I'm so sorry you're having to deal with that. I haven't lost a flock to illness, but have lost them all to predators. Either way, it's hard.
I have lots of chickens sneezing tonight, watery/foamy eyes.
- Thread starter Bryntee
- Start date
If its MG like @Eggcessive says, you will have to maintain a closed flock to prevent it spreading to other flocks. @speckledhen has a great article about how she deals with illness and I suggest reading it.
I had a serious outbreak of MG in my flock this past summer and did not use antibiotics, but chose to cull any chicken displaying symptoms. After a few came down with it and immediately culling any, I got it under control. However, I can no longer ethically sell hens or extra roosters because I may spread it to someone elses flock. If they have MG, and live, or are carriers, they are carriers for life.
Getting a necropsy on the one that died is a good idea. Many state labs will do it for ni charge in order to keep track of things like this. I certainly hope its something thats treatable.
I had a serious outbreak of MG in my flock this past summer and did not use antibiotics, but chose to cull any chicken displaying symptoms. After a few came down with it and immediately culling any, I got it under control. However, I can no longer ethically sell hens or extra roosters because I may spread it to someone elses flock. If they have MG, and live, or are carriers, they are carriers for life.
Getting a necropsy on the one that died is a good idea. Many state labs will do it for ni charge in order to keep track of things like this. I certainly hope its something thats treatable.
Can you move them to a different and bigger area with more air space, new clean bedding and go back to the feed you used to give them then give the coop a thorough clean out and airing. I only had a small problem the very first time I brought new chickens home, after one night in their new coop, new straw etc two were wheezing the next day and very lethargic so I gave them half a cats antibiotic, I didnt know what else to do then went to the vet and explained the problem and was given powder to put in their water. I was lucky as I think it was just a change of home for them. I really hope you find out what is wrong and you dont lose any more of your flock. I wish I could be more helpful.
Here is your state poultry diagnostic lab for a necropsy. That way you'll know quickly how to proceed. At our vet school there is someone on call 24/7. They will also send me a FedEx label for shipping the bird. Keep refrigerated but not frozen.
https://www.wvdl.wisc.edu/
I think there are others if you google them.
IMO, there is no point in medicating if you don't know the problem is something that can be cured with those meds. Doing so is just wasting time.
You don't have nearly enough ventilation. The condensation on the window was your first sign.
I have several buildings and one doesn't have as much ventilation as the others. It has a window like the one in the second picture. It is fully open year round with a big box fan blowing fresh air in for positive pressure ventilation.
A window cracked open is not ventilation.
Within an hour at night, all the fresh air gained during the day is gone and pathogens are able to prosper in the warm moist air.
Healthy chickens don't need to be kept warm. But now that your chickens are sick, you may have to get them into somewhere warm for supportive care.
https://www.wvdl.wisc.edu/
I think there are others if you google them.
IMO, there is no point in medicating if you don't know the problem is something that can be cured with those meds. Doing so is just wasting time.
You don't have nearly enough ventilation. The condensation on the window was your first sign.
I have several buildings and one doesn't have as much ventilation as the others. It has a window like the one in the second picture. It is fully open year round with a big box fan blowing fresh air in for positive pressure ventilation.
A window cracked open is not ventilation.
Within an hour at night, all the fresh air gained during the day is gone and pathogens are able to prosper in the warm moist air.
Healthy chickens don't need to be kept warm. But now that your chickens are sick, you may have to get them into somewhere warm for supportive care.
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It is always best to get a diagnosis. The ways to do that are to get your vet or state vet to test one or two sick birds, or to sacrifice a sick bird to get a necropsy done. They can look for signs in the airway and sinuses, and see if there is any air sac inflammation. But if you see bubbles in an eye, that is fairly classic for MG. If you get the tylosin and it helps, that will give you an answer. Sometimes there can be 2 diseases present. Infectious bronchitis lasts about a month, and mature hens may lay wrinkled egg shells.
The reason I rail against use of antibiotics without knowing for sure what we are treating is the ever increasing number of superbugs that aren't susceptible to last line defense antibiotics. Those are the most potent of the world's entire arsenal of 26 antibiotics. Common diseases are becoming untreatable.
Everyone complains when they can no longer obtain an antibiotic at a feed store due to new regulations. But the regulations are in place to keep us safe. Many of the antibiotic families used for animals are also those used in humans.
Every 15 minutes, someone in the US dies from a drug resistant superbug. Similar numbers are found in the EU.
Researchers predict that by 2050 there will be 10 million deaths annually worldwide from antibiotic resistant bacteria. That will surpass deaths from cancer.
The right answer is infection prevention. For chickens and other livestock, that means proper housing and management - huge ventilation is first and foremost in that prevention.
People always believe they have adequate ventilation - but they really don't.
If the ventilation was adequate, their birds wouldn't be sick.
I believe the only reason we have housing for chickens is predator protection. That doesn't require solid walls. On several occasions, I've had birds opt to live in trees rather than housing during the winter through rain, snow and freezing wind. They never got sick because their tiny respiratory systems were full of oxygen rather than ammonia and pathogen laden air.
Everyone complains when they can no longer obtain an antibiotic at a feed store due to new regulations. But the regulations are in place to keep us safe. Many of the antibiotic families used for animals are also those used in humans.
Every 15 minutes, someone in the US dies from a drug resistant superbug. Similar numbers are found in the EU.
Researchers predict that by 2050 there will be 10 million deaths annually worldwide from antibiotic resistant bacteria. That will surpass deaths from cancer.
The right answer is infection prevention. For chickens and other livestock, that means proper housing and management - huge ventilation is first and foremost in that prevention.
People always believe they have adequate ventilation - but they really don't.
If the ventilation was adequate, their birds wouldn't be sick.
I believe the only reason we have housing for chickens is predator protection. That doesn't require solid walls. On several occasions, I've had birds opt to live in trees rather than housing during the winter through rain, snow and freezing wind. They never got sick because their tiny respiratory systems were full of oxygen rather than ammonia and pathogen laden air.
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The heat lamp should not be used to keep the water from freezing. You might want to get an electric dog water bowl that holds 1 1/4 gallons, and only comes on when temp reaches 35 or below. Those are about $20 at TSC and Walmart. I would increase the overhead air circulation without direct drafts on chickens. Heat, dust, mold, and poor air circulation may increase the likelihood of respiratory issue, but it does sound like your birds have something going on. If you consult your local vet, most likely they may recommend Tylan (tylosin.) If your birds were only sneezing, I would not recommend an antibiotic, but since you see eye bubbles, that is a sign of MG.
- Thread starter
- #18
Okay. I have quarantined the two birds that are breathing horribly! The rest aren’t sneezing or breathing funny. I did find another hen dead tonight. 
I have b-12 and vetrx. I put the b-12 in their water and gave by syringe to those who were showing signs or had shown signs of being ill. Same with the vetrx. I looked for Tylan at tractor supply but they didn’t have any. I will be going to theisens tomorrow and will look there.
I have b-12 and vetrx. I put the b-12 in their water and gave by syringe to those who were showing signs or had shown signs of being ill. Same with the vetrx. I looked for Tylan at tractor supply but they didn’t have any. I will be going to theisens tomorrow and will look there.
Hi there! The last couple of days one of my chickens has been sneezing and not seeming right. I just thought she wasn’t getting enough water. Now tonight almost all of my chickens are sneezing and have watery or some foam in the corner of the eyes. I just had a chicken a couple of weeks ago that we had to cull because I came into the coop and she was gasping for air laying limp on the floor. I was sure my rooster must have crushed her but now I’m wondering if she was sick. There aren’t any other signs that I’ve seen. We did buy a bag of feed from another store we usually don’t buy from. All the chickens are young layers and a young rooster. They were bought this spring.
You have moisture on the windows. The windows are cracked a bit, but how much ventilation is in the coop?
The heat lamp - was it on the night when you found the dead hen and the other one gasping. Is the bulb new - where did you get it?
You have feed that is new, bedding that is new(?) Do you have a the tag for the feed bag - what's the date - does the feed look or smell off?
What does poops look like?
What is the up date on your flock, have you found out anymore for the reason they died and how are the rest of them nowOkay. I have quarantined the two birds that are breathing horribly! The rest aren’t sneezing or breathing funny. I did find another hen dead tonight.
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