infectious bronchitis

[restinpeacenyla]

my 7 week cochin had been wheezing, breathing heavily, and sneezing. one of my hens has wrinkly eggs (implying she is a recovered bird from respiratory disease). do you think he may have caught it from her? the other chickens in the flock have been doing well with no signs of infection. i am fairly new to the area of disease in chickens so i dont know what to do! i thought his raspy voice was somewhat because of his cockerel voice, but i changed my mind when i heard his heaving and loud breathing while he was resting. i dont know if this has anything to do with it, but i have been experiencing a heavy chest myself! is this contagious to humans?! he has no strange behaviour nor strange poop. he has been eating fine and drinking well too. could it be gape worm? help!!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Entirely possible. IB is extremely contagious and 100 % contagion of flock members is to be expected. They can recover fairly rapidly but will always be carriers.
There is no known transmission from chickens to humans for IB.
Perhaps you need a covid test.

 

[restinpeacenyla]

will try! is there anything i can do? medicine?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

IF it is IB, There is no treatment for viruses. Birds recover or they don't. Electrolytes in drinking water help. Avoid crowding. Observe for secondary infection. Survivors are immune but are carriers. Hens eventually return to production but volume and quality of eggs may never return.
If the birds aren't extremely valuable, pick a good time to cull the flock, completely disinfect the coop with something for viral infection like activated oxine and after a bit replace the flock. IB can travel through the air 1,000
yards.
Before you cull all birds, send one to your state poultry lab for necropsy and lab diagnosis. What state are you in?
Do close neighbors have chickens?

 

[restinpeacenyla]

i live in england and none of my nrighbours (that i know of) have chickens

 

[restinpeacenyla]

IF it is IB, There is no treatment for viruses. Birds recover or they don't. Electrolytes in drinking water help. Avoid crowding. Observe for secondary infection. Survivors are immune but are carriers. Hens eventually return to production but volume and quality of eggs may never return.
If the birds aren't extremely valuable, pick a good time to cull the flock, completely disinfect the coop with something for viral infection like activated oxine and after a bit replace the flock. IB can travel through the air 1,000
yards.
Before you cull all birds, send one to your state poultry lab for necropsy and lab diagnosis. What state are you in?
Do close neighbors have chickens?

do you think that apple cider vinegar will help?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

No.
ACV, at best will improve gut enzymes and digestion. However it won't do anything for a respiratory disease. 2 different systems. Enhancing gut health can't remove a respiratory virus.

 

[restinpeacenyla]

are there any home made electrolytes? or will it be necessary to buy online?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

i live in england and none of my nrighbours (that i know of) have chickens

That will help. At least your coop won't likely be reinfected.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

are there any home made electrolytes? or will it be necessary to buy online?

Electrylytes are nothing more than a blend of minerals to replace those that may be missing in the body. Be careful, too much of a good thing is a bad thing.
https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf...hUKEwjGt6L7-c_qAhWWGM0KHbW2CVgQ4dUDCAk&uact=5