Dried mud? Hmmmm sounds odd, likely some discharge that gets mixed with dust and dirt do you think? Sure hope the wee fella feels better![]()
That’s probably what happened
This is what I thought too, a nasal discharge. Jaffar has good and bad days, once in a while you mention his breathing has a gurgle sound, and I think you've said he coughs and sneezes. He's got to have some recurring problem going on, right? And I think you've treated him with antibiotics already.
So I've mentioned this before, but when you took Jaffar to the vet some time ago, did the vet look for air sac mites and rule it out? Ivermectin or moxidectin is the treatment, these are antiparasitics, aren't they, not antibiotics? This could be affecting your entire flock.
Take this all with a grain of newbie-salt, could be something else entirely. I'm also behind so maybe he has already, but hopefully @BY Bob will weigh in.
Here's from two web sites:
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https://wagwalking.com/bird/condition/air-sac-mites
In mild cases, birds may not display any symptoms. In some, you may notice the following:
- Your bird may be less vocal; in the case of canaries they may stop singing
- Deteriorating feather quality
- Your bird may appear fluffed up and less active
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Squeaking or high-pitched noises
- Wet nostrils
- Excessive saliva
- Breathing that appears labored
- Breathing with his mouth open
- Tail bobbing
- Weakness
- Loss of weight
- Clicking sounds when he is breathing
http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/airsac-mites
There are several diagnostic procedures to aid in diagnosing the presence of air sac mites in chickens. These include:
- An oral swab or fecal sample may reveal the presence of the mites or mite eggs.
- Radiographs may reveal generalized nonspecific radioopacity changes to the pulmonary and air sac fields.
- Tracheal transillumination - After moistening the bird's skin on their neck with alcohol, use a bright light source to look for dark specks moving in the lumen of the trachea.
- Tracheal endoscopy may be of benefit.
See more at: http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/airsac-mites