Coryza or MG? Need advice, large flock

[Whitnicrob]

No, you cannot get antibiotics now, at least that are water soluble, and they would not do any good anyway. They don't cure Coryza. I don't know about the goats, sorry. My only solution is to cull the birds that show symptoms, disinfect every blessed thing and hope the others did not catch it, but watch for symptoms and cull as needed. You'll always be having to be careful of clothes and shoes and can never let a bird leave your property if you keep a sick carrier bird.

I’ve been stressing and obsessing about this all day. I’m happy to cull the definite carrier bird. The Maran above. The one duck was coughing a lot this morning but nothing this evening. The other duck seems to have lost her voice.

I’m really not sure if the ducks are showing symptoms or if they were doing these things before the ill bird arrived.

Is there anything this could be that isn’t a death sentence for my flock? I wouldn’t even know where to start on sanitizing since they free range. I don’t think it would even be possible.

I think I would break my children’s heart if I culled the Ducks.

This sucks. It sounds like they are just going to drop like flies.

I’m thinking the other two birds from the ladies farm need to be culled, symptoms or not, and maybe just isolate the ducks to the other side of the property?

 

[Whitnicrob]

If the ducks have a respiratory infection I don't think it's Coryza, because I don't think ducks get Coryza. I asked if a vet is an option because a vet could look at a nasal swab under the scope which would help in choosing an antibiotic.

I don't know what I would do if I were in your shoes. You could try an antibiotic like Baytril, and if it's a bacterial respiratory infection, that will probably help. The problem with Baytril is it's banned for use in poultry. Lots of us use it, and many vets still prescribe it, so read about the ban before you buy it.

No prescription needed

• https://allbirdproducts.com/products/baytril-10#:~:text=1 The easiest way to give Baytril to,of water for your Birds. More items...
• https://ladygouldianfinch.com/product_baytril.php

Does is 0.068 ml per pound of bodyweight twice a day for 3-5 days.


Another option is to send a sample to this lab:
https://zoologix.com/avian/Datasheets/PoultryRespiratoryPanel.htm
They will test for:
Avian influenza
Aspergillus fumigatus
Bordetella avium
Infectious bronchitis
Infectious laryngotracheitis
Infectious coryza
Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale
Mycoplasma gallisepticum

There is a vet that will see chickens but they couldn’t tell me if they could test for those things specifically.

I think Texas A&M does all the laboratory testing but I haven’t got a clue how that works. I’m not sure if they deal with the public or are just a lab that works with Vets. I’ve been trying to figure that out all day.

The reason I suspected Coryza over MG is because the ill pullet has a odd smell. It’s not pungent or horrid, just kind of nasty. I assumed it was from being cooped instead of free range like my birds.

The ill pullet feels underweight. I see no bubbles in her eyes, but the one is watery. I see what looks like clear liquid coming from her nose possibly and she’s not as energetic as normal for this age. She is eating an drinking fine, and her other eye is clear as day.

The ducks have been in the goat house pen, because it was all we had to separate them.That’s currently the dustiest area of our property, and the ducks had just come out of there when they were making the noises, but one duck has lost its quack.

I walked out just now and noticed one of my oldest hens (1.5) sneezing and appeared to spit something out of her mouth.

I’m pretty sure I’m screwed.

 

[Whitnicrob]

I'm thinking that you're probably overthinking what your ducks are doing/not doing.

The bird pictured above is obviously sick but maybe you're just paranoid that your ducks got sick and they did not.

Gosh I hope so, my kids are so attached. The ducks were in the coop with the sick bird at night though. So of all the birds that may be sick, they would be exposed. The coop sits in the free range yard but they don’t share food or water and for the most part the ducks had separate bowls too. I do think they may have tried to drink out of the chick water but would have been hard.

 

[Whitnicrob]

Don't deal with the vet. It's better and cheaper to deal straight with the lab. The lab will deal with you.

Thank you! I will call them tomorrow. Ps I think you helped me learn to hatch, nice to see your name again. Y’all are so helpful.

 

[casportpony]

Is a vet an option?

 

[casportpony]

Is there anything this could be that isn’t a death sentence for my flock? I wouldn’t even know where to start on sanitizing since they free range. I don’t think it would even be possible.

Not all respiratory infections are contagious, sometimes they just inhale some poopy water. I had one like that a couple of years ago, a peachick, and he was the only one in the brooder that got sick. Gave Baytril and he was 100% better in 48 hours.

 

[speckledhen]

Of course, I can't tell you what is going on with your flock for certain and I know nothing about ducks. Bubbles in the eyes can on rare occasion be a secondary bacterial infection to something else or be from an injury, but you have to determine that. The fact that you added new birds without a real quarantine tells me there is a contagion going on, most likely. Some people do cull symptomatic birds and just watch the rest, don't allow others to leave the property from then on out, maybe in the future have them tested. That is a decision that is entirely yours.

 

[Whitnicrob]

Figured I would post an update. I’ve found a lab that will test, but we decided to immediately cull the original ill bird and it’s brooder mates (as they all came from the same farm). We are hoping that by eliminating the possible carrier birds we safe our flock.

The one duck completely stopped coughing today. The second duck looks like she’s maybe dealing more with gapeworm. Holding her mouth wide, extending her neck, shaking her head. The two ducks are in quarantine.
I’ve seen other signs of worms, and have had safeguard on hand in prep, so I figure since the birds are in lockdown, no better time to worm.

Thank you all for your replies. I really appreciate it.
Culling my babies broke my heart, but I felt it was the best decision for my flock, who all have names and are loved.