Hen with what I believe is a low grade CRD infection

[ChickensRsmart]

My new (older Bantam) hen has been showing some signs of heavy breathing - particularly at night. She's been in her own run and I've been bringing her in at night - since she's new to the area and she's a bit under weight from having just completed a big molt.
In any case, her nostrils are partially blocked and when I looked at them wearing a jeweler's loupe I could see that she has what looks like the typical crust that builds up from CRD. But it's not enough to cause her to open mouth breath. And her color still looks great and she's eating (she's a light eater, but is slowly gaining weight), and her stools look normal - and her vent is clean (no poopy butt).
I also found out that my Bantam rooster in an adjacent run is her brother - they grew up together (he too is a light eater). I think both of them are either CRD carriers and/or have low grade symptoms. His nostrils look partially blocked as well (I noticed his nostrils over a year ago), but he doesn't show any signs of breathing issues.
I put some crushed, fresh garlic and some fresh shredded oregano in her drinking water...This stuff has helped my chickens a lot.
I am wondering if I should give her antibiotics or not? Would the right antibiotic help a bird with somewhere between being a carrier of CRD - to having low grade symptoms? I don't want to give her antibiotics unless I have to...
I should also mention that the soil out here is very fine (dusty) and silty...My sex links hen routinely snorts out dirt from her nostrils - particularly after taking a dust bath... And my new bantam hen has been taking dust baths in this same kind of soil - But the crust in her nostrils doesn't look like dirt...

I forgot to mention also that she "darth vader" breaths when she's settling in her crate (indoors at night), but there's no sound other than a single clicking noise when she inhales.

 

[dawg53]

CRD is Mycoplasma Gallisepticum (MG). Normally there are other symptoms with MG infected birds. However, there are different strains of the disease, mild to severe symptoms.

Do you think it's possible that it might be an environmental issue rather than MG?
For example; ammonia fumes from soiled bedding causing similar symptoms, improper ventilation, dust from dust bathing (like you mentioned), inhalation of feed dust, pollen, pesticide use. All of these issues can be corrected or eliminated.
An older bird coming out of molt is stressful. Perhaps giving her Poultry Nutri Drench may help. The bottle comes with an eyedropper. Give her one drop orally twice a day for no more than 5 days and see if there's improvement.

 

[ChickensRsmart]

CRD is Mycoplasma Gallisepticum (MG). Normally there are other symptoms with MG infected birds. However, there are different strains of the disease, mild to severe symptoms.

Do you think it's possible that it might be an environmental issue rather than MG?
For example; ammonia fumes from soiled bedding causing similar symptoms, improper ventilation, dust from dust bathing (like you mentioned), inhalation of feed dust, pollen, pesticide use. All of these issues can be corrected or eliminated.
An older bird coming out of molt is stressful. Perhaps giving her Poultry Nutri Drench may help. The bottle comes with an eyedropper. Give her one drop orally twice a day for no more than 5 days and see if there's improvement.

Thanks dawg53 - I will give that a try.
I looked very closely at her nostrils and whatever is blocking them is definitely not dirt. It's just inside the opening of the nostrils - not sticking out. And it looks very much like the hardened material seen on birds with MG.
I was thinking that maybe the stress of being moved - and a new environment - might have triggered a dormant MG...:? Her brother has the same stuff blocking his nostrils too - he's had it for a long time, but there are no other symptoms with him.
I'd like to see if I can help without antibiotics! I will pick up some of that nutri drench for chickens.
I am beginning to wonder now - because both she and her brother have always been a little on the thin side...I don't know if it's eating habits, or the type of chicken or what...But when my Sex Links hen had problems, I would bring her in at night (with her rooster) and they would eat more at night - I would put a light next to their crate and they'd eat. After doing this for several days, my little rooster did gain some weight - still on the lean side, but he looked better - more filled out. He still looks healthy now, but he's on the thin side again...
Maybe his sister (this new hen) is the same way...

 

[dawg53]

Have you had MG in your flock before or unknowingly brought in a MG infected bird? If so, they are carriers for life. Symptoms can be triggered by stress, heat for example or moving from one place to another like you mentioned.
If that's the case, Tylan or Baytril will treat MG symptoms but not cure it.

 

[ChickensRsmart]

Yes - I am not sure if this new hen and her brother (I've had her brother for years now) have had MG - But I've suspected that they have and were carrying it...based on what I've noticed about their nostrils...and there was another rooster who they used to live with who I think had it also - no other symptoms but the blocked nostrils (or partially blocked).
I will watch her closely - I always do regardless. lol If she gets worse, then I will resort to the antibiotics... So if she's been a carrier and now has low grade symptoms, the antibiotics will work to drive the MG back into dormancy?

 

[dawg53]

Yes - I am not sure if this new hen and her brother (I've had her brother for years now) have had MG - But I've suspected that they have and were carrying it...based on what I've noticed about their nostrils...and there was another rooster who they used to live with who I think had it also - no other symptoms but the blocked nostrils (or partially blocked).
I will watch her closely - I always do regardless. lol If she gets worse, then I will resort to the antibiotics... So if she's been a carrier and now has low grade symptoms, the antibiotics will work to drive the MG back into dormancy?

Antibiotics will treat the symptoms, that's all.

 

[ChickensRsmart]

Antibiotics will treat the symptoms, that's all.

Yes, but does that mean you have to keep giving them antibiotics or does it beat back the BACTERIA so that they don't constantly have to take the antibiotics?

 

[dawg53]

Antibiotics help beat back the bacteria that causes the disease/symptoms. Keeping your birds as stress free as possible will also help keep it under control.
Consider adding ProBios dispersible powder as a top dressing in their feed to help build up good gut bacteria to keep them healthy.
Just sprinkle it on top of their feed to eat.

 

[ChickensRsmart]

Thanks again dawg53!

Last night my hen had a 'double click' every time she inhaled - So I got the antibiotics. I see that noise from her breathing as an indication of fluid in the airway... I put it in her water as of last night, and it's hard to say if she's better or not as of today - but her color has gotten brighter - no question about it.

I plan to giver her some sugar free plain yogurt - with embedded fresh garlic bits - after she's done with her antibiotic treatment... I've used to hide fresh chunks (tiny) in yogurt to get my Sex Links hen to eat some garlic - it works like a charm. Now she eats garlic without the yogurt...

 

[ChickensRsmart]

I started her on antibiotics on Sunday night - It's Tuesday night right now. It's hard to say if she's better or not, but she does have some hard yellow crust under her right nostril - it wasn't there before. It's not very much, and it looks dried out.
I think I am going in the right direction...