Hen with skin issue

[Wyorp Rock]

Some of them are really lethargic, a few have swollen faces, there’s mucus galore, and a few have “spitty” eyes sometimes.

the ones that are sick are pretty sleepy and won’t leave the warmth of the coop.

one of my beautiful roosters sounds like a coffee pot brewing

One of the hens had a string of spit hanging from her mouth, another has died from this already.

I'm sorry you lost one.

That is quite a list of symptoms besides sneezing

Treat only the ones that show symptoms with the injectable Tylan50, hopefully it will make a difference. Try to keep the mucous cleared away and the goopy eyes cleaned up. For eyes, you can rinse with saline and apply an ophthalmic ointment like Terramycin or Vetericyn eye gel.

The one with the mucous coming from the beak, try to clear that as well. Check her crop to see that it's emptying overnight.

Encourage them all to drink, you may want to offer some electrolytes for a day, then switch to poultry vitamins for a couple of days.

I understand they want to stay in, that's fine. Sick chickens can also benefit from warmth, I see you have a heat lamp in the coop, but you will want to make sure there is plenty of ventilation/air flow so that fresh air is coming in the coop. Respiratory illness is spread through dust, dander, feathers, poop, mucous/bodily fluids, on shoes/clothes, etc., so you don't want to have "dead air" in the coop.

If you happen to lose another one, then consider sending the body to your state vet lab for testing - this will help identify what illness you are dealing with. http://csu-cvmbs.colostate.edu/vdl/Pages/default.aspx

 

[BirdLeaf]

I'm sorry you lost one.

That is quite a list of symptoms besides sneezing

Treat only the ones that show symptoms with the injectable Tylan50, hopefully it will make a difference. Try to keep the mucous cleared away and the goopy eyes cleaned up. For eyes, you can rinse with saline and apply an ophthalmic ointment like Terramycin or Vetericyn eye gel.

The one with the mucous coming from the beak, try to clear that as well. Check her crop to see that it's emptying overnight.

Encourage them all to drink, you may want to offer some electrolytes for a day, then switch to poultry vitamins for a couple of days.

I understand they want to stay in, that's fine. Sick chickens can also benefit from warmth, I see you have a heat lamp in the coop, but you will want to make sure there is plenty of ventilation/air flow so that fresh air is coming in the coop. Respiratory illness is spread through dust, dander, feathers, poop, mucous/bodily fluids, on shoes/clothes, etc., so you don't want to have "dead air" in the coop.

If you happen to lose another one, then consider sending the body to your state vet lab for testing - this will help identify what illness you are dealing with. http://csu-cvmbs.colostate.edu/vdl/Pages/default.aspx

Thank you! I have a window in the coop and it’s cracked a bit, there’s a lot of wind today and that’s helping. I’ve dosed the sick chickens with Tylan and also a direct dose of nutri-drench. I also dosed their water with nutri-drench. I’m halfway considering bringing a live one up to CSU just to see what I’m up against. Seems like they’re eating and drinking like crazy though, I figured maybe they would eat and drink less than usual being sick but they’ve actually increased it quite a bit.

How do I check her crop?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you! I have a window in the coop and it’s cracked a bit, there’s a lot of wind today and that’s helping. I’ve dosed the sick chickens with Tylan and also a direct dose of nutri-drench. I also dosed their water with nutri-drench. I’m halfway considering bringing a live one up to CSU just to see what I’m up against. Seems like they’re eating and drinking like crazy though, I figured maybe they would eat and drink less than usual being sick but they’ve actually increased it quite a bit.

How do I check her crop?

It's not a bad idea to contact CSU and arrange to take the sickest one in for testing, you won't get her/him back, but knowing what you are dealing with would be worth it.

It's good that they are eating and drinking.

O.k. for the crop - usually you would feel it at night when she goes to bed, it should be full or have food in it. Then check first thing in the morning, it should be empty or flat.
Now...you have a heat lamp on, so they do have light, and I would assume they will get up and eat/drink if that's available, so it will be harder to check crop function that way. Feel her crop to see if she has been eating and if you can take note that she is pooping. Most likely the liquid coming from the beak is from the respiratory illness, but you may want to look inside her beak for any lesions or plaques as well (also see if there is any bad or sour odor to her breath). This article I reference has such good photos of crops, so you may find it helpful http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2014/06/chicken-anatomy-crop-impacted-crop-sour.html

You are doing good...take a deep breath, you've got this

 

[BirdLeaf]

It's not a bad idea to contact CSU and arrange to take the sickest one in for testing, you won't get her/him back, but knowing what you are dealing with would be worth it.

It's good that they are eating and drinking.

O.k. for the crop - usually you would feel it at night when she goes to bed, it should be full or have food in it. Then check first thing in the morning, it should be empty or flat.
Now...you have a heat lamp on, so they do have light, and I would assume they will get up and eat/drink if that's available, so it will be harder to check crop function that way. Feel her crop to see if she has been eating and if you can take note that she is pooping. Most likely the liquid coming from the beak is from the respiratory illness, but you may want to look inside her beak for any lesions or plaques as well (also see if there is any bad or sour odor to her breath). This article I reference has such good photos of crops, so you may find it helpful http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2014/06/chicken-anatomy-crop-impacted-crop-sour.html

You are doing good...take a deep breath, you've got this

Oh no, they destroy sick birds? I’m learning so much everyday it’s unreal.

I looked into their mouths as I dosed them, my boyfriend holds them as I dose so I’m able to get a good look. I didn’t see anything unusual, but I didn’t check their breath.

I’ll have to check their crops starting tomorrow. Thank you so much! You’re a huge help and an even bigger relief to a very worried bird mom!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Oh no, they destroy sick birds? I’m learning so much everyday it’s unreal.

I looked into their mouths as I dosed them, my boyfriend holds them as I dose so I’m able to get a good look. I didn’t see anything unusual, but I didn’t check their breath.

I’ll have to check their crops starting tomorrow. Thank you so much! You’re a huge help and an even bigger relief to a very worried bird mom!

As far as I know, if you take in a live bird for testing, they will euthanize, then perform their testing. You may want to ask them if they will accept swabs of mucous/exudes for testing instead. Each state lab is a little different, but all practice (or should) strict bio-security protocols, so usually a bird that is submitted can't be released back to the owner.