Does a chicken who has had Coryza ALWAYS carry the bacteria for ALL it’s life? Looking for some positive.

[dawg53]

Unfortunately chickens can be infected by 2 or more diseases at once, for example; Coryza and MG infected birds are very common. IB and MG etc...
Additionally MG is passed through eggs as well as IB.

 

[Raeganmh02]

Good evening! A bit of an update... The vet I contacted has not gotten back with me about testing, I’m hoping he will tonight or tomorrow morning! Another hen came down with it today. I was feeding them this morning and noticed the side of her beak looked like it was “stuffed” with something. Sure enough, I opened her beak and there were lesions starting to form on the one side. I’m so worried that every single one of them will get it. My only hope is that it could be wet pox or IB (a virus would be better than an infectious bacteria). This hen has no sign of respiratory distress at all. I was thinking of separating my two favorite hens (8 month old Dominiques) to try to avoid them getting it, but my mom said that they have already been exposed, and it probably wouldn’t make a difference. I suppose separating them would just stress them out, and if they have already been exposed it would make things worse. What do you guys suggest? Is the whole flock already exposed to the point where they either can fight off the bacteria or get infected? I’m hoping the young ones can fight it off if they have already been exposed. So far it seems to only being affecting the 4-year-olds. I’ve only got one young one that I “thought” had a strange ting to it’s breath, but I think that’s just me stressing too much (she has a bit of a puffed eye from a peck wound). I am sorry for all the long and desperate posts.

 

[dawg53]

The hen with the lesions in her mouth...open her mouth and smell her breath/mouth. Let us know if there is a foul odor. If there is a foul odor, it is canker and not wet fowl pox and will require an altogether different treatment.

 

[Raeganmh02]

It does have a fowl smell (like the others did). That rotten egg smell. I’ve heard Canker is similar to Coryza, and it seems a tad less serious. I read that birds are 80% likely to carry the bacteria with Canker vs 100% with Coryza. I guess I won’t know until I get them tested. I just feel it’s odd that the last couple of sick ones aren’t showing any signs of respiratory distress or runny noses/eyes, which are some main symptoms of Coryza.

 

[dawg53]

It does have a fowl smell (like the others did). That rotten egg smell. I’ve heard Canker is similar to Coryza, and it seems a tad less serious. I read that birds are 80% likely to carry the bacteria with Canker vs 100% with Coryza. I guess I won’t know until I get them tested. I just feel it’s odd that the last couple of sick ones aren’t showing any signs of respiratory distress or runny noses/eyes, which are some main symptoms of Coryza.

Canker is a protozoa, Coryza is a bacteria. Six to one, half a dozen the other. Canker makes birds carriers for life, like Coryza. However, with lesions forming in the mouth, it can spread down into the esophagus and into the crop.
Here's how to treat canker, see post #2 in this link:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/canker.1416647/#post-23269135

 

[Raeganmh02]

Happy New Years everyone! So my vet got back with me, and said he would do a deep throat swab that they would then “send off”, and the cost would be $60. Since I asked for A specific Coryza test, I’m assuming that the test won't include any other possible testing for other respiratory sickness. I am okey with that. I suppose if the test comes back “negative”, I will find a way to get them tested for MG or anything else they may have. I’m still praying they have a virus or possibly cankers instead, but I have a game plan for whatever happens.

 

[Eggcessive]

You can get testing for 8 different respiratory diseases here:
http://www.zoologix.com/avian/Datasheets/PoultryRespiratoryPanel.htm

I have not used this lab, but they will send you several swabs to collect yourself, and send back in for about $90. I think they will do one test for about $60. They can explain how it works if you contact them.

 

[Myrshine]

Canker also is chronic and birds remain carriers, only diseases that they don’t remain carriers are Aspergillosis, Ecoli and Infectious Bronchitis Virus.

 

[Raeganmh02]

Good Evening everyone! I thought I’d send another update. I did my own culture swab sample this morning and took it to my veterinarian, who said he would ship it off for me. I swabbed a 4 year old leghorn hen who most recently came down with it and has the lesions in her beak (some don’t, some do...the symptoms in each bird vary so much!) I noticed some of my 8 month Dominique hens were somewhat “puffy” around the eye, so I am attaching some images (One for each different hen) so you can see what I mean. I am thinking it is just from older hens pecking, because these hens aren’t showing any other symptom at all. In the images, peck marks around the eye are noticeable. The last image is of a hen that had bumps/ pecks all around her eye a week ago that I assumed was wet pox, but when I applied some vaseline to them they started healing right away. I apologize if I’m being over the top tedious...my “protective chicken mom” gene is sort of out of control right now
Thousand thanks to everyone for their advice and patience!!!

 

[Raeganmh02]

The test came back positive, which is sadly what I thought. I’m pretty bummed, I was really hoping it would be something else. Now I just have to figure out what to do. I’ve got the 7 infected ones separated, and I am treating my rooster with antibiotics. I’m wondering if Coryza always causes a hen to be a poor layer. Part of me wants to keep my roo and just move on since I don’t sell my chicks or chickens, but if this sickness is going to cause me a bunch of harm and hassle In the future (and a permanent drop in egg production) then I’d rather just cull the infected ones. It also stinks because I’m not sure which ones might have it in my “healthy coop” still. None are showing any symptoms of obvious respiratory distress, but there is a huge drop in egg production. I’m getting only one egg a day out of 8 young Dominiques. I suppose this could also be a result of them molting. Any further advice would be much appreciated.