Need Help Diagnosing and potential treatment or eradication

[lpetrucci]

Hello,
About 7 weeks ago we purchased 8 meat birds (Freedom Rangers.) They are not well. One died within a week. We thought it was just the runt, small with droopy wings. Then another started sneezing and rasping. We separated it for a while and gave it electrolytes. A week or so past and we noticed a couple of others sneezing, so we put them all together and transitioned them outside. One bird at this point was limping. This past weekend the limping one died while gasping for air. The rest of the birds have cold symptoms, but are eating like champs and seem to be growing. One has puffy eyes right now, and most seem to have light gray eyes. They are drinking electrolytes and probiotics. Someone recommended antibiotics, but they are meat birds...

I am very near ready to get them out of my yard for fear of Marek's or some other hazardous disease which may effect my layers (we have 6 strong hens about 2 years old.)

Can anyone please provide some advice?

Another burning question is, in the midst of not knowing these chicks were sick, we had 2 orpington chicks we were hoping to raise for new layers. They were in the same area for about 2 days. I have them on medicated feed just in case...but I would take any advice as whether or not to keep these as well...or perhaps they might not be affected?

Thanks so much for any thoughts.

 

[Judy]

I would process them immediately and observe the rest. Many respiratory diseases in chickens cannot be cured and can even be passed through the egg. (They should be OK to eat, if they seem big enough to be worth the trouble.)

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/715540/sneezing-coughing-and-now-a-buggery-nose-on-my-roo/0_20

See especially post #9.

 

[lpetrucci]

Thank you so much for your response. I am going to cull the meat birds. I still need to decide with the Orpingtons. I have them on medicated feed and I am spending time with them. One has a slight nose drip but doesn't seem to be sneezing. The other seems perfectly fine. I'm really not sure if I should continue with this or get them out too since our older birds have never had any problems. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[missnu01]

Medicated feed only protects against cocciodosis. I would probably just keep them separated and see how it goes...I would go ahead and process the meat birds...but I would wait on the others...although it would probably be safer to get rid of them too and just start fresh...Also something to think about...your healthy chickens are much more likely to pass things to your chicks, than the other way around...
So I wouldn't cull any that you don't have to...it is very probable that the chicks caught whatever from the proximity of the adult chickens you already have. Most chickens that live to be adults have usually been exposed to most poultry diseases and lived to tell the tale...chicks on the other hand have to start from scratch...they are exposed to things and some die...but a lot don't...So you inevitably end up with the stronger surviving...I could be totally wrong though and the birds had something before you got them, but the chances are less that it started with the chicks. Even chickens that seem totally fine and not at all sick can have diseases they will pass on that may or may not make other chickens sick.

 

[lpetrucci]

Thanks so much for all the information. The Orpingtons were definitely exposed to the meat chicks for a day or 2, but not the older hens. Would you stick with the medicated feed? If so for how long? Do you think an antibiotic might help, or am I getting ahead of myself here?

 

[lpetrucci]

Update:

We eradicated the meat birds. The 2 orpington chicks are ok. One seems fine, the other has a bit of runny nose but not too bad.

Now one of my 2 year old layers has a rasp and sneezes now and then. She is alert and seems to be eating/drinking. We have her separated right now. We have never had a problem with these chickens before.

Thoughts on administering antibiotics? Or just keep a close watch? I have been feeding everyone garlic...and apple cider vinegar in the water.

Ugh!