Congested Chickens?

[Ebers]

I'm really not sure what the deal is but I have several chickens that sound like they're congested including my rooster he kinda gurgles when he crows & they also sound like they're sneezing is there anything I can give them to help them recover without going to the vet?

 

[feistyfarm]

I also noticed one of my hens doing that this morning. She is very girgly when she breathes ans even opens her mouth. I thought she was snoring at first. Hope to get some replies.

 

[nuttinfancy]

Sounds like a respiratory disease like MG or MS. A cheap treatment would be Duramycin-10. My State Vet said to mix 5 teaspoons per gallon of water for all birds over 4 weeks. Give for 7 days. If you want to give them injections, you can get Tylan. I'm not familiar with it and it's dosing but you can find that info in some of the threads here.
I would urge you to find a vet or state lab if you lose a bird to this so they can fully diagnose what you are dealing with. Both diseases make carriers of the surviving flock and can spread it to any new birds you get. Here is a link to poultry mycoplasmas.
http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/poultry/mycoplasmosis/overview_of_mycoplasmosis_in_poultry.html

 

[dawg53]

I'm really not sure what the deal is but I have several chickens that sound like they're congested including my rooster he kinda gurgles when he crows & they also sound like they're sneezing is there anything I can give them to help them recover without going to the vet?

If there arnt any environmental issues causing the symptoms you're observing, it could very well be a respiratory disease. The proper dosage for duramycin 10 at the 400mg dose is 1/2 tablespoon per gallon of water, the 800mg dose is 1 tablespoon per gallon of water. For either dosages, it should be given 7 to 14 days. There's a 21 day withdrawal period after the last dosing of duramycin 10.
As always with respiratory diseases, I recommend that sick birds be culled.

 

[Ebers]

I only have a small backyard flock of around 20 I would end up culling a large number of my birds can I treat with duramycin & keep them or should I just get rid of em & start over?

 

[nuttinfancy]

The problem with respiratory disease is that they have all been exposed either by contact with you or by being housed together so the vet would tell you to cull them all and wait a month at least to ensure the disease is gone. If you are raising these chickens as pets, you may elect to keep them but you must know that you are responsible for making sure to not spread a disease to other chickens and their owners. When working with sick (or carrier) birds you should wash and change clothes before going to the feed store or even grocery store. You risk carrying the disease on your tires (especially if they free-range) to other places, and you should never sell your birds nor give them away. Any bird you bring to the property could develop the disease and would become a carrier also.
I recommend contacting the Ag Dept in your state or looking for a State poultry lab for more assistance. They are usually more than happy to help you figure out what is best for you in managing your flock. You may be able to offer a sick chicken for free (in most states) testing to find out exactly what you are dealing with before you decide to cull or not.

 

[Ebers]

If I have to cull all of them are atleast edible?

 

[nuttinfancy]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/730320/can-a-chicken-with-mycoplasma-be-eaten
Here is what others have said about eating them. That is just mycoplasma but as stated, respiratory issues are in the respiratory tract and that part is discarded. I wouldn't personally eat one that is showing any signs of sickness. Also you should wait 14-21 days after the last dose of antibiotics before processing. Hope that helps

 

[atief1253]

today mine suddenly sounded like nasal congestion. no watery eyes, no discharge anywhere, eating, drinking, running. Can she have a serious respiratory condition? A vet is out of the question so I neeed some "home" advice

 

[emmyn74]

I also am having this problem with my chickens...I currently have them on tylan 50 injections twice a day....I am still trying to get rid of the gurgly sound but it does seem a little better after almost 5 days of treatment.