Flock with respiratory issues!!!! Please Help.....................

[naturegirl]

I have a flock of several breeds of chickens, BO's, BA's, SLW, CW, NH, Cornish, Rocks, Brahmas, and Cochins all are standard size, 26 total. It has been very cold here, subzero at night and dailey high's of only 5-15. They have a coop lined with pine chips and straw, a small heat lamp. About half of my flock has a cough or sneeze there is no discharge. They are all eating and drinking fine. Egg production has pretty much come to a halt! I am only getting about 2-5 per week. (24 are hens) I was getting 10-18 per day last fall befor the weather turned. I am not sure what to medicate them with or if I should let it run it's coarse??... Any suggestions????????????

 

[Shared Acres]

They'll lay less in the winter, so that's not surprising.

What I've been told for respiratory issues:
Tylan 50 they have it at Tractor supply, give 2 drops per chicken per day. If bad, do it twice a day.

OR

Sulfadimethoxine, liquid form/oral solution. Put ONE tablespoon per gallon of water and give that to them for about 4-5 days. That is the easier way to go and really helps with bad respiratory issues. I got mine from First State Veterinary Supply, search for them online.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Contact a vet or your state ag office. They can test to see if it's a major or minor illness.

New York
518-457-3502
518-457-0689 (Dept of Env. Consv.)

 

[naturegirl]

I bought tylan 50 at Tractor supply last night, It says on the label it's for swine and cattle. It is also injectable. Do they sell water soluable tylan 50 or can they have that type in their water??

 

[PurpleChicken]

It can be used for chickens too however I do not know the concentration for oral usage.


I highly recommend contacting a vet or the number I gave you above. All you would need to do is have one of the infected birds tested to find out if they have MS or MG, which is all too common. If they have it then they become carriers and can infect other flocks. Do you go around other people's birds or do you have a closed flock?


Identify the disease, make a decision, then medicate.

 

[naturegirl]

I have a closed flock, But I do have 2 parrots, can they become infected?

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
That depends on what the birds have. To my knowledge parrots cannot catch most chicken diseases.

 

[naturegirl]

Thank you Purplechicken!!

 

[Shared Acres]

The Tylan 50 injectible is what I use. I just take a dropper and give them 1-2 drops (depending on side of bird). If they have an eye issue that is respiratory related you can put it directly in the eye instead.

I have mine NPIP tested every year, which I assume tests for what purple chicken is talking about.

 

[Katy]

Quote:
Depends on the state what all they test for.