My Chicken Guy Said Bronchitis, Advice

[melaniemariecl]

I was in here asking about a sealed eye on one of my new pullets. Another showed with bubbly eye, so I called the guy I bought them from. He was very apologetic and said that 2 of the pullets which he had got from another breeder had bronchitis, he said the guy he bought them from didn't tell him bc he had treated them. Well, the 2 treated pullets infected the other 2 pullets from his own flock.

The guy said he's going to refund my my money for the 4 pullets I purchased from him and that I should start them all on Gallimyicin for 10 days. Will this clear it up? Or should I just cull them and start over?

I have 3 chicks that are on medicated food, they are separated, but have been using the same run...do I need to treat them as well?

This is not a zoonotic illness, correct? I have toddlers that have been playing with them.

Thanks!

 

[dawg53]

I remember your previous post about the swollen eye. Bubbly eye is a symptom of a respiratory disease. My question is how does the breeder(s) know it's Infectious Bronchitis (IB?) There are other respiratory diseases that can cause bubbly eyes. There isnt any treatment for IB. Here's a link, scroll down to Infectious Bronchitis (IB) and read about it if you wish. Gallimycin is used to treat CRD = Mycoplasma Gallisepticum (MG.) You can read about that in this link as well:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044
IB, MG are not zoonotic.

 

[melaniemariecl]

Guy A sold to 4 of us on Saturday and he got calls from the others complaining about the symptoms. Guy A then got in touch with Guy B, he got the Red Sex Links from Guy B (the morning we picked up), and Guy B told Guy A he had treated them for bronchitis and went ahead and sold to Guy A bc he thought they were treated and well. Guy A told me he has lost 1 of his original flock so far.

The 2 pullets I bought that came from Guy B are not showing signs of the illness (they were treated before I picked them up), however, the 2 pullets that were part of Guy A's original flock are both showing signs.

I can't find gallimycin at any of my feed or tractor supply stores. Not sure if I have time to order online or not.

 

[dawg53]

If you read about IB in the link, you wouldve read that it's a virus. Antibiotics are useless against virusus, including gallimycin. However, it can treat secondary infections. You may not be dealing with IB if the gallimycin actually treated the birds as you stated....perhaps it's MG. The only way to find out exactly what you're dealing with is to contact your local extension office and find out how to go about getting bloodwork or necropsy performed on one of your birds, preferably the sickest. If in fact it's a respiratory disease, I recommend that you cull the sick birds. Medications only treat symptoms and dont cure the disease, surviving birds remain carriers for life and can spread whatever disease it is to new incoming birds. If you decide to treat your birds, you'll have to maintain a closed flock; no new ones in, none out. Some diseases pass through eggs as well; including IB and MG...therefore no selling eggs to be hatched. When carrier birds are stressed, symptoms will exhibit themselves again requiring treatment. Eventually the meds wont work due to resistance to the meds. Then a more powerful, more costly med will be required to treat the symptoms...a never ending cycle of treating sick birds $$$.

 

[melaniemariecl]

So what you're telling me is that I should just cull these 4 birds? Even if what they have is cured they will still be carriers. I have 3 chicks and don't want to take the chance that they will get sick. The 2 presenting symptoms DEFINITELY contracted from 1 or both of the birds that are not currently presenting, there is no doubt about that...I have no problem culling these animals. I don't want to waste money doing bloodwork or necropsy, these are laying birds...not pets, not for show.

How do you avoid this in the future? Should I always buy chicks? The guy I purchased from is reputable, I know others who have purchased from him and never had issues.

 

[dawg53]

Birds with respiratory diseases are never cured. Medications only treat/mask symptoms. If the birds survive a respiratory disease, they will be carriers of the disease for life..."Typhoid Mary's," will spread the disease to other birds.
When you purchase birds in the future; especially from the farmer down the road, swap meets, poultry shows, the reputable guy in the next town, TSC, etc... it's best to quarantine them for at least 6 weeks away from an existing flock. This gives time for most respiratory diseases to show themselves, some have longer incubation times than others. Also while newbies are quarantined, this gives you time to visually inspect them head to toe for any maladies and external parasites. It also gives you time to treat for internal parasites and look for anything else out of the ordinary before you eventually introduce them to your existing flock...biosecurity.
Chicks purchased from reputable hatcheries are normally safe and dont require quarantine. When dealing with breeders, you have to ask direct questions regarding health and background; vaccinations, worming protocol, health problems etc...not by how cute they look. Ask; who, what, when, where, how, and why.

 

[melaniemariecl]

Great, thanks so much for all the information.