My chickens have IB, what should I do?

[WillowMoonWyandottes]

Recently my chicks have come down with Infectious Bronchitis and I’m not sure what to do. They are getting supportive care at the moment but I have no idea how they got it and I have never had any problems with my chickens having any illnesses except for now. I have about 30 adults that I’m sure have been exposed and I know it is very contagious and it has been passed to all 20 of my chicks that are only 2 weeks old. If my adults get it what should I do with them? Can they pass it to other chickens even if they live through it? I heard they lose egg quality and that’s what I raise them for is laying and hatching eggs. I do love my chickens and have all different breeds and colors. This is just so shocking and upsetting that this is happening.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Was this diagnosed by a vet?

 

[Eggcessive]

So do you think that your 2 week old chicks have infectious bronchitis symptoms? What are they doing exactly? Have any of your older chickens ever suffered from IB in the past? Why do you think they have that? If you are only seeing sneezing, and have never had birds with a respiratory disease, then I doubt you are dealing with IB. Look at dust in the brooder, ammonia odor, poor ventilation, or mold from spilled water.

 

[WillowMoonWyandottes]

Was this diagnosed by a vet?

No but I’m not sure what else it could be. They have a runny nose, sneezing, lethargic and diarrhea. Some of the chicks are gasping. I’m giving them VetRX in the water to help some with the stopped up noses and vitamins and electrolytes in the water also. I honestly don’t know what it is but that’s just what I assumed. It’s my first experience with any illness so I may be jumping conclusions

 

[Eggcessive]

Did the chicks come from a hatchery, a feed store, a breeder, or hatched by your chickens?

 

[WillowMoonWyandottes]

Did the chicks come from a hatchery, a feed store, a breeder, or hatched by your chickens?

The first chicks that had it were from a hatchery Ideal Poultry and they past it to my chicks that I hatched. I separated the chicks I hatched from the area as soon as I noticed the problem but they still got it soon after. Do you think it came from the hatchery?

 

[Eggcessive]

Were the first chicks to get it outside exposed to wild birds? Chicks usually get respiratory diseases from an older bird in the flock who may be a carrier. MG is one that may show up around 2-3 weeks old if it was passed through a hatching egg or from other chickens in the environment. Infectious bronchitis is not passed through eggs, but easily passed from other chickens who are carriers. Symptoms can be similar, and testing or a necropsy may get a diagnosis. MG can respornd to antibiotics, such as Tylan, oxytetracycline, Baytril, doxycycline, or denagard. IB will not.

 

[WillowMoonWyandottes]

Were the first chicks to get it outside exposed to wild birds? Chicks usually get respiratory diseases from an older bird in the flock who may be a carrier. MG is one that may show up around 2-3 weeks old if it was passed through a hatching egg or from other chickens in the environment. Infectious bronchitis is not passed through eggs, but easily passed from other chickens who are carriers. Symptoms can be similar, and testing or a necropsy may get a diagnosis. MG can respornd to antibiotics, such as Tylan, oxytetracycline, Baytril, doxycycline, or denagard. IB will not.

We do have lots of wild birds in the area because I live out in a wooded area. But none of my other chickens have never had any problems before. If it’s MG how would I go about it? What should I do with all my chickens if they get it? Since I hatch eggs and that is passed through the egg. How would I go about getting a necropsy on one of them? I’ve had 2 pass away already.

 

[Folly's place]

You need a diagnosis first, and then you can decide what's best to do. Call your state veterinary lab TODAY for advice about testing. It could be sending a bird or two, or swabs, but find out and get answers ASAP.
Neither disease you've mentioned will disappear from your flock.
Mary

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

How and where are you brooding these chicks? Chicks require good air exchange, and the brooder needs to remain dry to avoid things like brooder pneumonia, or aspergillis.

I agree you need a proper diagnosis before assuming the worse.