Thanks for responding. I know that looking down the throat isn't a definitive for ruling out gape worms. Please allow me to clarify, I examined my affected birds and they didn't show signs of worms in droppings or in their throats. Their symptoms lead me to believe they are suffering with either a virus or bacterial respiratory infection. They were free ranging when this onset. I have a large 300ft run attached to a barn/coop where I am keeping them now, but previously due to their egg time out- let them run all over the for several weeks. Woods, horse paddock, dirt road, grassy fields and all. Wherever they wanted to go they went and came home to roost. Now they are laying again so I have brought them into a fenced area but it's almost free range since it's such a massive run.
Symptoms started little more than a week ago and are:
Lt. Dan (rooster 1) started sneezing but I didn't make much of it except a mental note. I figured they scratch with their beaks in the dust all the time, so it could be nothing. Except the sneezing got gradually more frequent for another day or so and was then followed by a bark. I realized that bark was actually some kind of cough. I noticed he would extend his neck and make what looked like a choking or crop clearing motion also. No drainage or discharge was seen at that point. But later he was mouth breathing in the roost, this wasn't constant though and its been warm here in Florida. He's a black Americuana. Other symptoms which followed was raspy vocals, and more gagging motions with gurgling sounds, and both nasal and eye discharge. An exam of the mouth reveals excessive amounts of clear mucosal excretions.
2nd Victim was The General (roo#2, alpha roo) at this point his came on fast. He sneezed and coughed the first day, but by the second day even with Tylan 50 1ml dosed at first symptoms day before; he is experiencing copious amounts of clear mucus in his mouth, throat, adding his eyes and nose are draining profusely also. He can't even crow and is choking on mucus when he tries. His pride is hurt, and I dosed him again with Tylan, but I am starting to fear this is a viral issue. I haven't vaccinated my flock because I was under the impression from a local farm store that there isn't much need to do so. However after speaking with other poultry hobbiests and breeders, this isn't true. In fact one fairly local breeder had an outbreak of coryza last year. Now I'm worried. I have a dozen chicks at 5-6weeks old, and some hatching this weekend. Aside from the babies my flock ranges in age from 6 months to almost 2 years old, 13 total in my flock not counting the chicks- which I was planning on selling half. The babies are already out in the coop with supplemental light as they need. They've done great and 1 hen has adopted them almost half time.
They seem to be fairly normal in behavior aside from not being able to sound off- roo crowing in the morning and such. They are still chasing the ladies, but 1 of my ladies started having nasal drainage and cough so I dosed her with tylan also.
I haven't been able to locate a local vet that deals with poultry yet. I wonder if I should vaccinate at this point, and what should I vaccinate for? Should I change meds since Tylan isn't working? Yesterday I did a major coop/barn deep clean. I broke out the sprayer, dish soap, scrub brush, bleach, and went to town. I replaced all bedding after cleaning. We use barn lime and hay for the floor. I sprayed essential oils of lavender, lemongrass, tea tree, cedarwood, and peppermint to freshen things up a little more and kill anything else that might be left.
They get a rotation of water each week. Day 1 is vitamin water, Day 2 is apple cider vinegar water, Day 3 is probiotic water, and repeat and so forth. They have PVC pipe feeders with layer crumbles, scratch, extra grains and seeds mix, and oyster shells and a dish of grit.
What would y'all do next? Change meds? Dose everyone even if they aren't symptomatic? Vaccines? Help please.
