My chickens are having cold like symptoms and some have died, what can I do

[Lostalias71]

I’ve separated the sick ones and have been treating them with vetrx, wiping their eyes with warm water and giving then electrolytes and probiotics. Any suggestions on what else to do?

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
I have requested that this post be moved to the ER forum.
It sounds like you may want to start a course of Tylan 50 on your birds. I'll tag a few of our ER folks to see if they can help you out.
@Eggcessive, @casportpony, @staceyj, @Wyorp Rock, @azygous, @Texas Kiki

 

[danceswithronin]

Clean out your run and coop. Like really scrub it down with antibacterial soap. Lots of respiratory disease is caused by dirty coops. If you haven't done a spring cleaning, this is probably a good time.

Make sure the coop has enough ventilation. What kind of substrate are you using in the bottom of the run/coop?

Add some cider vinegar and garlic to their water. You might also try feeding thyme and oregano with some yogurt. These are good periodic preventative measures to prevent illness as well.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I’ve separated the sick ones and have been treating them with vetrx, wiping their eyes with warm water and giving then electrolytes and probiotics. Any suggestions on what else to do?

Hi @Lostalias71 Welcome To BYC

Where are you located in the world (state/country)?
Can you post some photos of your chickens?
How old are they?
Where did they come from and how long have you had them?

If you have vet care, that is always best.

You mention you are wiping the eyes, so I assume they have a discharge? Is there facial swelling and mucous from the nostrils as well? Coughing/sneezing?

It sounds like you are dealing with a respiratory disease - Mycoplasma, Infectious Bronchitis, ILT and Infectious Coryza are some of the more common poultry diseases.
Newcastle is prevalent in certain parts of California as well.

Antibiotics can be used to help treat secondary infections and offer some relief/supportive care to sick birds. There is no cure to respiratory diseases. Most diseases also make birds carriers of the illness even if they recover.

It's good that you separated the sick ones. Only treat sick birds. Tylan50 can be found at most feed stores like Tractor Supply. Dose is 0.25ml per pound of weight given orally 3 times a day for 5 days. Mycoplasma responds fairly well to antibiotics. ILT and IB are viruses and will have to run their course, antibiotics will help if there is infection. Infectious Coryza usually requires a sulfa drug to accompany the Tylan 50.

For eyes, general care would be to flush with saline, remove any pus/discharge and apply an eye ointment like Terramycin. Plain Neosporin can also be used if that's all you have.

Here's some reading on poultry diseases:

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[Lostalias71]

I’m sorry I’m new to this forum so I neglected to introduce myself, I’m from northwestern Wisconsin, a small town called Spooner, I had a small flock of chickens, some purchased and a few I hatched myself, I recently bought more chickens to have a large flock so I can sell eggs and hatch more chicks myself, soon after buying the new birds I noticed a few of my chickens were coughing and sneezing and had swollen eyes with a discharge. I began trying to doctor them myself, in the last week I’ve lost 4 of my chickens, weird thing is the ones I lost weren’t the ones in sick bay, they were ones that seemed fine, anyway I gathered up all the ones that seem sick and have them separated, I will go get the Tylan50 and try that. Thank you

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I’m sorry I’m new to this forum so I neglected to introduce myself, I’m from northwestern Wisconsin, a small town called Spooner, I had a small flock of chickens, some purchased and a few I hatched myself, I recently bought more chickens to have a large flock so I can sell eggs and hatch more chicks myself, soon after buying the new birds I noticed a few of my chickens were coughing and sneezing and had swollen eyes with a discharge. I began trying to doctor them myself, in the last week I’ve lost 4 of my chickens, weird thing is the ones I lost weren’t the ones in sick bay, they were ones that seemed fine, anyway I gathered up all the ones that seem sick and have them separated, I will go get the Tylan50 and try that. Thank you

Thank you for the additional information.
I'm so sorry!
It sounds like you bought some birds that brought an illness into your flock

So the ones you lost, you've had them for a while (existing flock) but they had no signs of respiratory illness? That is a bit odd. The ones that you lost - did they eat/drink o.k., poop looked fine - not mucousy or runny? Just brainstorming here.

If you happen to lose any more, it would be a very good idea to send the body to your state lab for testing so you can find out what you are dealing with.
https://www.wvdl.wisc.edu/

 

[Lostalias71]

Clean out your run and coop. Like really scrub it down with antibacterial soap. Lots of respiratory disease is caused by dirty coops. If you haven't done a spring cleaning, this is probably a good time.

Make sure the coop has enough ventilation. What kind of substrate are you using in the bottom of the run/coop?

Add some cider vinegar and garlic to their water. You might also try feeding thyme and oregano with some yogurt. These are good periodic preventative measures to prevent illness as well.

I cleaned the coop, and laid down new bedding, Aspen wood shavings, it’s a newly built coop so it has good ventilation, I’m also adding oregano and garlic in their feed, thanks for the info

 

[danceswithronin]

View attachment 1743776

I cleaned the coop, and laid down new bedding, Aspen wood shavings, it’s a newly built coop so it has good ventilation, I’m also adding oregano and garlic in their feed, thanks for the info

Beautiful birds, I love your cream and white roo!

 

[Lostalias71]

Thank you for the additional information.
I'm so sorry!
It sounds like you bought some birds that brought an illness into your flock

So the ones you lost, you've had them for a while (existing flock) but they had no signs of respiratory illness? That is a bit odd. The ones that you lost - did they eat/drink o.k., poop looked fine - not mucousy or runny? Just brainstorming here.

If you happen to lose any more, it would be a very good idea to send the body to your state lab for testing so you can find out what you are dealing with.
https://www.wvdl.wisc.edu/

A couple I lost were new ones and a couple of old ones I’ve have for two years, I hadn’t noticed them acting sick, one was walking around acting fine when I checked and removed sick ones and the next morning found the one dead that had been acting fine the day before

 

[Lostalias71]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
I have requested that this post be moved to the ER forum.
It sounds like you may want to start a course of Tylan 50 on your birds. I'll tag a few of our ER folks to see if they can help you out.
@Eggcessive, @casportpony, @staceyj, @Wyorp Rock, @azygous, @Texas Kiki

I finally spoke to a vet and I’m getting some tetracycline powder to give my sick chickens in their water, but how long do I have to wait to use their eggs after they have antibiotics?