Best Antibiotics for Upper Respiratory Issues?

[Liza728w]

I have 9 chickens sneezing off and on with clear runny snot coming out their nostrils. This is the main symptom besides occasionally opening their beaks when breathing in.

The lady (actually a family friend) I bought my hens from didn't take good care of them and they came to me with the sniffles... they have been sneezing on and off for a couple months now. Natural treatments didn't work... I was putting colloidal silver in their water to see if it would clear up the respiratory problems but it did not help. I feel like they need antibiotics. One of my hens especially is having a hard time and constantly sneezes all day long. Any ideas?

FYI - I live in Oregon, the chickens have a huge 8x12 well ventilated coop, always have access to water and food. They are all bantams (silkies, satins, seramas). No other unusual behavior.

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like they may have infectious bronchitis, a virus which does not respond to antibiotics, but lasts about a month. Mycoplasma or MG is similar, and can also cause bubbles or foam in eyes and facial swelling. MG can be treated with certain antibiotics, such as tylosin, doxycycline, oxytetracycline and a few others. You might want to contact your vet, or state vet to get some tested. Here is a link for tylosin:
https://www.jedds.com/shop/tylan-soluble-100-g/

Here is a link for common diseases including the two above:
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[Liza728w]

It sounds like they may have infectious bronchitis, a virus which does not respond to antibiotics, but lasts about a month. Mycoplasma or MG is similar, and can also cause bubbles or foam in eyes and facial swelling. MG can be treated with certain antibiotics, such as tylosin, doxycycline, oxytetracycline and a few others. You might want to contact your vet, or state vet to get some tested. Here is a link for tylosin:
https://www.jedds.com/shop/tylan-soluble-100-g/

Here is a link for common diseases including the two above:
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

I will contact a vet and see if they can do some testing to see what exactly they have going on. Hoping I can find one near me! I'll update as soon as I have some answers!

 

[Eggcessive]

Depending on your state, some state vets may offer testing for a lower cost. Zoologix.com a lab in CA, offers a panel of 8 pcr tests for the possible respiratory diseases, for about $80 if you collect the 3 swabs yourself:
http://www.zoologix.com/avian/Datasheets/PoultryRespiratoryPanel.htm

 

[Liza728w]

Depending on your state, some state vets may offer testing for a lower cost. Zoologix.com a lab in CA, offers a panel of 8 pcr tests for the possible respiratory diseases, for about $80 if you collect the 3 swabs yourself:
http://www.zoologix.com/avian/Datasheets/PoultryRespiratoryPanel.htm

I just sent them over an email, thank you! 80 bucks isn't too expensive if it means I can know what's going on with my chickens. Their website is pretty hard to navigate through so I included all of my questions in the email and asked how I should pay and what to expect after I pay. I'm hoping they'll email me back and help me out. We will see!

 

[Aschuchert]

Hey, I'm all in for antibiotics when it's necessary, but your pantry may hold some helpful healing items too without egg withdrawal issues. Or finicky websites
Garlic, fresh or powder
Ginger and tumeric - same forms
Also
Cloves, cinnamon, cayenne, dill, rosemary, oregano, thyme.
Extra electrolytes in water and rooster booster can all help the healing process.

I mix any leaf or unpowdered dry spices into spice or coffee grinder and powder them. I focus on ginger, tumeric and garlic at 50% of powder. Mix together into fine powder. Add 1 tbsp per 6 to 10 birds to a treat, like plain yogurt or other favorites your flock has. At least 1x and up to 3x per day.
Won't solve all problems but can help heal birds and help with inflammation in systems caused by infection too.
I also use as prevention in future, key is to buy in bulk.

Also, make sure they are out of drafts, clean water, and fresh bedding.

 

[Eggcessive]

Unless your chickens develop eye bubbles, swelling of the face or eyelids, thick yellow nasal discharge, or other symptoms, I would just watch them since it sounds more like a virus. Infectious bronchitis is a common one, and their are a couple of others. My flock had IB a few years ago. They sneezed often throughout the day, but free ranged in my garden all day. There was mild clear nasal drainage, and I saw a couple of wrinkled egg shells, another sign of IB. Within a month they were all better, but the disease spread to others later since it makes them carriers for 5 months up to a year.