I think Roo has a URI, what should we do?

[k9advocate]

Roo is sneezing/coughing and cannot crow but no other symptoms. It sounds like he has laryngitis when he tries to crow and he snores at night. Up close you can hear him wheezing. His appetite seems fine and his energy level is great. He is not doing the gapeworm neck thing. This has been happening for a week. I have isolated him and kept him warm and dry and tried VetRx solution under his wings and in his nostrils for 4 days now. His coughs/sneezes (I can't tell which) are very liquidy sounding but there is no discharge.

Roo is a 7 month old Rhode Island Red who lives with his four gals here in Virginia. We use cedar/pine shavings in our coop. He and his ladies free range when I am outside or else go in their tractor.

Anybody have a clue as to what else we should do?

 

[dawg53]

It might be advisable to get rid of the cedar shavings. Otherwise he could have a respiratory disease. Here's a link to respiratory diseases: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044
Take a look at Infectious Coryza, Mycoplasma Gallisepticum (MG,) Infectious Bronchitis (IB.) Keep in mind there are different strains with these diseases, from mild to wild. Mild symptoms may not reveal the true seriousness of the disease as written in the link.

 

[stargirl]

It does sound like a likely respiratory infection. From what I understand, these are usually 'incurable'. That doesn't mean your roo will always be sick, but that once he's had it he's a carrier for life, and will risk infecting any new additions to your flock. Some people choose to cull a bird with a RI for this reason.

I have a hen who contracted a RI early on - my other had it too, but with more mild symptoms. The first was bleeding from her nostrils & the vet said it was potentially fatal. I treated both with Tylan soluable in the drinking water and the symptoms cleared up. Sometimes the worse affected hen gets the sneezes again, but she is never ill with it, and it doesn't affect her appetite or laying. I think antibiotics would be a good starting point for your roo.

 

[k9advocate]

Thanks for the advice. I have gotten rid of the shavings thinking they were a threat to the others. I have pine shavings now, but should I be using straw or something else?

 

[k9advocate]

Where do I get antibiotics?