Best to treat the whole flock with antibiotics?

[LizGio]

Here's a chicken mom fail. Somehow a bunch of my chickens are sneezing I didn't catch it until now. I don't see any eye bubbles. There's some random green poops but I don't know who's laying them. Can I just treat the whole flock to be safe? What's the best antibiotic that I can put directly into their water if that exists.

 

[Obsessed With Silkies]

What I use if anything comes up in my flock is called Rooster Booster from Tractor Supply. If treating your entire flock there is a bigger version of the rooster booster vitamin supplement that has lots of extra vitamins and minerals. I would try this.

 

[Eggcessive]

First, spend some time with them, to see who is sneezing, and how often. Is the same one sneezing every few minutes? Are they eating at the time? How is the coop ventilation? Have you used something like DE or other in the coop lately? Is it dusty, or damp, or have a ammonia odor?

All chickens may sneeze now and then, especially if they are eating chicken feed, and getting some into their nostrils. Environmental things may also cause an occasional sneeze.

The most common respiratory disease is infectious bronchitis, which causes sneezing every few minutes. There may be aome congestion and moisture around the nostrils which will attract dirt. It spreads through the whole flock over weeks to months. There is no cure since it it caused by a virus, but will go away after a few weeks. They remain carriers for 5 months or more.

If you later see bubbles in one eye, nasal drainage, hear crackles or wheezes, or see gasping, it would be good to get some testing to see if it is mycoplasma (MG) or coryza, or another virus called ILT? Tylan50 injectable fiven orally or Tylosin generic powder in the water can help if it is MG. But I would only treat chickens who had symptoms, not the whole dlock.

 

[seminolewind]

Eggsessive is right. I would have to have one more symptom than just sneezing. IMO I would not be treating anyone unless they are really sick.