How to treat recurring Chronic Respiratory Disease?

[AriadneCastro]

Dear everyone,

I have lost half of my flock to CRD, before I finally came across the right information: Tylan. I gave it to my birds when the illness was affecting almost all of them. Some still died, but the rest managed to make it into adulthood (10). Now, three months past, all seems fine but my number two cockerel is coughing again.

What shall I do?

- Medicate the entire flock again?
- Take him apart and medicate just him?
- For how long?
- What about the eggs that are being laid? Are they good for eating/hatching if the hens take the medication?

Plus, this poor boy is not putting on any weight or showing any sign of smartness... I suppose CRD can delay a chick's development, right?

I'm at my wit's end... Help!!

 

[AriadneCastro]

... Anyone?!

 

[Pork Pie]

As I understand things, some respiratory illnesses can remain in a flock, i.e. those having suffered, but survived, can remain carriers for life (or a considerable duration, at least). Even for carriers, the illness can flair up at times of stress or any other illness.

It happened in my flock. What i should have done is culled them all and started again. I didn't and thats much to my regret. I have now culled those that were in my initial flock and vaccinated all chicks against Newcastle Disease and Infectious Bronchitis since.

I'll leave the medication details to the experts.

 

[AriadneCastro]

I'll leave the medication details to the experts.

Come on folks, help here!! Anybody with a clue about medication??

 

[Pork Pie]

Is there a vet nearby that has poultry expertise? A professional diagnosis and advice is possibly the best way forward.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

"CRD" Chronic Respiratory Illness is usually considered Mycoplasma Gallisepticum (MG), but sometimes the term can be used loosely for any respiratory illness.
If your flock has MG, then your birds will carry this illness for the rest of their life regardless if they ever show any symptoms or not. Any new birds brought into contact with your existing flock will be considered carriers as well.

Treatment with antibiotics such as Tylan can help with any secondary (bacterial) infections (sinus/eye/air sac infections) but will not cure the virus (MG is viral). You can separate and treat only those showing symptoms. Some people do have a "treatment" plan where they treat the whole flock with Denagard on a monthly basis. This may help the flock from showing signs of illness and possibly getting an infection, but the virus will still be there. (You will need to do your homework and come up with a treatment plan - lots of info about Denagard).

One of the best things you can do is have one of your chickens tested for confirmation of CRD (Mycoplasma G). This will let you know for sure which illness you are dealing with and can treat accordingly.

+++++As for your other questions:
What about the eggs that are being laid?
Are they good for eating/hatching if the hens take the medication?
Plus, this poor boy is not putting on any weight or showing any sign of smartness... I suppose CRD can delay a chick's development, right?+++++

Eggs good to eat ?- Depends on what course of treatment you follow. Tylan has a 1day egg withdrawal period, while other antibiotics may be longer - you will need to research the meds that you give for this information.

Hatching eggs with a flock that has MG would be a bit more "iffy" Mycoplasma can be transmitted transovarian so you risk passing along the disease.
MG can also impact egg production (almost all respiratory illnesses impact production).
MG can also slow/stunt development.

Offer him a high protein diet, either with commercial feed or add egg, tuna, mackerel or meat to his chicken feed. Also some poultry vitamins may be helpful as well.

There is a lot of information available about Mycoplasma. I encourage you to do some research, this will be beneficial when keep a flock with illness.

Here's a couple of links for you to read:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/disea...tion-mg-chronic-respiratory-disease-chickens/
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044