EMERGENCY! Please help befor its too late!

[Sonoran Silkies]

It depends on what it is; in general most respiratory infections are fairly contageous. Do you have ANY antibiotics on hand?

 

[Chickiezz]

Nope, not on me. I have something to put in there water(I can never think of the name...!) but thats it. I know I should have some on hand,and I was getting some this payday since there has been some sickness. I am heading over to TSC or PBS if they don't have first thing in the morning,since they are closed.

 

[Chickiezz]

So should I separate her from the flock...if you think she is contagious? Should I bring her inside? What will I do if she survives,and she is well,but still may be contagious? Should I build or put her in a temporary cage/coop?

 

[Chickiezz]

Okay I am heading outside to check up on her. So if I do not respond immediately you know why. Check back tho is 20-30 mins.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
I thought you already had her seperated??? She needs to be alone and warm, not in a coop.

 

[Chickiezz]

No not yet. I don't know where to put her with all the animals inside. Can I just put her in a box with a heat lamp by her?

 

[roostercruiser]

The bloody discharge is the key to what you have said. No other diseases cause the bloody discharge.

Coryza (previously known as things like a cold or roup) is caused by bacteria called Heamophilus paragallinarum, which primarily attacks the upper respiratory system, including the nasal passages. Swelling of the face, wheezing, sneezing, nasal discharge, conjunctivitis (including ‘bubbles’ at the corner of the eye), eyes glued shut, and open-mouth breathing are some of the more common symptoms. And they may appear singly or in various combinations. But the most telltale symptom is the unmistakable odor that is generated from the nasal discharge. Once you’ve smelled this odor, you’ll identify it every time. Additional symptoms unrelated to breathing can be a drop in production, reduction in fertility, diarrhea, and a decrease in water consumption. Although not as common, if rales are detected, then it is safe to assume that the lower respiratory tract is involved as well.

Coryza can be chronic in nature or acute, and youngsters tend to suffer from less severe cases than the adults. The acute cases are spread rapidly and death can occur within hours to days of the first symptoms. The incubation period is from 24 to 48 hours, which is considered relatively short. The chronic disease can last a lifetime in your flock, passing from one bird to the other until your entire flock has been exposed. Once a flock has been exposed to Coryza, survivors are considered reservoirs of infection (carriers), whether they had outward physical symptoms or not.



Infectious Bronchitis (or IB) is a common viral disease of the Coronaviridae. Coronaviruses are typically specie-specific and IBV only effects chickens. Waterfowl kept in the same housing as an infected chicken flock are not at risk. It would also be extremely rare to find a chicken IB virus isolation within other poultry such as turkeys, etc.

The primary target of the IB virus is the trachea, which results in tracheal rales (rattling), but also includes such symptoms as coughing, sneezing, chirping, and a loss or reduction in egg production. Less common symptoms include a nasal discharge and wet eyes. Some sinus swelling may also occur but this is rare and usually only seen in very young chicks. In some hens, you may also find a fluid (yolk) buildup in the abdomen. Not all birds will show symptoms. But ALL birds will have the virus.

In a more virulent strain, IB can attack the kidneys and in these cases, the bird will typically show no upper respiratory symptoms but will become drooped (tail down). In these cases, death is almost certain within 24 hours and there is almost nothing you can do to reverse the kidney failure. Another possibility that includes the kidneys is if the bird recovers the initial upper respiratory symptoms, but then fails later due to kidney damage that was caused by the virus. The virulent strain that attacks the kidneys can usually be confirmed by necropsy with the finding of kidneys that are swollen and pale. It is not uncommon to have more than one strain of IB infect the same flock at the same time.

Infectious bronchitis is highly contagious and its rate of spread can sometimes be used as a strong determination of which of the various diseases a flock has when upper respiratory symptoms occur. It would not be uncommon for the entire coop to be infected within 24-48 hours. If a bird on one end of your coop shows severe upper respiratory symptoms one day, and a bird on the very opposite end becomes ill within 24 hours, chances are that you are dealing with IBV. Exposure usually occurs from aerosolized virus particles that are put out into the coop air by sick birds. The virus has also been known to travel approximately 1,200 yards on the wind. However, initial infection is probably caused by one of two routes – exposure to a sick bird at a poultry show or swap or exposure to a carrier that comes into your coop that has come from another flock that is either currently ill or was very recently ill. Although a carrier state has been confirmed with IB, it is not the primary source of infection since the shedding of virus post infection lessens with time, and it is even possible to produce IB-free chicks from infected hens.

 

[Chickiezz]

Thanks everyone.

 

[horseyjess]

Quote:
I know this sounds odd but my utility sink becomes my chicken hospital. I have a cut screen that I put over the top and then I have some clamps that I use to clamp the screen on. I use the towel rack to hang the light on. That helps keep the chicken in if it starts feeling better and the cats out! Good luck hope all is working out for you!