Coryza or ???

[phelpcd1]

Ok, I now realize I did a bad thing! I had an existing flock that seemed just fine (some are 3 yo) and I decided to add new members. I did not quarantine. I brought them in on a Friday, and then the following week on Saturday is when I first noticed a chicken with rattly wet-sounding breathing. She was "off", just sitting, eyes closed and swelled up, sinus swelling, not eating. I pulled her and separated to a "hospital" away from the rest. Then next day, I pulled 2 more. This past week, it seems that most of my chickens are getting this same thing - I found one dead yesterday. The 3 I have separated this week are not eating at all. They have clear discharge, and possibly yellowish discharge from the eyes - my white chicken has yellowing around there. Some are sneezing or coughing, can't really tell. Slinging clear stuff when they shake their head. It is quite obvious they are very ill and just wanting to sit and sleep. I suspect one of the new hens I got may have carried something in - I am suspecting Coryza, as the 3 locked up do stink, altho I'm not sure from what. Is Coryza something common?? From what I'm reading, it's not a nice thing to have, and culling all/starting over may be the best option. These are my layers and they've pretty much stopped laying this week too. I hate to do this, but I have no intention to inject antibiotics into my chickens over and over - I sell eggs. I also hate to see my poor chickens just miserable! Does anyone have experience or other suggestions for something like this? I will also say that my flock did get fowl pox last year (prob from a wild bird as we live in the middle of the country). And none of the new chickens seem to have anything wrong....yet. This is mostly happening to my older chickens.

 

[biophiliac]

@Wyorp Rock , @casportpony

Sorry for your trouble..

 

[ChuSayBok]

I posted a thread on my nightmare with this; if you aren't in it for the long haul, you probably want to cull (I haven't yet b/c I'm more stubborn than intelligent, obviously..) It's really bad. It doesn't supposedly pass through the eggs, but it seriously interferes with egg production, I have yet to find out how long.

 

[phelpcd1]

Oh no! It's that bad huh? My egg production has all but ceased. And I sell eggs!! I wish I had a certain diagnosis on this but we are going on a week and more just get sick and the others are not recovering. I wouldn't have a prob culling the older gals....Not that I want to but they are reaching the end of their egg days. But the new pullets I got would be upsetting! So does this affect turkeys or ducks? I have those also and they so far don't seem ill or different. But it's only been 2 weeks since I got the new chickens. I am just sick over this as I'm sure you are as well!

 

[ChuSayBok]

From what I've read, the necrotic smell is the hallmark of coryza. I quarantined mine as soon as I knew they were sick, but it had spread before the symptoms appeared. You can separate the sick birds from the not sick birds and keep acv in their water (some people advocate adding bleach as well) to keep it from spreading, but there is no guarantee. This is apparently becoming more and more common. The person I got my sick chicken(s?) from showed no symptoms when I got them and were sold to me by someone who was selling off all their stock and KNEW that at least some of them had been exposed prior. Of course I didn't know this until after it was too late. It's a painful expensive lesson. None of the people that I know personally who have chickens have ever dealt with it before, but it seems a great percentage of the threads started on here are over this illness right now.

 

[ChuSayBok]

On the bright side, whatever eggs you are still getting, you can still sell.. just plz don't sell exposed birds. =O

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry to hear you're having trouble.

Without testing, there is no way to know for sure what you are dealing with. If you can send one or two of your sickest birds to your state lab for testing, that would be a good idea. This will hopefully give you definitive answers so you can make plans on how you are going to move forward.

Even though all birds have been exposed(?), keeping the ones that show symptoms separated out is best. Try to keep the mucous cleared the best you can. Discharge in the eyes, should be removed, flush the eyes with saline and apply Terramycin eye ointment or Vetericyn eye gel. You can try treating with an antibiotic like injectable Tylan50 which can be found at most feed stores. If you have a vet that can prescribe something for them that would be better. Keep in mind that antibiotics will only treat any secondary infections and won't cure the disease.

Most respiratory diseases make sick, recovered and exposed birds carriers for life. Respiratory illnesses can impact egg production and quality as well, so this is something to consider.

Common poultry diseases:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

Necropsy labs:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahln/downloads/all_nahln_lab_list.pdf

 

[phelpcd1]

No way would I sell these chickens! I'm not even letting my neighbors walk on my property without knowing so they can wrap their shoes etc....They have flocks. Treating my 38 birds now is just not an option....I've also got goats, kid, career etc....I can't be constantly treating this. I may see if my vet can test to be sure. Thanks for the info!!! Tough decisions are ahead

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm very sorry.

Where are you located?

 

[phelpcd1]

Vets here don't know anything about chickens. I'm posting some pics here