I've resigned to the fact that there is something serious going on in my flock. I've lost many, many birds in my short time with poultry. My gut says MG, but with the seemingly endless number of diseases out there with similar symptoms..who knows. I will find somewhere eventually to have them tested, but I'm really not sure where to go for that here.
I don't even know where to start.. Overall, my flock (currently roughly 35 chickens in the big coop outside and a half dozen youngsters still inside in the brooder) appears healthy. A sneeze here and there, maybe some nasal discharge. Then one random day, someone's eye(s) and sinus area will swell up like a grape, eyes swelled shut. Sometimes I can get an off-whitish, thick cheesy (pus?) to squeeze out, other times nothing comes out. I've noticed my silkies were extremely susceptible to this as I've lost almost every silkie I've owned to it. Once the eyes swell, I know it's just a matter of a day or so before they die. I've had others die (my favorite modern game today, for example) with absolutely no symptoms. I don't know if this is related or a separate incident, but I have one bird (NN cockerel) who one day went lame in one leg with no apparent reason why. It's been a couple months and he still won't use the leg, although there is no injury, swelling, heat, apparent breaks, etc. Therefore, he now lives indoors. For the record, this seems to affect (so far) only the young (under laying age) birds. My grown layers, although they are with the others 24/7, are seemingly unaffected. I've never heard so much as a sneeze from them. Also, there are a dozen or so ducks who usually share a run with the chickens during the day and are cooped separately, but in the same coop (the big coop is divided in half by plywood and fencing) who are also seemingly unaffected. Yesterday, I noticed one of my EE/OE girls (Rupie, 5 months old) with a severely swollen eye that obviously causes her discomfort. Knowing from experience that she may die was the final straw. She was my first hatch and I'm very attached to her. I lost two of her sisters a few days ago after their feet froze solid (frostbite?) and they couldn't recover despite the feet regaining mobility.
I've gone to TSC numerous times with a list of medications I found here on BYC, but every time TSC has been out of all. Go figure. The birds get, especially when one is affected, ACV in their water occasionally, fresh garlic occasionally, VetRx, Poly-Vi-Sol and poultry vitamins/electrolytes to affected birds.
Obviously, I know I'll need medical testing to establish a definite diagnosis, but I'm hoping in the meantime someone here can offer some insight. I found this handy treatment list here on BYC, but it's left me more confused than enlightened. I see roughly 20 medications there for MG (assuming that's what I've got going on)! Which are "the best"? I'm going to run again to TSC here in just a couple of hours to see if they have anything in stock.
Also, I should mention that I do quarantine new birds and have never noticed any illness brought in. Of course I could have overlooked something. And there are MANY wild birds on the property out here (over 100 acres out in the boonies) that get into the run. Since it's snowed, I've noticed bird tracks everywhere inside and just yesterday morning I found a young sparrow dead in the run.
I know I'll get a lot of "cull" suggestions, but that is not an option for me. And it won't be until it's pertinent to the well-being of my birds. These birds are family to me. They each have a name and a special place in my heart. I'd rather never let a bird leave these premises and spend big $ to treat them for the remainder of their lives than kill them.
I don't even know where to start.. Overall, my flock (currently roughly 35 chickens in the big coop outside and a half dozen youngsters still inside in the brooder) appears healthy. A sneeze here and there, maybe some nasal discharge. Then one random day, someone's eye(s) and sinus area will swell up like a grape, eyes swelled shut. Sometimes I can get an off-whitish, thick cheesy (pus?) to squeeze out, other times nothing comes out. I've noticed my silkies were extremely susceptible to this as I've lost almost every silkie I've owned to it. Once the eyes swell, I know it's just a matter of a day or so before they die. I've had others die (my favorite modern game today, for example) with absolutely no symptoms. I don't know if this is related or a separate incident, but I have one bird (NN cockerel) who one day went lame in one leg with no apparent reason why. It's been a couple months and he still won't use the leg, although there is no injury, swelling, heat, apparent breaks, etc. Therefore, he now lives indoors. For the record, this seems to affect (so far) only the young (under laying age) birds. My grown layers, although they are with the others 24/7, are seemingly unaffected. I've never heard so much as a sneeze from them. Also, there are a dozen or so ducks who usually share a run with the chickens during the day and are cooped separately, but in the same coop (the big coop is divided in half by plywood and fencing) who are also seemingly unaffected. Yesterday, I noticed one of my EE/OE girls (Rupie, 5 months old) with a severely swollen eye that obviously causes her discomfort. Knowing from experience that she may die was the final straw. She was my first hatch and I'm very attached to her. I lost two of her sisters a few days ago after their feet froze solid (frostbite?) and they couldn't recover despite the feet regaining mobility.
I've gone to TSC numerous times with a list of medications I found here on BYC, but every time TSC has been out of all. Go figure. The birds get, especially when one is affected, ACV in their water occasionally, fresh garlic occasionally, VetRx, Poly-Vi-Sol and poultry vitamins/electrolytes to affected birds.
Obviously, I know I'll need medical testing to establish a definite diagnosis, but I'm hoping in the meantime someone here can offer some insight. I found this handy treatment list here on BYC, but it's left me more confused than enlightened. I see roughly 20 medications there for MG (assuming that's what I've got going on)! Which are "the best"? I'm going to run again to TSC here in just a couple of hours to see if they have anything in stock.
Also, I should mention that I do quarantine new birds and have never noticed any illness brought in. Of course I could have overlooked something. And there are MANY wild birds on the property out here (over 100 acres out in the boonies) that get into the run. Since it's snowed, I've noticed bird tracks everywhere inside and just yesterday morning I found a young sparrow dead in the run.
I know I'll get a lot of "cull" suggestions, but that is not an option for me. And it won't be until it's pertinent to the well-being of my birds. These birds are family to me. They each have a name and a special place in my heart. I'd rather never let a bird leave these premises and spend big $ to treat them for the remainder of their lives than kill them.
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