Ill chicken, purple comb, breathing and sneezing

[wcroome]

Hi.

We have a number of rescue chicken.

We introduced 2 more recently (divided in run by fence).

Since then one of our chickens has become poorly.

First her breathing became laboured, then some sneezing (or chicken equivalent).

Having gone to the vets they prescribed penicillin and this seemed to improve things a little but now her comb has gone very purple.

She still eats and drinks well, roams around with the rest and her stools are firm.

She is definitely lethargic though and has now taken herself away from the others at roost and goes into one of the nesting boxes at nights.

Unfortunately with lockdown the chicken expert isn't around although they just prescribed another course of medications (4 weeks worth).

Just reaching out to see if there is anything else we can do. I don't think it is a disease from the new girls although maybe it is stress related.

As I said at the beginning, she is a rescue hen so maybe it is just her time.

Thanks

 

[Eggcessive]

Sneezing with labored breathing might be signs of a respiratory disease. Most of those are contagious and can make survivors carriers for life, depending on which disease. Penicillin will not treat a respiratory disease or a virus. But Tylosin and a few other antibiotics may treat symptoms of mycoplasma (MG.) Those are hard to find without a vet, but you may find it here:
https://www.jedds.com/shop/tylan-soluble-100-g/

 

[wcroome]

Thanks.

We were prescribed clavaseptin.

We could separate the chook because I guess it is contagious but I'd be worried that the additional stress would take her over the edge.

 

[Eggcessive]

The others have already been exposed to her most likely, so I would just keep her with her flock to make her feel more comfortable. Clavamox or clavaseptin is a good antibiotic for certain infections, but it probably won’t treat MG. But worth a try to treat whatever is bothering her for now.

 

[wcroome]

Well having continued antibiotics for a while her breathing improved but then she started to get some paralysis in her legs and neck and finally after a day and night of not getting out of nesting box she died. I probably should have helped her end sooner but not sure I'm trained to do it and just grateful her probable agony didn't last too long.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. That sounds like possible Mareks disease.

 

[wcroome]

Maybe, but fingers crossed it hasn't spread. The Internet says, that birds can carry this without showing symptoms.