IBV infectious bronchitis

[MaBell]

I don’t know when or how but suddenly, out of nowhere, several of my hens have shown symptoms of IBV (horrid breath, drainage, sneezing/wheezing, etc). Almost all of the ones that showed signs have 100% recovered within a few days but ONE. She is a CQ who is about 8 months old. I have introduced new pullets to the flock but waited the 30 days before introductions/mingling but now even a few of my new pullets are showing signs of IBV. “Prissy” is the only one that is looking really rough though. She was found self-isolating today with mucous draining from her beak and nose. I wiped her face, disinfected the coop (all new bedding, water, feed, 1:1 vinegar and water) but I put her in a smaller coop alone to see if she would perk up a bit. When I found her with her tooter in the air and beak in the dirt, I brought her inside. She’s currently residing in the master bath. I confess that originally I thought a few of the ladies decreased activity and laying was due to the 115° heat for 3 days running but realized it was something more sinister, perhaps a little too late. Her legs don’t even look “right”. Scaly and mottled where they used to be bright orange. They are now pale and black-ish.

While I’m not new to chickens; I am new to IBV in my flock. We’ve NEVER had illness until now. Everything I’ve read is so contradictory. Some say “cull the whole flock” — uh, no. Others say it’s rarely fatal. But nothing definitive for treatment. What can I do to make her more comfortable and help her? Culling my flock is absolutely NOT an option.

*Day 2 of 100+ heat, I set up misters, kept ice in their water and on the ground in big piles under shade. 1/3 of their yard (roughly a quarter acre) is shaded and I’m feeling like a shite mom, right now.

 

[Gwethrien]

I am an IBV flock mama. My girls had a mild case and I’m just gave vaccine to new chicks. I know there is the cull and restart folks but it wasn’t right for us. The main issue is it has some reproductive effects so production can be decreased and wonky at times, since for me it is a true Backyard chicken set up I’m okay without perfect production.

 

[MaBell]

I am an IBV flock mama. My girls had a mild case and I’m just gave vaccine to new chicks. I know there is the cull and restart folks but it wasn’t right for us. The main issue is it has some reproductive effects so production can be decreased and wonky at times, since for me it is a true Backyard chicken set up I’m okay without perfect production.

my flock is for self sustainability purposes. Any egg sales are just a bonus. None of my hens or pullets are or have ever been vaccinated for anything. I feed all organic feed, are raised organically and intentionally chose not to vaccinate my flock for those reasons. I am going to buy pedialite today and try to get some electrolytes in her in the hopes that will help. She is slightly perkier this morning but still not doing well.

 

[Eggcessive]

Have you gotten any testing done through your state vet or poultry lab? The symptoms you have described sound different to me than infectious bronchitis. Usually, hens will just have sneezing every few minutes with some mild congestion, and a little wet drainage around the nostrils that gets dirty. Wrinkled egg shells can occur. But if you have horrid smelling chickens and wheezing, and it cleared up in a few days, that sounds like there may be another disease happening. IB will cause sneezing that lasts a month, at least it did when my flock suffered. Wrinkled eggshells or thin-shelled eggs are common, but most grown chickens do recover. Some may have reproductive issues later, as many of my hens did.

 

[MaBell]

Have you gotten any testing done through your state vet or poultry lab? The symptoms you have described sound different to me than infectious bronchitis. Usually, hens will just have sneezing every few minutes with some mild congestion, and a little wet drainage around the nostrils that gets dirty. Wrinkled egg shells can occur. But if you have horrid smelling chickens and wheezing, and it cleared up in a few days, that sounds like there may be another disease happening. IB will cause sneezing that lasts a month, at least it did when my flock suffered. Wrinkled eggshells or thin-shelled eggs are common, but most grown chickens do recover. Some may have reproductive issues later, as many of my hens did.

I have not had any official testing done. We have had a few wrinkled eggs prior to them stopping altogether. IBV does cause smelly breath. They’ve all had sneezing and wheezing. Hers just seems to be lingering longer. I think the lethargy is due to not eating or drinking and the drainage backed up.

 

[Eggcessive]

I have never seen any info about smelly breath with IB—mine did not. But coryza will cause that and more severe respiratory symptoms. IB frequently can occur along with coryza or MG. Canker is another disease that can cause horrible breath.

 

[MaBell]

I have never seen any info about smelly breath with IB—mine did not. But coryza will cause that and more severe respiratory symptoms. IB frequently can occur along with coryza or MG. Canker is another disease that can cause horrible breath.

I just got off the phone with our vet and she said it’s likely coryza as well.

 

[Folly's place]

Get testing done, and then you can plan effectively.
So sorry your birds are ill!
Mary

 

[Eggcessive]

Unfortunately, when you add new birds to an existing flock, the new birds might be silent carriers if they have been exposed in the past. Testing would be good, and if you choose to cull or you lose a bird, a necropsy by the state poultry vet is a good way to get testing. The flock should be closed to new birds coming in or going out of your flock, especially if you plan on keeping them all and treating them. There are at least 6 common respiratory diseases, and they frequently can appear together. Here is a good link about diseases:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

Testing is the best way to know what you are dealing with. Besides the state poultry lab, Zoologix is a national lab that will send you materials to privately test for a respiratory panel of diseases. It may be more expensive to go that route, than to do testing through your state vet, but here is a link:
http://www.zoologix.com/avian/Datasheets/PoultryRespiratoryPanel.htm

 

[dawg53]

I have never seen any info about smelly breath with IB—mine did not. But coryza will cause that and more severe respiratory symptoms. IB frequently can occur along with coryza or MG. Canker is another disease that can cause horrible breath.

x2