Coryza? I think

[lemondsm]

I can take a picture in the morning. My camera has a terrible flash. I will post it first thing tomorrow.

We have tractor supplies stores here but they don't seem to have any medicine or vaccines for chickens. Hopefully, they can hang on until I can order it by mail.

Thank you so much for trying to help me figure this out.

 

[nickie]

Most medications for chickens will be used off label, meaning the label says for cows or sheep or pigs, but we have to use it for our birds because fda approval has not been given on poultry (short version). What we need to know to help is:

Age of birds
Housing
Bedding
Feeding
Are they thin of emaciated
Is the poop normal, bloody, runny, liquid, off color
How many birds affected
When did this start
How long from first symptom to death

List any and all info even if you think it doesn't matter and then when we have everything right in front of us we can try to figure it out. Or you could take her to am avian vet.

 

[lemondsm]

Age of birds - 1 year

Housing - Coop/run grass dirt floor. One end of the run is covered with 2 nest boxes. I move it from time to time for fresh grass since they are not free ranged.

Bedding - pine shavings

Feeding - layer pellets, fresh fruits and vegetables. Some table scraps.

Are they thin of emaciated - they are a little thinner I noticed.

Is the poop normal, bloody, runny, liquid, off color - I haven't noticed anything abnormal but I will double check in the morning.

How many birds affected - 2 out of 5

When did this start - I only noticed it yesterday

How long from first symptom to death - no deaths yet. Hopefully we'll avoid this.

 

[binders]

What ended up happening? Did you treat and if so with what? What were the results? So many questions- sorry about that. I am dealing with something myself and am trying to read all that I can to see what I should do.
Hope they are OK!

 

[lemondsm]

Sorry it has taken so long. I couldn't get a picture with enough quality until now. She has hung in there. I haven't treated her with anything because I was afraid to give her the wrong thing. Hopefully it isn't too late but since I last posted it started going into her eyes and she had a lot of drainage. I thought she may go blind but now that has cleared up some and her eyes are clear again. You will notice in the picture her left nostril is still very crusted over and she is very thin. You will also see her feathers on her head are crusty from the drainage she was having. I wanted you all to see it before I give her a trim. Also, I never noticed a smell. In the beginning she had the mound on her nostril that I mistakenly removed thinking it was just dirt and she had a crater with a large chunky piece that came out. Originally I thought Coryza but after reading more forums and researching I am leaning towards wet fowl pox (they did have dry fowl pox early in the spring). Also, I notice the spots on her comb. Thank you to all of those that attempted to help me with this previously. I bought today duramyacin, a vitamin/electrolyte powder, and de (in case it is worms). Please let me know what you guys think it is and if I should treat her with the items I bought today.

Thank you all in advance.

 

[dawg53]

Wet pox has canker like lesions in the mouth, larynx and trachea. It can cause respiratory distress by obstructing the upper air passages, affecting the chickens ability to swallow feed and water. It would starve to death. It can also spread to other birds. Since it's a virus, antibiotics are ineffective unless there are secondary infections. DE is useless as a wormer. The quality of life for your hen isnt going to get better if it's wet pox. I recommend that you cull her.

 

[lemondsm]

Thanks Dawg53. Based on what I have described do you think it is wet pox, coryza or something completely different? If she doesn't have any lesions in her throat would you say she doesn't have wet fowl pox (hopefully she will let me look)? If it gets to the point I need to cull her (which I haven't had to do yet but know it is one of the downsides we must all must face at some point while raising chickens) how do you recommend I do that? What is the quickest most humane way?

 

[dawg53]

Coryza infected birds usually have a fowl odor about the head area including nostrils. The bottom line is that she has a respiratory disease (wet pox included.) She will remain a carrier and spread the disease to other birds, even after treatment. There are many ways to cull. IMO the quickest, easiest and painless way (for the bird) is a .22 bullet to the head.

 

[lemondsm]

Thanks Dawg53. The only gun we have is a .410 shotgun. Do you have any other suggestions? I don't notice a smell...well she smells like a chicken. I couldn't catch her to look in her throat yet. I am going to try to catch her tonight while she is roosting.

 

[flowerchild59]

You might want to take her in for necropsy at the state vet lab. They will be able to tell you what is the issue or infection and then you will know for sure.