help help help!!! Antibiotics? Sick bird... Update

[Beau coop]

There are various posts about chickens with colds and I would like to clarify the antibiotics.

My 6 months OEGB sneezed this am- first time I ever heard that. I checked her out and she had a bit of brown crust above one nostril. Nothing in her mouth, no fever, no other symptoms at that time. I separated her any way.

Got home from work and now she is sneezing every few minutes, with an occassional squawk after a sneeze. Her breathing is wet and rattley (sp?). Nothing bubbling from nostrils or eyes. She is eating and drinking (started electrolytes). Layed a normal egg today. I don't see anything in her mouth, no foul odor from nostrils or breath.

The questions are: should I start antibiotics? If so, Tylan or terramycin. Tractor supply has tylan (I have terramycin) but they say it is not for chickens.

Do chickens get "colds"? Do they get colds in the human sense, meaning caused by a virus. Antibiotics won't work on a virus right?

Can a human pass a cold to a chicken?
I have a wicked sore throat and laryngitis.

Cleaned the coop wednesday, put in new shavings. Everything is dry.

Suggestions? It seems to be one thing after another with my birds.

Edited to add: Poop is normal.

 

[rooster-red]

I'm no expert, but I'll pass on a little of what I've learned.

Chickens do not get colds, but they do get several types of respiratory illness.

Terramycin probably is not strong enough to give much help, Tylan or Gallimycin would be better.

Whichever antibiotic you use, including terramycin, you can't eat the eggs for several weeks.

 

[rooster-red]

There is some good info on this thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=93687

 

[Beau coop]

I know that most would advocate culling this bird. Even if she is treated and recovers then she is a carrier right?

I am considering tylan- how long do you have to inject the bird for?

 

[swtangel321]

I also have a sick hen bubbles in eyes, sneezing, rattle when she breaths. I called my local vet (that god they deal with chickens) She said that chickens can get colds, they can be due to stress, change, etc. Also told me chickens can be sick sometimes and not infect the others !! So try treating her for 5 days with antibiotics and see if that helps, if it doesnt help then I would cull. Thats what I plan on doing if they dont help !!

 

[Beau coop]

What antibiotic are you using?

 

[swtangel321]

I got some Tetracycline powder to mix in with the water, the vet said that should take care of it. So will be starting that first thing in the morning. At first I thought she just had an eye infections (got somthing in it that was bothering her) So we started on Terramycin eye ointment after flushing with contact lens solution. then when I was cleaning her eyes noticed the rattle in her chest. Going to get her out of the coop tomrrow and start the anti's

Have you added any new birds to your flock latley??

My vet said that unless I have added any new birds to my flock or they had come in contact with any wild birds (turkeys) that it is VERY likely that she wont spread it !!

 

[Beau coop]

I do have new birds- but they are still in quarantine. I wonder if I broke biosecurity and spread something from new birds to old. I thought I was being so careful. Let the guilt begin.

I just went out to start her on terramycin as tractor supply is closed and I am not able to get anything stronger. Hopefully I have gotten to it soon enough. She now has a cough too. And she is restless-pacing. I can't imagine how stressful it is to be separated from the flock. I have a heat lamp on at one end of the crate she is in. And I ran a roost from one end to the other about halfway up the crate. I didn't want her too close to the heat lamp, but wanted her to have a choice in being under it or not. It's like a big girl brooder.

 

[speckledhen]

I hate to disagree with your vet, but I do. She/he may be using the word "cold" as any respiratory infection, but they dont get the common cold like humans do.
Here are some articles for you to read.
http://www.shagbarkbantams.com/ib.htm
http://www.shagbarkbantams.com/page22.htm
http://www.shagbarkbantams.com/page11.htm

 

[Beau coop]

Thanks Speckled. I have read them. I know from reading all the posts I could find about this issue that if this happened to one of your birds you would cull.

I am discussing that option with DH now. I don't think I could do it, but maybe he can.