Congestion in chicks?

[ReadyvilleBird]

I have one roughly six week old sebright that sounds like it’s breathing through snot and I’ve seen sneeze a few times. There is also a amber colored discharge from his nostrils. He is perfectly active but I want to catch this early. Everything I’ve read sounds pretty horrid and I certainly don’t want any thing spreading through the rest of the flock. I’m hoping that it is just because my brooder was in need of cleaning and the feed was a little dusty. Should I be worried? What prevention techniques should I try? I have Corid, antibiotics, apple cider vinegar and HydroHen (electrolytes) on hand. And if it is in fact a respiratory disease, can I manage the symptoms long term? I like my chickens too much to cull. Unfortunately, this year I have discovered sour crop and cocci by experience for the first time. While I certainly wish that this year‘s batch would go as smoothly as prior years, I have certainly learned a lot this spring.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

sounds like it’s breathing through snot and I’ve seen sneeze a few times. There is also a amber colored discharge from his nostrils.

Have you looked inside the beak to make sure there's no canker, lesions or plaques?
Mucous from the nostrils along with snotty sounding breathing, does sound like respiratory disease.
If you have vet care where you can get testing that would be best. You would need to know what you are dealing with in order to know if symptoms can be managed.
Respiratory diseases make birds carriers even if they recover and the illness can be spread throughout the flock.
Disease like Mycoplasma does respond fairly well to antibiotic treatment, while something like Infectious Bronchitis would need to run it's course.
Technically if this one has been housed with the other chicks, if this chick has respiratory disease, the others are considered exposed/carriers as well.

You can try antibiotic treatment with something like Tylan50. Dosage is 0.25ml per pound of weight given orally 3 times a day for 5 days.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[ReadyvilleBird]

Have you looked inside the beak to make sure there's no canker, lesions or plaques?
Mucous from the nostrils along with snotty sounding breathing, does sound like respiratory disease.
If you have vet care where you can get testing that would be best. You would need to know what you are dealing with in order to know if symptoms can be managed.
Respiratory diseases make birds carriers even if they recover and the illness can be spread throughout the flock.
Disease like Mycoplasma does respond fairly well to antibiotic treatment, while something like Infectious Bronchitis would need to run it's course.
Technically if this one has been housed with the other chicks, if this chick has respiratory disease, the others are considered exposed/carriers as well.

You can try antibiotic treatment with something like Tylan50. Dosage is 0.25ml per pound of weight given orally 3 times a day for 5 days.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

If it is a respiratory disease then there are a lot of chicks in the brooder who are exposed to it. About half my flock. I can’t just get rid of half my flock to protect the other half. What are the chances that he simply was stopped up with a dust from his feed? Also, is this something that he can live with or is it going to keep spreading and cause my flock to drop like flies?

 

[ReadyvilleBird]

Have you looked inside the beak to make sure there's no canker, lesions or plaques?
Mucous from the nostrils along with snotty sounding breathing, does sound like respiratory disease.
If you have vet care where you can get testing that would be best. You would need to know what you are dealing with in order to know if symptoms can be managed.
Respiratory diseases make birds carriers even if they recover and the illness can be spread throughout the flock.
Disease like Mycoplasma does respond fairly well to antibiotic treatment, while something like Infectious Bronchitis would need to run it's course.
Technically if this one has been housed with the other chicks, if this chick has respiratory disease, the others are considered exposed/carriers as well.

You can try antibiotic treatment with something like Tylan50. Dosage is 0.25ml per pound of weight given orally 3 times a day for 5 days.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

I’m going to try Tylan. Should I treat the whole brooder? Can I find it at the local feed stores?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

If it is a respiratory disease then there are a lot of chicks in the brooder who are exposed to it. About half my flock. I can’t just get rid of half my flock to protect the other half. What are the chances that he simply was stopped up with a dust from his feed? Also, is this something that he can live with or is it going to keep spreading and cause my flock to drop like flies?

I’m going to try Tylan. Should I treat the whole brooder? Can I find it at the local feed stores?

There's no way to know if the others will get sick. It's possible he's blocked up with feed - have you taken a look inside his beak?
Testing is the only way to know for certain what you are dealing with.

You can find the Tylan50 at feed stores like Tractor Supply. No. I would not treat the whole brooder only treat birds that are showing clear signs of respiratory disease.

 

[ReadyvilleBird]

There's no way to know if the others will get sick. It's possible he's blocked up with feed - have you taken a look inside his beak?
Testing is the only way to know for certain what you are dealing with.

You can find the Tylan50 at feed stores like Tractor Supply. No. I would not treat the whole brooder only treat birds that are showing clear signs of respiratory disease.

What should I look for inside the beak? Thank you for this great advice

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Take a look inside the beak to see if there's anything stuck, if there's mucous, lesions, plaques or canker.
Inside should look all clear like the photo below

 

[ReadyvilleBird]

Take a look inside the beak to see if there's anything stuck, if there's mucous, lesions, plaques or canker.
Inside should look all clear like the photo below

Well I’ve had very little luck trying to get a look inside of his beak and unfortunately the two feed stores within reasonable distance from me have empty spots on the shelf where Tylan 50 and Duramycin should be. They do have Tylan 200 and I suppose it could work if I just cut the dosage to a quarter but then it becomes a really small amount to deal with. He is still the most energetic chick I have at the moment, which is a good sign but his congestion has not cleared up. He is unable to tweet but he certainly tries and it sounds like a gasp for air but he’s breathing sufficiently. Can I use amoxicillin or should I hold out for the feed store to restock? And what happens if I flat out don’t treat it, not that I intend to do that but with supplies limited as they are..?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Well I’ve had very little luck trying to get a look inside of his beak and unfortunately the two feed stores within reasonable distance from me have empty spots on the shelf where Tylan 50 and Duramycin should be. They do have Tylan 200 and I suppose it could work if I just cut the dosage to a quarter but then it becomes a really small amount to deal with. He is still the most energetic chick I have at the moment, which is a good sign but his congestion has not cleared up. He is unable to tweet but he certainly tries and it sounds like a gasp for air but he’s breathing sufficiently. Can I use amoxicillin or should I hold out for the feed store to restock? And what happens if I flat out don’t treat it, not that I intend to do that but with supplies limited as they are..?

If it's respiratory illness, Amoxicillin is usually no that effective. Wait and see if he improves on his own which would be better. I would also see if the store is restocking the Tylan50. You are right it would it is 4X the strength of the 50 and dosage that small would be hard to draw.

 

[ReadyvilleBird]

If it's respiratory illness, Amoxicillin is usually no that effective. Wait and see if he improves on his own which would be better. I would also see if the store is restocking the Tylan50. You are right it would it is 4X the strength of the 50 and dosage that small would be hard to draw.

I want to thank you for your advice. Since tetracycline seems to be on such short supply in my area, I got it’s chemical cousin doxycycline. I have had the three affected chicks on the medicated water since Friday and their symptoms are nearly cleared up. The two with closed eyes and discharge are now able to open both their eyes with no more discharge. The one with the bad congestion can now tweet and doesn’t sound nearly as congested. It worked! At least for now