Any ideas?

[Orly29]

Desperately tryin to find out what is happening w my poor bantams. I live in South Texas and we have been experiencing 100 plus degree heat and think this is affecting my bantams. It's the same scenario w different chickens of different ages. First seems to start w watery eyes and sneezing and then progresses to breathing that sounds like they got water in their throats. I looked in one to my barred rock roosters mouth and saw white spots and what appeared to look like hard pus. I started treating them w Sulmet but not sure if this is the way to go. If anyone has any ideas, pls share them...I love my chickens and don't want to loose anymore.

 

[rancher hicks]

Please go back and click on the "sticky" by terrielacy and answer the questions in order. It would really help.

 

[Orly29]

Sorry...I will try to answer all the questions. Different birds being affected.

1) What type of bird , age and weight.
Various breeds of bantams...all avg weight for breed. All are fairly young birds at 1yr or less.

2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Birds are eating fine and no sign of lack of appetite. Eyes appear to have little bubbles and look watery. All birds affected are also breathing oddly like they have water in their throats and make a noise between a cough and hicup.

3) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
No signs of trauma.

4) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
The temp here in South Texas has been very hot...over 100 degree for multiple days in a row now.

5) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
Birds have been eating feed store mix of chicken scratch along w fresh water provided daily and also some oyster shell.

6) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Poop seems to look normal.

7) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
So far have started treating w Sulmet.

8 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
I would like to treat myself.

9) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
No pics at this time. Birds seem to be developing white spots along the inside of their throats which seem to turn into enlarged hardened areas of pus...maybe pox?

10) Describe the housing/bedding in use
Have several different birds in different pens...before quarantine, some birds were in cages w wire bottoms off the ground others in pens on the ground and others in cages w fresh straw on the floor.

 

[rancher hicks]

Two or three things i see.
1. scratch is not meant to be a main diet. They should be on a diet of layer by this time I would think.
2. The temp is stressful and I would give them electrolytes/vitamins in their
water. Keep them cool.
3. Sulmet is not something to be given without proper diagnois.
4. mix some vanilla yogurt with salad greens or spinach and put it on a plate. Tear it up in smaller pieces. Spinach has calcium and vitamins.
5. This is not meant as a cure but you should do something until someone with more experience weighs in.
6. it never hurts to pray.

 

[Orly29]

Thank you!

 

[rancher hicks]

Oh and this is meant to bring your post back to the top of the heap.
keep us posted.