Need advice please! New to raising chickens... Sick chicks!

[DocBirdBrain]

The new laws re antibiotics (veterinary feed directive) means you can't get antibiotics over the counter (online or at a feed store) for any food producing animal anymore. Stick with the tetracycline until you can find an avian or exotic vet.
I don't know of a fungal disease that causes respiratory disease. Most are bacterial or viral. Some can be carried by flies, but that's the flies picking up the disease from a sick chickens face, and carrying it to another chicken. It's still bacteria or a virus causing the disease.
Good luck!

 

[jwyles]

The new laws re antibiotics (veterinary feed directive) means you can't get antibiotics over the counter (online or at a feed store) for any food producing animal anymore. Stick with the tetracycline until you can find an avian or exotic vet.
I don't know of a fungal disease that causes respiratory disease. Most are bacterial or viral. Some can be carried by flies, but that's the flies picking up the disease from a sick chickens face, and carrying it to another chicken. It's still bacteria or a virus causing the disease.
Good luck!

Ok. Thank you so much for your input. It's greatly appreciated!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry you are having trouble. It does sound like you have a respiratory illness on your hands. As suggested, it would be best to have some testing performed to know exactly what you are dealing with.

Antibiotics will only treat secondary infections associated with respiratory illness. Keep in mind that most respiratory illnesses are contagious and depending on what you have, you will need to keep a closed flock, meaning no selling/trading/swapping hatching eggs, chicks, started pullets, etc. Even if birds recover and show no symptoms, they are still considered carriers - any new birds you introduce could become ill (or not), but they in turn would be classified as carriers as well.

That said, generally Tetracycline is 800mg per gallon of drinking water. Tetracycline is not as effective as Tylan when treating respiratory illness. Injectable Tylan50 can be given orally or by injection. Dosage is 1 ml or cc per 5 lb of weight, 2x per day for 5days. Orally would most likely be your best way to administer since you are treating chicks.

Give plain fresh water or add some poultry vitamins (like Poultry Nutri-Drench) to their water - keeping hydrated will help with illness. Most chick feeds already contain probiotics, but you can offer some yogurt mixed in with their feed it you like. Egg and tuna are usually well accepted by sick birds too.

Keep us posted.

Common poultry diseases:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

Here are some measurements for (Oxy)Tetracyclines - measurements are dependent on what you have:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/oxytetracyline-and-tetracycline-powder-doses.1022878/

Independent lab testing:
http://www.zoologix.com/

 

[jwyles]

I'm sorry you are having trouble. It does sound like you have a respiratory illness on your hands. As suggested, it would be best to have some testing performed to know exactly what you are dealing with.

Antibiotics will only treat secondary infections associated with respiratory illness. Keep in mind that most respiratory illnesses are contagious and depending on what you have, you will need to keep a closed flock, meaning no selling/trading/swapping hatching eggs, chicks, started pullets, etc. Even if birds recover and show no symptoms, they are still considered carriers - any new birds you introduce could become ill (or not), but they in turn would be classified as carriers as well.

That said, generally Tetracycline is 800mg per gallon of drinking water. Tetracycline is not as effective as Tylan when treating respiratory illness. Injectable Tylan50 can be given orally or by injection. Dosage is 1 ml or cc per 5 lb of weight, 2x per day for 5days. Orally would most likely be your best way to administer since you are treating chicks.

Give plain fresh water or add some poultry vitamins (like Poultry Nutri-Drench) to their water - keeping hydrated will help with illness. Most chick feeds already contain probiotics, but you can offer some yogurt mixed in with their feed it you like. Egg and tuna are usually well accepted by sick birds too.

Keep us posted.

Common poultry diseases:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

Here are some measurements for (Oxy)Tetracyclines - measurements are dependent on what you have:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/oxytetracyline-and-tetracycline-powder-doses.1022878/

Independent lab testing:
http://www.zoologix.com/

Wow thank you for this informative reply. And no I don't plan on doing any of those things since I've found the illness. I actually had new birds ordered and cancelled. I'm just going to tend to my girls as best I can. I've got tylan 50 injectable and will start it tomorrow. Do you think I should forego the tetracycline if I begin the tylsn or do both? I was only giving 500mg per gallon so I will have to increase that. Are the vets actually able to treat the viral respiratory illness or will the just monitor and give antibiotics to ward off secondary? And I do want to throw in that there has been a significant decrease already in nasal discharge but it's the gaping one that is really making me nervous- I see her just standing still alot with her eyes closed. Like she just feels bad. They are all eating and daring well tho.

 

[jwyles]

The gaping one is my beautiful EE in my profile pic. The only chick I chose bc of how much I love how she looks! Why is it always the favorites???

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Personally I would just treat with Tylan50.

A vet would most likely give you antibiotics to help treat any secondary infection associated with illness. Of course there are better meds available by prescription

 

[jwyles]

Personally I would just treat with Tylan50.

A vet would most likely give you antibiotics to help treat any secondary infection associated with illness. Of course there are better meds available by prescription

I'll start that tomorrow! Never done it so prayers appreciated!! Thanks again!!

 

[jwyles]

Just one more thing. Do my chickens have good odds of beating this with treatment or is survival rate still low? TIA

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Just one more thing. Do my chickens have good odds of beating this with treatment or is survival rate still low? TIA

Awww

Yes, respiratory illnesses are survivable. It does depend on what you have and of course, how severe. There can be complications down the road - drastic reduction in egg production and egg quality, etc. Times of stress like molting can be hard and sometimes symptoms can re-appear. If at all possible, get some testing done so you know.

Most of yours seem to be improving. I know the favorite girl (adorable btw) is struggling - hopefully getting some meds into her she will make a turn around.

Treat only those that have symptoms - so if you have a group that is still symptom free, just keep a watch on them, then treat accordingly.

Also, we tend to want to keep sick ones warm, safe, etc. - plenty of fresh air and ventilation is key. I don't know where you are keeping them, but make sure they have good air flow.

Keep us posted.

 

[Liv_loves_chickens]

I would put probiotics in their water, you can usually buy them at your local tractor supply