if the 'whites' are watery, then it's infectious bronchitis. On the other hand and a bit of good news is that hot temperatures will also cause egg wrinkling and egg distortions, especially if your chickens arnt used to the heat and humidity. ihvpower, I hope your IB results are negative. Let us know what the results are and what your vet had to say please.

 

[ihvpower]

Sonoran, I am not insulting you. The thread here was the sick bird, not abbreviations. It was my interpretaion that your message was said in a rather "snotty" way. You gave your thoughts about that but not the sick bird. Forgive me if my interpretation was misconstrued. Perhaps your interpretaion of my comments was also misconstrued...

Thank you for the information in regards to helping them through the symptoms. I do have an appointment tonight with a bird specialist that I found after making 40 odd phone calls. No one would even take a culture!

 

[theFox]

Quote:
I'm sorry ihvpower, your posts do in fact come across as insulting, you ask for help but don't even use the common name for what you think the disease maybe. Alphabet soup can lead to incorrect information being provided which could lead to further problems.

Illnesses caused by viruses that have already presented symptoms are normally handled by reliving symptoms as it is too late for a vaccination. Illnesses caused by bacteria can be treated using antibiotics in addition to relieving symptoms.

If you look around you will discover that bronchitis can be caused by either. I had to use Google to locate what you were asking about.

Sonoran while not a vet has far more experience with chickens than most vets, in fact the reason you had problems getting someone to even take a culture is that they don't handle birds. There is a reason for that.

The key here is that other than at agriculture schools, some zoos, and veterinary schools, there is a shortage of qualified avian veterinarians. You were lucky to only have to make 40 odd phone calls.

I guess most vets want to treat the Fidos, and Sylvesters of the world.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Dog/cat vets may be able to give references of other vets who will treat exotics or avians. Unfortunately, there are a number of avian vets who will not treat chickens.

Another good resource is wild bird rescue/rehabilitators. While they are not vets, they have been trained to deal with injured and ill birds, and often have veterinarian backup.

Anatomy and physiology of birds is significantly different than mammals, and that is why many dog/cat vets will not treat them. Not being willing to take a culture is another matter, though, and is stupid in my opinion.

I couldn't comment on an illness without knowing the illness. IBV could as well have been a reference to Infectious Bursal Disease (also a virus) or Inclusion Body Hepatitis (also a virus). Probably others.

Also, I am not sure exactly what "Chicken Disease Pages" you are referencing. Many respiratory illnesses cause a similar appearance, and not all birds look the same. Facial swelling does not necessarily indicate bronchitis. Matching the appearance of ones bird to a sample photo of an illness does not constitute accurate diagnosis. If you read the Merck article, the only way to be sure it is bronchitis is laboratory tests. There are a number of other respiratory illnesses that have similar symptoms.

So, are your birds vaccinated, and if so, for what? What are the complete list of symptoms? How large is your flock, and how many birds seem to be affected? Do the medicines you are currently using seem to have an affect?

 

[ihvpower]

Quote:
I do not know more than a vet; if in doubt, I will take my chickens to a vet. Yes, I am lucky to have a good one who knows chickens. I also look up as much information as possible in several references that I trust: The Chicken Health Handbook & The Merck Veterinary Manual being two of my top choices

ihvpower, why do you keep insulting me? I do not know you, nor you me.

A virus has to run its course. You can provide relief for symptoms and support the immune system. Some people give antibiotics to ward off secondary bacterial infections; others do not. It is somewhat controversial. For myself, it is a case by case decision. Fogging or nubulizing with oxine will help, especially if a bird has difficulty breathing.

Separate birds who are ill from those who are not. Treat and handle all ill birds last, after caring for those who are well. Wash thoroughly and change chothing and shoes after handling birds who are ill.

No magic formulas, just symptomatic care and common sense precautions.

I too refer to the same things as Sonoran Silkies as well as msucares and a few other sources. I find Sonoran Silkies advice helpful, to the point, and accurate. Infectious bronchitis does cause wrinkled eggs over a long period of time but will eventually become normal looking eggs. The hens will lay less frequently also. Unfortunately it's contageous and you must have a "closed" flock. By that I mean you cant sell, trade or give away any of your chickens... the virus will spread to healthy chickens. Likewise new chicks/chickens cant be introduced neither as they will become infected. A sure way to tell if it's infectious bronchitis are the eggs....crack an egg open and if the 'whites' are watery, then it's infectious bronchitis. On the other hand and a bit of good news is that hot temperatures will also cause egg wrinkling and egg distortions, especially if your chickens arnt used to the heat and humidity. ihvpower, I hope your IB results are negative. Let us know what the results are and what your vet had to say please.

Thank you, Dawg.

I certainly will. I have them on a water-soluable antibiotic currently and am hand-watering them. (with my old kids medicine dropper). I now have another with swollen eyes and runny noses. I know what happened and it was totally my mistake. Two weeks ago, I bought 2 White Leghorn and a Silky from a woman. I did not quarantine them

I have certainly learned my lesson going forward. The rest of my flock of 20 were either hand-reared as babies or hatched by me. I do not see wrinkled eggs but they are barely laying. I will look for the watery whites tonight. 5 O'clock cannot come too soon! (Vet Appt) that's appointment

Sonoran,

I can't imagine why they would not culture either...they surely would have been able to look at it and be able to tell. I live in a farming area. Vets need to include Birds in their studies!

Thanks for the information and I will let you all know the diagnosis...

Nancy <-------- went to Vet School for one year.