at a loss... sick chickens {pictures included}

[gandybugs]

So I have a flock of 24, last week a new RIR was introduced {on the 20th} (long story short, I wasn't home when she was dropped off, previous owner never said anything of her condition~ she only has 1 wing and she had a bubbly/foamy eye).

She was seperated from the flock as much as we could and when she was looking better, we introduced her to the rest of the flock.

On the 26th I noticed a few of my other girls having foamy eyes and acting strange, raising necks up ward, mouths open, just wierdness... called the local vet they gave us #s for some better chicken vets... In the morning about 10-15 were coughing and/or had bubbly/foamy eyes.

Took in our worst girl (weak, eye almost closed shut) and the RIR because she was coughing... Spent about $108 later to find out it wasn't a parasite and they had no idea what it was without more testing (= lots more $) {note~ love my chickens, but they are chickens... they are between 2-3 years old... so we weren't going to spend much, the 108 was way more then we had wanted in the first place!}

They are now on given by a local feed store med guy....


It only seems to be affecting 1 eye... and i have 2 that have shut eyes...



I have also noticed on the barred rock above she has a runny nose...

Their eggs have been lighter in color, and def. a decrease in production... although majority of them (not the two with the sealed eyes) but others are out eating and grazing...

I do have 1 banty that is laying on 7 growing eggs... (they were placed before this outbreak) and she is in the coop with them... she has not come down with symptoms yet...

Any suggestions, anyone delt with this before? I do have the other antibiotic~ tetracycline hydrochloride soluble poweder available (just don't know how to measure out 200 mgs... (-: adn they will be going on vitamins after the antibiotic course....

 

[GoChick]

I'm going to try to answer, hoping someone with more experience jumps in, as I've never had to deal with this kind of issue in my flock.

I'm so sorry, but it looks like your chickens have some kind of respiratory disease - do a search on CRD and you will find tons of info here.
I understand some people prefer to cull instead of treat, but if you choose to treat, then you have some options - Denagard is an antibiotic used in Europe that seems to help a lot.
Here, I believe you may have to go with Tylan or Duramycin.

If you choose to treat, you should keep a closed flock, not sell or give your chickens to others as this will only spread the disease.

good luck!

 

[fishnet1971]

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bi/mvm_bkindex.htm

http://www.raising-chickens.org/watery-foamy-eyes-.html


http://poultrykeeper.com/chickens/h...ks-about-respiratory-disease-in-chickens.html

Keep us posted.

 

[funnyfarmllc]

I wish I would have help last year. I had the same problem and eventually had to put the sick one down.

 

[fishnet1971]

update?????

 

[Lucky hick]

Had same symptoms...got tylan 50 from tractor supply. Insulin needles from Walmart. O.5 ml or o.5cc or in insulin needles I/2 syringe if it's a 1 cc (or ml) size. Give shot in breast or neck..my sick chick didn't flinch. Gave 5 doses in five days....As far as tetracycline I put 1/8 tsp in 1 cup of water. Change water daily.Hand fed miner first. used cut up grapes and watermelon gave fluids with dropper on top of beak....they open as a reflex.....hope this helps.....

 

[seminolewind]

I can't tell you how many people have posted about one-eye infected illness, including me. I would think a respiratory antibiotic like Tylan will do it. Is Sulmet for respiratory as well?

A rooster I had died a couple months ago, his symptom was an infected eye grossly swelled. Then, one of my hens got it, she lived in my bedroom for 3 weeks, and had a 5 day course of injectabe penicillin. She's now back outside and laying eggs.

Both my chickens did not have any contact with any other chickens outside my flock ever. So I am assuming that what my 2 got was opportunistic and environmental.