Goldenseal for respiratory infections

[LexiteFeather]

So my chickens have not layer since easter and it has been a month now. They have been fighting a cold that just won't go away and I have lost two to it. Everyone is mostly fine, they are just sniffily. My older roster was doing a lot better but now he sounds bad when he crows. I have given them thyme, dill, basil, cilantro, tomato, peppers, garlic, cinnamon, coconut oil and honey just to name some. The honey seamed to do a bit more for them but they are still sick and I really don't want to use medications as two new ones are still layingand iI want to be able to use their eggs and anyone else's eggs that start to lay again.

I really want my hens to start laying again so I did some research on natural antibiotics and came across manuka honey, goldenseal and andrographis. Androrgaphis is suppose to work well for upper respiratory infections and manuka honey is a good antibiotic and goldenseal prevents bacteria from enter acting with the cell walls in the body.

I was able to get some goldenseal at the store today so I will be starting that up with the flock. I have not been able to get and andrographis or manuka honey yet.

I will be mixing the goldenseal powder in with some honey I got with plant extracts and some coconut oil and giving it to each of my chickens that are sick and post my results.

If anyone has tried goldenseal out for respiratory infections please let me know or of anyone else has any other suggestions. I saw a post that goldenseal was used topically for a wound with good results so now its time to test it for internal iinfections.

 

[LexiteFeather]

So I gave them another dose of Goldenseal and honey today and they were looking better. I also made them tea with the left overs.

 

[BantamLover21]

I don't have experience with treating colds with goldenseal, but I just wanted to say good luck! Colds in chickens can definitely be really annoying, and hard to put a stop too.

 

[LexiteFeather]

Thanks. This is my first time dealing with a cold and with chickens. I have had my originals for a year now and they were doing great up until about the week before Easter. I am really hoping this treatment will finally knock the cold out.

 

[cafarmgirl]

Something to keep in mind: Chickens do not get "colds" like humans do. They get respiratory diseases, some are viral some are bacterial and there is no cure. They often will survive with treatment and improve but once they have contracted one of these diseases they will be carriers for life. Whatever it is will occasionally crop up again, especially when birds are stressed or if their immunity is down for any other reason. They can also infect any new birds you bring home. Some of these diseases are worse then others in terms of recurrences. The only way to know for sure exactly what they have is to have a bird tested or to have a necropsy done on one that dies. Having a diagnosis helps a lot in knowing how to treat and manage your flock.

 

[Eggcessive]

Something to keep in mind: Chickens do not get "colds" like humans do. They get respiratory diseases, some are viral some are bacterial and there is no cure. They often will survive with treatment and improve but once they have contracted one of these diseases they will be carriers for life. Whatever it is will occasionally crop up again, especially when birds are stressed or if their immunity is down for any other reason. They can also infect any new birds you bring home. Some of these diseases are worse then others in terms of recurrences. The only way to know for sure exactly what they have is to have a bird tested or to have a necropsy done on one that dies. Having a diagnosis helps a lot in knowing how to treat and manage your flock.

X 2. Here are some links to read: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_dis_spec/poultry/participants.shtml

 

[kittybethaustin]

cafarmgirl, if they are infected for life does that mean bring no new ones in or sell any existing? I got my first chickens in February so have not dealt with sick ones yet. Yesterday I discovered one sick bird in the grow out pen and today there are three more. It does look like a "cold" with weepy eyes and runny nostrils, but I know there are a lot of different respiratory illnesses. I removed the sick birds from the pen as I found them and have them in a brooder in the house now, but I'm sure there are bound to be more showing symptoms. They are eating and drinking so that's good. Should I take one to the vet and see if they can tell me which illness they might have?

 

[kittybethaustin]

What dosage of goldenseal are you using? Have a feeling I'll be needing to try this.

 

[dawg53]

cafarmgirl, if they are infected for life does that mean bring no new ones in or sell any existing? I got my first chickens in February so have not dealt with sick ones yet. Yesterday I discovered one sick bird in the grow out pen and today there are three more. It does look like a "cold" with weepy eyes and runny nostrils, but I know there are a lot of different respiratory illnesses. I removed the sick birds from the pen as I found them and have them in a brooder in the house now, but I'm sure there are bound to be more showing symptoms. They are eating and drinking so that's good. Should I take one to the vet and see if they can tell me which illness they might have?

You are correct. No new ones in, no birds out, no selling eggs to be hatched, as some diseases can be transmitted through the eggs. You must maintain a closed flock. As you stated; you noticed one sick bird yesterday, then today there were three more sick birds. See how easily respiratory diseases spread among birds? On top of that, even quarantining them in your brooder may not help simply because if you handled or carried them from one place to another...your clothing and hands were contaminated as well. If you then handled non infected birds, there's a good chance you unknowingly infected your healthy birds. Also, a lot of respiratory diseases are transmitted via waterers and feeders. There are two options when dealing with respiratory diseased birds; treat or cull. If you treat; maintain a closed flock forever and practice biosecurity. Be prepared to nursemaid sick birds and spend money... whether treating with antibiotics or organics. If it's a viral disease, antibiotics are ineffective.
If you cull; disinfect everything including waterers/feeders/coops preferably with oxine and wait about 6 months before repopulating.

 

[kittybethaustin]

Bummer. I was raising some of these pullets to give to my Mom for her flock. She's going to be very disappointed. I'll probably go the closed flock route since my main purpose for them is eggs for eating.