Hi. I am new to the site. Still Learning how to care for our new Chickens. Here is a little back story. We bought two chickens from the Flea market about 3 months ago. After the first Month, one was sick with matted eyes and lethargic. Then Died. The other chicken never got sick. About two weeks after we brought in 4 hens and a Rooster, Everyone seemed fine. It's been a bout a week now and Our Rooster is really sick. Matted eyes, drainage, runny poop and not active at all. Another one of the Hens is sick also, Still drinks and eats but sick. I have been researching some things and it seems to me that they fit into the MG respitory illness. Not sure what to do. What if you do not want to kill them? Will we ever be able to have more? Trying to determine what we need to do. Thank You for any Advice.
Im so sorry I would suggest looking at the ingredients in the food you feed them... I don't know whats good/bad for them besides vitamins, but a little research could help also, organic food would help, I bet. Mixed breeds in a flock help prevent diseases
Your chickens have respiratory infections. You can treat their symptoms and some of them will survive, but the flock is now carrying the disease and will infect every chicken you bring on the property. Casportpony or dawg53 can probably help you with medications and dosages.
Thank You. Was not sure if the whole Flock will now have it or only the ones Sick. Just checked on them, The Hen needs to be put out of her misery, she is bad, The Rooster does not seem to be making much progress. I have had them on Antibiotics for about 6 days now. I think it may be too late for the two. Probably need a Humane way to put these poor things down.
Hello there and welcome to BYC! Sorry about your flock. It may be the best thing to put these two down. As for the others in the flock, you may be able to clear them up if you catch it early enough, however your flock will be carriers for the rest of their days. You can use Sulfadimethoxine or Duramycin on them. The Sulfa is used for 5 days. The Duramycin is used for 7 to 14 days. Follow the instructions on the packaging for dosing.
So sorry for your loss. Fleas markets and swaps and auctions are places where a buyer can easily be duped. The sellers figure they will never see you again. They don't stick around in one place long enough for anyone to catch them.
I think one of the biggest problems with the respiratory diseases is the human denial . . . . A lot people simply do not believe that their chicken/flock are permanently infected. They see the chicken 'appearing' to recover and decide that all of the good advice doesn't apply to their chickens.