I am new to raising chickens. I received four from my sister-in-law last April. All of my chickens were healthy and laying daily. This past month I went to a bird sale and purchased five Rhode Island Red hens. They must have brought a disease in with them. Three of my original chickens have died already and three of my purchased chickens have died, which leaves me with three. I am planning on getting rid of the three I have now and starting over soon, but I would like to see if anyone has any idea of what my chickens have so that if it ever happens again I know what to do, and what I need to worry about when disinfecting the coop. The symptoms my chickens have: Swollen eyes Discharge from eyes and mouth Wheezing when breathing Scabs all over face and beak Egg production stops Lethargic Lack of eating and drinking It seemed to spread quickly. I only have one chicken that never got whatever the others brought in, which seems crazy because everything else got it. I did go and ask the local vet and he told me to give them oxytetracycline and vitamin water and that those two things should clear everything up. One chicken it seemed to work and then four days later I found her dead in the barn. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!
It sounds like fowl pox or coryza but there are so many things it could be. The best thing to do, is to send one of the birds for necropsy. That's the only way to know how to treat the living. So sorry you have this problem, buying adult laying birds at a flea market or similar venue is cause for alarm. They're either spent or diseased. Best to use a hatchery or breeder. How long did you give the antibiotics? One day is not enough.
