Do chickens get colds? UPDATE

[Suzie]

If you suspect a respiratory disease then you would need to treat all of your flock...bear in mind that if they have respiratory disease then they will be carriers for life...never sell any of your birds to any one else as they can infect others....if you wish to treat your birds then I suggest you purchase an antibiotic such as Baytril or Oxytetracycline...

You should have redress with this "breeder"...the very least they can offer to do is pay for the treatment your birds will need...maybe name and shame them too....nobody should have to suffer from irresponsible "breeders"...

I really feel for you ...you are the victim of this awful situation...best of luck in whatever you decide to do...

 

[cafarmgirl]

So now I am freaking out. Does this mean that I have to separate the ones showing signs and only treat them, or treat the whole flock? What do I treat them with? I am quite sure this came from the breeder, who I just spoke to and she has had it happen to her birds before. Does this mean that every bird on her property has the potential to be a carrier? I find it hard to believe that a breeder could never sell any birds again

I would separate and treat the ones showing symptoms. I personally do not treat birds that show no signs of illness. I have used Baytril 10% as well as Tylan 50.

Yes, your breeder potentially has many carrier birds on her property. And no, this does not mean a breeder will never sell birds again. As you can see from your own experience many such breeders continue to sell birds even though they are fully aware they have a problem in their flock. They may simply do so with full knowledge of what they are doing or they may be ignorant/uninformed of these diseases.

 

[speckledhen]

So now I am freaking out. Does this mean that I have to separate the ones showing signs and only treat them, or treat the whole flock? What do I treat them with? I am quite sure this came from the breeder, who I just spoke to and she has had it happen to her birds before. Does this mean that every bird on her property has the potential to be a carrier? I find it hard to believe that a breeder could never sell any birds again

And this is the problem, unethical breeders who simply DON'T CARE about your flock. They have lots of $$$ tied up and rather than lose that, they treat to hide symptoms and sell carrier birds to unsuspecting folks like yourself. Also, if she admitted it's happened to her, she has a carrier disease in her flock. And no, she should NOT sell birds to anyone, knowing they are carriers of whatever, mycoplasmosis, coryza or whatever, but she probably does not want to cull, disinfect and start over because it hits her in the wallet. It's very common for this to happen, unfortunately. She's either unethical or ignorant about disease.

Snot is NOT normal. I've never, ever seen snot on a bird in my life here. None here have ever had contagious respiratory disease but, I am very, very strict in what I do. I never buy birds from anyone, not even folks I do trust. All are hatched here or from breeders (real breeders, not propagators-anyone can call themselves a breeder, but most really aren't) who don't treat birds, they euthanize them if they show signs of contagious respiratory illness. If it can be determined that it is situational pneumonia or a fungal infection, those are not contagious and can be treated, but anything that causes actual snot would be more ominous.

Even if you treat those birds, they are never cured. They are carriers. You can't fix that once something like mycoplasmosis rears its ugly head. First thing everyone should do is quarantine newly purchased birds for at least 4-6 weeks, preferably longer. If signs like you describe show up during a quarantine, they should be culled, never added to your flock. That's the purpose of quarantine, though even quarantine is not perfect. I know of a lady who quarantined a rooster from an NPIP certified breeder for 3 months. He was a carrier of Infectious Laryngotracheitis and when the state tested her now ill flock, they came and culled all of her birds, that's how terrible that disease is, plus the other NPIP breeder she got him from is in hot water now. So, quarantine is good, but up to a point. I'd never skip it, though.

All that said, the only way to know for sure is have the state vet or another vet test a bird. That means if it dies or it is culled, refrigerate then get it to the lab by the following day if possible. Chickens begin to decompose very quickly.

 

[StephensonC]

I'm so sorry you are having respiratory issues with your flock. I am dealing with the same thing. My rooster shakes his head and he and his flockmate hens are having a small amount of watery sinus drainage. I guess when the original affected one drinks from the waterer, the sinus drainage washes off their beak and gets into the water. Then each one that comes along and drinks that same water, is also taking in the sinus drainage as well, thus infecting them too. That's why it's important to separate and quarantine new or sick birds. I have been treating mine with antibiotics for 3 days so far. I have also used some VetRx on the roosters beak, because he is wheezing a little also. VetRx is an all natural liquid that kinda smells like vicks vapor rub. It is used to break up some of the mucus that is causing congestion. I also use Apple Cidar Vinegar in their water occasionally. Yes culling means killing. At this time, I do not plan on culling my chickens. I just won't be adding any new ones to the flock. I don't breed, hatch or sell eggs.

 

[speckledhen]

I'm so sorry you are having respiratory issues with your flock. I am dealing with the same thing. My rooster shakes his head and he and his flockmate hens are having a small amount of watery sinus drainage. I guess when the original affected one drinks from the waterer, the sinus drainage washes off their beak and gets into the water. Then each one that comes along and drinks that same water, is also taking in the sinus drainage as well, thus infecting them too. That's why it's important to separate and quarantine new or sick birds. I have been treating mine with antibiotics for 3 days so far. I have also used some VetRx on the roosters beak, because he is wheezing a little also. VetRx is an all natural liquid that kinda smells like vicks vapor rub. It is used to break up some of the mucus that is causing congestion. I also use Apple Cidar Vinegar in their water occasionally. Yes culling means killing. At this time, I do not plan on culling my chickens. I just won't be adding any new ones to the flock. I don't breed, hatch or sell eggs.

Since you mentioned it, aside from your rooster's wheezing, which could be something sinister, for those who are not aware, clear sinus drainage is sometimes just water up the nose or comes when food got into the nares and they were trying to sneeze it out, then later, you see that clear fluid on the nares, but actual thick snot is a different animal altogether. That's a bad sign.

Thanks for your post!

 

[chickenchick99]

This is clear snot (one actually had a snot "bubble" like kids do!)
The breeder says that everyone on Vancouver Island has dealt with this, which would mean that she implies she has had sick birds, treated them and still sells birds from her property (hopefully not sick birds).
She gave me Tylan, but it says right on the bottle not to use for laying hens, although for meat birds you have to wait 24 hrs before slaughter, which to me would mean that it clears out of their system. Supposedly there is lots of controversy online over this. Is it ok to use Tylan? And should I put it in the waterer and treat the whole flock?
I have never quarantined any birds although I have amassed 25 over 3 months. Lesson learned.

 

[hennible]

@casportpony might be someone to ask... She knows her meds.

 

[hammytammy]

cafarmgirl is right
and from what i understand, when the Infectious Bronchitis Virus runs its course in a chicken, thats the end of it. chickens do not remain "contagious" or become carriers of IBV after an acute infection.
but, then there can be complications - resulting in Chronic Respiratory Disease.

lots of other resp illnesses ARE carried non-symptomatically for the chickens whole life.

if your flock gets IBV, lets hope it is a mild and acute form. serious oviduct damage can occur from IBV.

an alternative source of infection for a new chicken in your flock, is that the bird got the illness from your "existing" flock. you may have viral carriers
that were sick before you brought them home. i personally feel that this may be the case in backyard flocks that have chickens coming and going casually.

i have crash coursed respiratory illnesses this past month and have culled a bird.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps039

tammy

 

[speckledhen]

cafarmgirl is right
and from what i understand, when the Infectious Bronchitis Virus runs its course in a chicken, thats the end of it. chickens do not remain "contagious" or become carriers of IBV after an acute infection.
but, then there can be complications - resulting in Chronic Respiratory Disease.

lots of other resp illnesses ARE carried non-symptomatically for the chickens whole life.

if your flock gets IBV, lets hope it is a mild and acute form. serious oviduct damage can occur from IBV.

an alternative source of infection for a new chicken in your flock, is that the bird got the illness from your "existing" flock. you may have viral carriers
that were sick before you brought them home. i personally feel that this may be the case in backyard flocks that have chickens coming and going casually.

i have crash coursed respiratory illnesses this past month and have culled a bird.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps039

tammy

Well, that's not entirely correct about the carrier status, but I think it's limited. Here is an article about IB and it states:
Quote: From a series of really good articles. http://www.shagbarkbantams.com/ib.htm


And from another article:

Quote:
http://poultrykeeper.com/respiratory-problems/infectious-bronchitis


From the Merck Veterinary Manual, which should be the most reliable source, but at least all say there is some chance of a carrier state.
http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/pou...view_of_infectious_bronchitis_in_poultry.html
Quote:

All that said, it's impossible to tell for sure if the bird has IB or Mycoplasmosis without a test. Symptoms are way too similar.

 

[hammytammy]

Speckled Hen ,

your knowledge is well known as respected.

now im uncertain about my conclusions and will reassess them.

thats best. better safe than sorry right?
thanks
tammy