Cull it? A sneezy chicken?

[mkwags]

I have a Mille Fleur bantam hen. She has been sneezy, like constantly since beginning of May or so. I noticed recently she has a slight runny nose. You look at her and she just looks like she has a bad cold, her coloring seems lighter in the head area. I have never seperated her from the rest of my hens. No one else has this sneeze etc... I am wondering after reading on here, what to do. I hear from some there is nothing to do medicine wise that will actually cure her, and that I should just cull her. Really? Please share your thoughts and advice. I really appreciate your help.

 

[Southernbelle]

I choose to cull, especially if she's been like that for so long. Chickens don't get "colds" and most of the respiratory diseases make them carriers even if they do get over it. Hens can even pass the disease through their eggs. Are your other chickens showing any symptoms?

 

[chicmom]

That's not really true--there is something you can do for her. I had a hen, and EE and one of my favorites who developed a cold last fall. She was sneezing, and her breathing sounded very mucousy, and she had puffed up all her feathered and wasn't very active. This seemed to happen overnight.

So what I did was, I isolated her, like you have, and I put duramayacin powder and vitamin/electrolite powder in her water, and just kept her food handy. I also ran a vaporizer on her with vicks in it. I really though she was just going to die, but she didn't. She was in my "chicken hospital" in my basement for about three weeks, I returned her to the flock and she's still goin' strong today!

I did notice others in my flock sneezing, but still active, so I put the same stuff in their water for 10 days. All is well now! If this is a favorite chicken of yours, or you're just a bit fond of her, why not try it. You can buy the duramayacin powder and the vitamins/electrolites from TSC, and they're in packets--only a few dollars for each.

Good luck with your hen!

Sharon

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Quote:
So, it sounds like now all of the birds in your flock are probably carriers. It spread, so it wasnt a cold, chickens dont get them. They get respiratory diseases and remain carriers if they recover.

 

[mkwags]

To be more clear, the sneezer is still with all my other hens. No one else acts like her. I am hoping for more posts saying cull or not. Sounds like I should cull because chickens don't get colds, but become carriers or this forever?

 

[chicmom]

Quote:
So, it sounds like now all of the birds in your flock are probably carriers. It spread, so it wasnt a cold, chickens dont get them. They get respiratory diseases and remain carriers if they recover.

My flock is very healthy, and I've added at least three batches of new chicks that have grown to adults with no problems. My chicks all come from a nice hatchery, and they are vaccinated for Mareks. I think you are wrong. Sorry to dispute but my flock is gorgous, and all the new chicks are perfectly fine.

 

[mkwags]

chickmom, thanks for your thoughts, do you get your medicine from a feedstore? I don't know what TSC is.

 

[chicmom]

Quote:
OH, I'm sorry! I get my meds from TSC, which is the Tractor Supply Store.....like a farm store.

I'm really surprised that she's been sick for a month now, and your other chickens are OK. I would separate her if I was you. Don't get me wrong, culling is OK, if that's what you want to do.

It's just that I'm happy that I made Shirley better, and you wouldn't find a healthier flock. I've added to my flock at least twice, and had no problems with the new chicks becoming ill.


Good luck--whatever you decide.

Sharon

 

[kelar]

It sounds like your hen has a mycoplasma which from what I've read, has been found in nearly 100% of all backyard flocks in the country. Commerical producers have eliminated the problem for the most part through vaccination and the all in/all out operation. Chickens with mycoplasma do carry the virus & will show symptoms when stressed which is usually sneezing, slight fall in production & sometimes other respiratory symptoms. I personally do NOT believe in culling because chances are, it will show up again and I think you are fighting a losing battle when you have a mixed age flock. However, there is a drug that is not approved for poultry in the US that will kill mycoplasma called Denagard. It's a swine pneumonia treatment and IS used for poultry in the UK. For a bird showing symptoms, dose at 15 cc. per gallon of water for up to a month or until symptoms cease. As a preventative, I dose all my birds one week per month at the rate of 8 cc. per gallon. Some feed stores may carry Denagard, but the cheapest place to get it is online.

 

[MotherJean]

The last time I opened this can of worms, I swore I'd never do it again, but since you asked....

I choose to treat with antibiotics and cull when they don't respond to treatment or I believe the bird is suffering needlessly. That being said, I try very hard not to inflict what might be my bad decision on any other person's flock. I don't sell or give away my birds. I don't take them to poultry shows. I don't sell my eggs for consumption or hatching. And, I don't go around any other person's birds wearing the same clothes and shoes I wore while caring for my birds. On the flip side of that coin, I don't allow my poultry friends to mess about in my coop or run and I have a strict "look, but don't touch" policy for visitors.