Antibiotics?

[Chirpchirp19]

Hello, I posted the other day...(https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/i-am-lost-at-this-point.1344000/) My girl was doing good this morning but now I am thinking more respiratory since other chickens were sneezing this morning, the hen in question is breathing slower, and her eyes keep slowly closing but she is still trying to look around. So far I haven't heard any wheezing, her nostrils are a tad bit wet. She is pooping now, still very dark green and runny.

My question is should I start antibiotics and treat the others? If so, what antibiotic is best?

 

[micstrachan]

Has she laid an egg since this started? Have you checked her abdomen again for bloat?

At this point, if she had been laying regularly and suddenly stopped along with the lethargy and pumping tail, but did not respond to calcium, yes, I personally would try antibiotics. However, I’d be treating for a reproductive infection and only treat her. I would probably start with doxicycline. If she seems in rapid decline, I might bring out the “big guns”, enrofloxacin.

Keep in mind, I have not dealt with a heavy respiratory issue in my flock. I thought they had infectious bronchitis, since there was some sneezing, intermittent mild voice loss, and a couple wrinkled eggs, but a necropsy came back negative for it. As far as I know, my flock has not had MG, cholera, influenza (also negative vis necropsy) nor infectious coryza, so I’m not the best reference on respiratory illnesses.

 

[Chirpchirp19]

Has she laid an egg since this started? Have you checked her abdomen again for bloat?

At this point, if she had been laying regularly and suddenly stopped along with the lethargy and pumping tail, but did not respond to calcium, yes, I personally would try antibiotics. However, I’d be treating for a reproductive infection and only treat her. I would probably start with doxicycline. If she seems in rapid decline, I might bring out the “big guns”, enrofloxacin.

Keep in mind, I have not dealt with a heavy respiratory issue in my flock. I thought they had infectious bronchitis, since there was some sneezing, intermittent mild voice loss, and a couple wrinkled eggs, but a necropsy came back negative for it. As far as I know, my flock has not had MG nor infectious coryza, so I’m not the best reference on respiratory illnesses.

Last egg was Thursday. No bloating. She has been sneezing today, no gasping for air but she was making like a "purring" sound I haven't heard before...have not heard it since though. She has not seemed to respond to the calcium. Is this stuff I can get from the feed store? I don't have any poultry vets around me and don't think my cat's vet would just prescribe something for a chicken.

 

[Chirpchirp19]

For the doxicycline, would this work? Egg withdrawl??
https://www.walmartpetrx.com/p-3532...5VGL_RPoiOgDOGZ1gze_egIdJARUxj1RoCFowQAvD_BwE

 

[micstrachan]

You can buy them online. Some people use fish antibiotics. It’s a personal decision only you can make. If the last egg was Thursday, I might hold off on treating for a reproductive infection. Tough call, as there may be a narrow window of opportunity to treat. On the other hand, I try not to overuse antibiotics.

Are her eyes clean and clear? She may just need a little TLC if it’s a mild respiratory thing.There are several respiratory illnesses chickens can carry, and lots of reading material online. Here is a starting point. It’s just a three page article.
http://www.veterinaryworld.org/2008/July/Common Respiratory Diseases of Poultry.pdf

Let us know what you decide to do.

 

[micstrachan]

For the doxicycline, would this work? Egg withdrawl??
https://www.walmartpetrx.com/p-3532...5VGL_RPoiOgDOGZ1gze_egIdJARUxj1RoCFowQAvD_BwE

I used the pill form of the same drug by the same company. I’m not sure about the egg withdrawal. My hen was put on a hormone implant to stop the laying, since it seemed her reproductive system was inflamed and needed a break. Sorry not to be of more help on that.

 

[Chirpchirp19]

You can buy them online. Some people use fish antibiotics. It’s a personal decision only you can make. If the last egg was Thursday, I might hold off on treating for a reproductive infection. Tough call, as there may be a narrow window of opportunity to treat. On the other hand, I try not to overuse antibiotics.

Are her eyes clean and clear? She may just need a little TLC if it’s a mild respiratory thing.There are several respiratory illnesses chickens can carry, and lots of reading material online. Here is a starting point. It’s just a three page article.
http://www.veterinaryworld.org/2008/July/Common Respiratory Diseases of Poultry.pdf

Let us know what you decide to do.

Her eyes seem to be closed the majority of the last few hours, almost irritated as she kept blinking and the lid would almost stick to her eye? A little bit of nasal leakage.

 

[Chirpchirp19]

I am wondering if I should try apple cider vinegar and continue using vet rx? I personally don't want to get into antibiotics if I don't need to as the eggs are eaten daily and we also sell them. Any natural remedies that have been proven to work?

 

[Eggcessive]

Sneezing can be from a virus called infectious bronchitis, and that doesn’t respond to or require an antibiotic. It cannbe a little hard to tell IB from a mild case of MG, but MG may cause bubbles in an eye, eye swelling, or more severe respiratory symptoms. If you are only seeing sneezing, look at possible causes of sneezing such as dust, poor air circulation, or mold. I would not use antibiotics unless I saw eye bubbles or eye swelling. Here is a good link to read, and look for symptoms of IB, MG, ILT, and coryza which are rhe most common signs of a respiratory disease:
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

It helps to get testing to see what respiratory disease that you are seeing. Your vet or state vet can help with that more affordability or contact Zoologix for a respiratory panel to test your chickens:
https://www.zoologix.com/avian/Datasheets/PoultryRespiratoryPanel.htm

 

[Chirpchirp19]

Sneezing can be from a virus called infectious bronchitis, and that doesn’t respond to or require an antibiotic. It cannbe a little hard to tell IB from a mild case of MG, but MG may cause bubbles in an eye, eye swelling, or more severe respiratory symptoms. If you are only seeing sneezing, look at possible causes of sneezing such as dust, poor air circulation, or mold. I would not use antibiotics unless I saw eye bubbles or eye swelling. Here is a good link to read, and look for symptoms of IB, MG, ILT, and coryza which are rhe most common signs of a respiratory disease:
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

It helps to get testing to see what respiratory disease that you are seeing. Your vet or state vet can help with that more affordability or contact Zoologix for a respiratory panel to test your chickens:
https://www.zoologix.com/avian/Datasheets/PoultryRespiratoryPanel.htm

I will be posting picture's tomorrow hopefully, I am letting her rest for the night, but she is pretty swollen and starting to wheeze a little and has a tiny bit of nasal discharge that is clear. I turned the humidifier back on in the room that she is in and have covered her kennel back up with a blanket (while allowing ventilation and air to get through) she still has her warm water bottle that is getting changed on the hour and is drinking a tiny bit. I have food in with her, she is showing no sign of interest. The last time I saw her really eat was last night. She refused any food tonight when I was observing her.