Can respiratory problems run their course?

[roseygirl]

Hi,

I purchased some pullets back in July. The next day we got them we noticed rattling breathing, excessive yawning, runny eyes. Since then, it has spread to most of the flock, while many seem to have not been affected at all. By mid September, they seemed much much better, and got more chickens. Now it is middle of October and the first chickens that were sick seem completely over it, but the new chickens are starting to get the swollen eyes and yawning. I have been searching through the threads and all I have really seen is that treatment with antibiotics doesn't really work that well in a flock this size (35) and the best thing is to kill all the chickens and burn the coops. Some thread responses say wait three weeks before getting new chickens, some say a year, and others say I can never get chickens again on my property. That sucks because I love having them!
So, I'm wondering if it is possible that they are just passing a cold around? The original sickies recovered and are totally fine now, but a few of the new ones are showing those same symptoms. Some are not sick at all. Yet.
None have spiralled downhill lIke I've read in other threads.

Thank you!!!

 

[roseygirl]

Chickens dont get colds, they get a specific disease. Birds that survive respiratory diseases are carriers for life and will spread whatever disease it is to newly acquired birds. Even though some of your birds arnt showing symptoms now, eventually some type of stress will set them off showing symptoms again in the future. You might be dealing with Infectious Bronchitis (IB) or perhaps a mild strain of Mycoplasma Gallisepticum (MG.)  There isnt any treatment for IB because it is a virus and antibiotics would be ineffective. If it's MG, tylan would be the best choice. The only way to tell for sure what you're dealing with is to submit your sickest bird for testing or necropsy. You can contact your local extension office or your state agriculture office to find out how to get either performed.
Practice biosecurity; maintain a closed flock. No new birds in, no existing birds out and no giving away or selling eggs to be hatched. Respiratory diseases can be transmitted on your person, clothing shoes, vehicles etc...avoid swap meets, poultry shows etc...

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes there is a vaccine for it, just read up on it a lot before you go that route. It's been several years since I checked into the IB vaccine but I seem to remember reading a lot on conflicting info regarding how long it lasts and how often you have to repeat the vaccine. Seems to me I remember reading it had to be done every six months. There was also conflicting info regarding mixing vaccinated with unvaccinated birds. I decided not to vaccinate when I got new birds 2 years ago and none of them have ever come down with it despite the two older birds being part of the flock. The avian vet I go to says that IB actually does not create a lifetime carrier. I don't know. I've heard yes and no on that idea.

The information that I have come across is that IB can create carriers for 5 months to 1 year after recovery. Below is a link which has some directions for use, and another from University of Fla:

http://www.jefferspet.com/products/...84af9fa2600f00000499/533884b09fa2600f000004ab

Newcastle disease

Chickens and turkeys can be immunized against Newcastle disease. Low-virulence live-virus vaccines are administered by a variety of routes such as drinking water, intraocular (eye drops), intranasal (nose drops), spray). Killed-virus oil emulsion vaccines are administered to pullets intramuscularly or subcutaneously as a final vaccine prior to the onset of egg production.
Chicks are often vaccinated at the hatchery against Newcastle disease and infectious bronchitis with a combination vaccine. Day-old poultry vaccinated for Newcastle disease can not be shipped through the mail.
The combination Newcastle-Infectious Bronchitis vaccine can also be given at 10-35 days. The vaccine can be administered via the drinking water, intraocular route or intranasal route. For breeder and layer flocks the vaccine needs to be repeated at 3-month intervals to maintain protective immunity. Alternatively, an inactivated vaccine can be given at the time of housing (18-20 weeks). Further vaccinations should not be required with this procedure. In breeder flocks, the high antibody level obtained by repeated vaccinations will assure transmission of a uniform parental immunity to offspring.
If you purchase pullets or mature chickens to add to your vaccinated flock, they can be vaccinated with Newcastle disease (B-1) vaccine via drinking water, intraocular or intranasal routes. The more reactive LaSota Newcastle disease vaccine is then given 4 weeks later.
Turkeys are often vaccinated against Newcastle disease at 4 weeks of age, and again when the breeders are housed.
Infectious bronchitis

Infectious bronchitis is primarily a respiratory disease of chickens.Modified live-virus vaccines (usually containing the Massachusetts serotype) are administered in young chickens. Vaccines are effective only if they contain the right serotype of virus for a given area. Do not vaccinate during an outbreak.
Infectious bronchitis is often combined with Newcastle vaccine in the same vial and given at the hatchery or at 10-35 days of age (see section on Newcastle disease).
Killed-virus vaccines (oil emulsion base) are also available. They are administered by injection (subcutaneous or intramuscular) to breeders from 14-18 weeks of age.

TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL VACCINATION

• Vaccination of poultry younger than 10 days of age cannot be expected to produce uniform or lasting immunity, even in the absence of parental immunity. An exception is that vaccination for Marek's disease is ordinarily given on the day of hatch.
• Rotate vaccine stock. An outdated product may have deteriorated.
• Each vaccine is designed for a specific route of administration. Use only the recommended route.
• Do not vaccinate sick birds (except in outbreaks of laryngotracheitis or fowl pox).
• Protect vaccines from heat and direct sunlight.
• Most vaccines are living, disease-producing agents. Handle them with care.
• When using the drinking-water method of vaccination, be sure the water is free of sanitizers and chlorine. Live-virus vaccines are readily destroyed by these chemicals.
• After vaccinating, burn or disinfect all opened containers to prevent accidental spread to other poultry.

 

[papoultrytech]

Well i just read your post and you mentioned swollen eyes and runny discharge and you just brought in new birds to the flock and they caught it. Have you had any loss in the flock? This is sounding like LT or laryngotracitice which is a contagious disease. You can control it by feeding this mixture of feed, a medicated starter feed with amprolium in it along with areomycin crumbles and put terra vet in the water and treat the whole flock for roughly 10 days. Then if you happen to bring in anymore which i dont approve of becsuse these birds are cariers now but if you do then you must vacinate against it to stop any more spreading of it. Also these birds you have now can not be shown at shows because they can spread it to other birds then cause a quarentine of all the birds there.

 

[dawg53]

Chickens dont get colds, they get a specific disease. Birds that survive respiratory diseases are carriers for life and will spread whatever disease it is to newly acquired birds. Even though some of your birds arnt showing symptoms now, eventually some type of stress will set them off showing symptoms again in the future. You might be dealing with Infectious Bronchitis (IB) or perhaps a mild strain of Mycoplasma Gallisepticum (MG.) There isnt any treatment for IB because it is a virus and antibiotics would be ineffective. If it's MG, tylan would be the best choice. The only way to tell for sure what you're dealing with is to submit your sickest bird for testing or necropsy. You can contact your local extension office or your state agriculture office to find out how to get either performed.
Practice biosecurity; maintain a closed flock. No new birds in, no existing birds out and no giving away or selling eggs to be hatched. Respiratory diseases can be transmitted on your person, clothing shoes, vehicles etc...avoid swap meets, poultry shows etc...

 

[roseygirl]

Thank you so much. None have died in the 2 and a half months that this started, and the first ones that got sick just got over it, are fine now and laying great. It just seems to be going around and not terribly bad. I switched them to medicated starter/grower since they are sick and more protein for the ones that are molting now. I'll check on availability of that medicine from my vet today.

I just got freaked out because most of the threads and posts I've read seem to say that any respiratory infection is a death sentence. I'm not planning on showing any birds but I do have eggs in the incubator. I'll do some research on vaccinating the chicks. Thank you

 

[dawg53]

Well i just read your post and you mentioned swollen eyes and runny discharge and you just brought in new birds to the flock and they caught it. Have you had any loss in the flock? This is sounding like LT or laryngotracitice which is a contagious disease. You can control it by feeding this mixture of feed, a medicated starter feed with amprolium in it along with areomycin crumbles and put terra vet in the water and treat the whole flock for roughly 10 days. Then if you happen to bring in anymore which i dont approve of becsuse these birds are cariers now but if you do then you must vacinate against it to stop any more spreading of it. Also these birds you have now can not be shown at shows because they can spread it to other birds then cause a quarentine of all the birds there.

I doubt it's Infectious Laryngotracheitis (ILT.) Normally there would be blood slung all over the place if it were ILT. Additionally medicated starter feed wont treat ILT. You're correct about birds remaining carriers of the disease. It would be best to cull birds with ILT.
I'm leaning towards IB.

 

[roseygirl]

Ok so once this reappears due to a stressor, the bird may become sicker than the first time and die? Can these birds possibly live for awhile without dying?

 

[dawg53]

Thank you so much. None have died in the 2 and a half months that this started, and the first ones that got sick just got over it, are fine now and laying great. It just seems to be going around and not terribly bad. I switched them to medicated starter/grower since they are sick and more protein for the ones that are molting now. I'll check on availability of that medicine from my vet today.

I just got freaked out because most of the threads and posts I've read seem to say that any respiratory infection is a death sentence. I'm not planning on showing any birds but I do have eggs in the incubator. I'll do some research on vaccinating the chicks. Thank you

Since they are laying, have you noticed if their eggshells are wrinkly or if there are watery whites when you crack the eggs open? If not, it's most likely MG and not IB.
Also because they are in molt, I recommend that you purchase gamebird feed which is 22%-26% protein and feed that to your birds rather than the medicated starter. Once they're done with molt, wean them off the gamebird feed back to regular layer feed.

 

[dawg53]

Ok so once this reappears due to a stressor, the bird may become sicker than the first time and die? Can these birds possibly live for awhile without dying?

It really depends what disease and type of strain it is. This is where the testing would be best to let you know what's going on.