Head twitch and sneezing

[Ncfarm828]

UPDATE: I ORDERED TYLOSIN FROM JEDDS THAT WILL BE HERE BY THE 29th. WISH MY FLOCK LUCK.

I posted yesterday about my 5 - 6 week old chicks twitching their heads. I was holding two today and they both sneezed where clear mucus sprayed out a bit on my arm. I put vetrx, nutri drench, and poultry cell in their water. Should I continue to change it out daily or is there an easier method to this? Should I also be giving them something else? They are eating, drinking and poop seems fine. They will occasionally scratch their heads. I feel bad for this flock. I just want them better.

 

[Eggcessive]

Where did the chicks come from? Some respiratory diseases will be passed through hatching eggs or spread by a carrier. It is easier on us if you stick with the same thread and just keeping posting and updating it. That way we don’t have to go back and read multiple threads. Here is the other thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/5-week-old-chick-twitching.1656913/
Can you get some Tylosin from jedds online? That can treat a respiratory disease such as MG. NutriDrench and Poultry Cell are pretty much the same. You can give one or the other. You can give 1-2 drops orally instead of putting it in water. Vet Rx which is herbal oils and camphor is not put in the water but applied around the comb or wattles according to the label. How is your coup ventilation? Can you smell any ammonia odor from the bedding? Those things can affect the lungs of chickens.

 

[Ncfarm828]

Where did the chicks come from? Some respiratory diseases will be passed through hatching eggs or spread by a carrier. It is easier on us if you stick with the same thread and just keeping posting and updating it. That way we don’t have to go back and read multiple threads. Here is the other thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/5-week-old-chick-twitching.1656913/
Can you get some Tylosin from jedds online? That can treat a respiratory disease such as MG. NutriDrench and Poultry Cell are pretty much the same. You can give one or the other. You can give 1-2 drops orally instead of putting it in water. Vet Rx which is herbal oils and camphor is not put in the water but applied around the comb or wattles according to the label. How is your coup ventilation? Can you smell any ammonia odor from the bedding? Those things can affect the lungs of chickens.

Thank you.

We got them from tractor supply on Feb 26th and they were about 1-2 weeks old. When I spoke to someone at tractor supply about what was going on, I told them I was giving them poultry cell and they said to add nutri drench as well. But If they’re the same thing not sure why they told me to add that too. I’ll try and put vetrx on their combs instead of their water.

Their ventilation is good, I have two (the first ones I separated because they were sick) in a 40 gallon tote. The other 4 are in a 100 gallon stock tank. They’re both covered with chicken wire. No, you can’t smell ammonia. I change their bedding and scoop poop out in between changes frequently. Although, I have seen them eating their poop off their roosting stick. I never had any issues with my first flock. This one is giving me a run for my money.

 

[MapleLaurelFarms]

It is easier on us if you stick with the same thread and just keeping posting and updating it. That way we don’t have to go back and read multiple threads. Here is the other thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/5-week-old-chick-twitching.1656913/

Agree! It's very hard to follow and keep up with separate threads on the same issue. It will also save you from having to constantly repeat yourself. Or at least make it less likely.

Can you get some Tylosin from jedds online? That can treat a respiratory disease such as MG. NutriDrench and Poultry Cell are pretty much the same. You can give one or the other. You can give 1-2 drops orally instead of putting it in water. Vet Rx which is herbal oils and camphor is not put in the water but applied around the comb or wattles according to the label.

Spot on. Nutri-drench, Rooster Booster, Poultry cell etc are all various combos of vitamins and often electrolytes. Nutri-drench is nice because it can be administered directly orally vs mixing into water and waiting for chick to drink, but they're all very similar. Just read the labels and you'll see for yourself.

Vet Rx is more like Vicks VapoRub for chickens/livestock.

None of these will cure an illness or disease unless it's a vitamin deficiency which is very rare to nonexistent in well fed, healthy chicks/hens. But it can strengthen or boost an ill animal.

I love our TS employees, but unfortunately it's also a really great place to get really bad advice. It's also a grand place to pick up all types of viruses and bacteria. Don't go there and then rush home and wear the same shoes into the hen house unless you like living on the edge. It's possible that's how I brought Marek's home to my flock.

 

[Ncfarm828]

Agree! It's very hard to follow and keep up with separate threads on the same issue. It will also save you from having to constantly repeat yourself. Or at least make it less likely.

Spot on. Nutri-drench, Rooster Booster, Poultry cell etc are all various combos of vitamins and often electrolytes. Nutri-drench is nice because it can be administered directly orally vs mixing into water and waiting for chick to drink, but they're all very similar. Just read the labels and you'll see for yourself.

Vet Rx is more like Vicks VapoRub for chickens/livestock.

None of these will cure an illness or disease unless it's a vitamin deficiency which is very rare to nonexistent in well fed, healthy chicks/hens. But it can strengthen or boost an ill animal.

I love our TS employees, but unfortunately it's also a really great place to get really bad advice. It's also a grand place to pick up all types of viruses and bacteria. Don't go there and then rush home and wear the same shoes into the hen house unless you like living on the edge. It's possible that's how I brought Marek's home to my flock.

Oh gosh really? That’s what I was afraid of them having- mareks. More than likely it was something they picked up there or at the hatchery. When I called tractor supply to see if anyone else called in with similar issues because there was more in the same brooder, they quickly changed the subject and redirected me back to the nutri-drench.

 

[MapleLaurelFarms]

Oh gosh really? That’s what I was afraid of them having- mareks. More than likely it was something they picked up there or at the hatchery. When I called tractor supply to see if anyone else called in with similar issues because there was more in the same brooder, they quickly changed the subject and redirected me back to the nutri-drench.

Good ole' TS lol. Marek's doesn't typically cause respiratory issues, although it can weaken a bird and make it easier for secondary infections to pop up, but yours seem a little young to be showing signs of Marek's. It's hard to know for sure but IMO sounds like you're dealing with a solid respiratory infection. please update us with how it goes after a couple of days on the antibiotic!

 

[Ncfarm828]

Good ole' TS lol. Marek's doesn't typically cause respiratory issues, although it can weaken a bird and make it easier for secondary infections to pop up, but yours seem a little young to be showing signs of Marek's. It's hard to know for sure but IMO sounds like you're dealing with a solid respiratory infection. please update us with how it goes after a couple of days on the antibiotic!

Will do, thank you!!

 

[Eggcessive]

The big difference between Poultry Cell and Poultry NutriDrench is the PC has riboflavin, which can help with curled under toes or other leg issues. Are you still seeing any frequent sneezing or other respiratory issues? Chicks do sneeze occasionally if they get dust or feed into their nostrils, or if the bedding is damp and has a lot of droppings. Good ventilation and plenty of room, as well as keeping bedding dry and clean can help prevent respiratory problems. Hatchery chicks from the feed store should not have a respiratory infection. Now chicks that come from breeders with an existing flock can carry some respiratory diseases if exposed to carriers. MG is one disease that can pass through hatching eggs as well. Let us know how your birds get along.

 

[Ncfarm828]

Good ole' TS lol. Marek's doesn't typically cause respiratory issues, although it can weaken a bird and make it easier for secondary infections to pop up, but yours seem a little young to be showing signs of Marek's. It's hard to know for sure but IMO sounds like you're dealing with a solid respiratory infection. please update us with how it goes after a couple of days on the antibiotic!

Good ole' TS lol. Marek's doesn't typically cause respiratory issues, although it can weaken a bird and make it easier for secondary infections to pop up, but yours seem a little young to be showing signs of Marek's. It's hard to know for sure but IMO sounds like you're dealing with a solid respiratory infection. please update us with how it goes after a couple of days on the antibiotic!

it’s been a few days and unfortunately there’s been no improvement so far

 

[Eggcessive]

it’s been a few days and unfortunately there’s been no improvement so far

Are they still sneezing and twitching? Did you get the Tylosin started? Are they eating and drinking? How is the brooder ventilation? Could you get a video of what they are doing, and upload to it YouTube with a link posted here?