Need help with Coryza!

WAAA!
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I am so sad~ After reading many threads on here about Coryza, I think that I might have it starting in my coop(s). My main roosty has been quarantined for 2 days now, being treated with Tetracycline. He is the only one showing symptoms (watery eyes & loss of spunkiness). If I new that it would save the rest of my birds to cull him, I would... but I fear it is too late (if it even is Coryza). Not really looking for advice... I am going to leave him in quarantine for another 5 days or so, and decide what to do in the meantime. Thanx for listening.
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Oy... I lied!
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Thanx for your hugs kittymomma~ they rejeuvenated me... and now I am looking for input! The whole plan for my laying flock was to become self sustained; without having to buy a whole new batch of hatchery birds every couple of years; birds who start dying from internal lay and related issues. I thought I was making good progress, with some very willing broody Silkies to do the mothering, an extremely competent rooster and a few laying hens to start the process. Together, my little team & I have produced 14 hens and 6 roosters. Then came Scaly Leg Mite. Now comes Coryza (or something like it). Both of which seem to have an indefinate life within a flock!? Oh man! So now, do I cull the sick rooster and stand a good chance of saving the flock, or do I nurse him back to health & send him back in with the flock, since as I understand it; they are probably already infected (even though not showing symptoms), as all future flocks in my production will be?! This is seeming like a very slow, painful (for me) flock death. I would love for someone to shed a ray of hope... but I am a realist- I want the truth.
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Here is a pic of my roosty just a few days ago- you can sort of see the wetness in the outer corner of his eye, but I am going to get a much better pic shortly.
 
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Well I just did my first cull on my own today:( My poor Roosty was not looking any better after a few days in quarantine, and quite truthfully- I don't think I would have felt good putting him back with the flock even if he did bounce back. When I had him in my arms, I noticed that the strong smell which I read about was developing (which was not present days prior). Now I really would love some advice... please... anyone! I now have my flock of ladies without a man. I suppose they are fine for a while, but I would like to have a rooster in there maintaining some order! I have a rooster in the other coop who is quite ready to join his ladies. How long should I be diligently watching for further signs of Coryza in my girls who were housed with the sick rooster? I would like to add the rooster, but I obviously want to take precautions to avoid the same fate.
 
You would ABSOLUTELY HATE what I said to you about the entire flock including the hen house and all of the wood used to construct it so I wont comment. It will go a LOT farther then you expect it to go. I will say that after raising birds for MANY years I agree whole heartedly with Speckled Hen on this. This is one of the reasons why I RARELY go to poultry auctions (never have bought a single bird but seen lots of sick ones) or poultry shows with any of my birds. If you want an honest opinion you can pm me but I will be brutally honest with you and not pull any punches. I can even give you a ladies name and let you call her about her experience with it............................
 
Well I just got off the phone with the vet at our animal heath centre, and here is what she had to say. Keep in mind that she has not seen any of my birds- she was just doing her best to give me some input with the info I gave her. She seemed to think that it is unlikely that we have Coryza, as it is apparenty very uncommon in our area- however- she did say that it is not impossible. She figures that it is probably mycoplasma infection. This is apparently very common in our area, and she guessed that app. 75% of the farms around here have it. She suggested supporting the birds through times of stress such as coming into lay, new bird introduction, etc. with antibiotics for 7-10 days (eventhough the package suggests 3-5 days). She also suggested removing sick birds from the flock for treatment. I was under the impression that Coryza is a herpes type infection (virus)- but she indicated that it is bacterial, as is mycoplasma infection.
I have to say though, that after everything I have read; I am still feeling very inclined to cull any symptomatic birds. I hope this information is helpful for anyone else who may find themselves in the same situation as me! I am still a little confused and unsure... I'll have to see how things go.
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Honestly, I have my doubts that so many have mycoplasma unless no one ever does anything to protect their flocks, but that could be the case, in your locale. Even though Coryza is bacterial, it's still a carrier disease. Many, however, are herpes types. And unless you test, there is no way to be absolutely sure. I know it can be very confusing if you have no avian vet to do testing so you know exactly what you are dealing with. That is the reason we have a cull policy for anything respiratory that rears its ugly head. Dang, I wish we could see germs so we could be positive we aern't bringing them home to our birds!
 
This is what I found on Coryza, it might help..

Infectious Coryza is caused by the haemophilus paragallinarum bacteria, older birds are more susceptible than young ones. The disease organism cannot live for long outside the body of the bird, but recovered birds may be carriers. In most flocks a rigid culling system will eliminate the disease, but it must be rigid. In extreme cases it may be necessary to break the cycle by confining all hatching to the spring months and disposing of all old birds as soon as the hatching season is over.
Signs
Watery eyes
Facial swelling, including one or both eyes swelled shut
Foul smelling discharge from the nose
Diarrhea
Low egg production
Wheezing

Transmission
This is very contagious, and is easy spread by any kind of contact by sick, or carrier birds.
Diagnosis
The most common signs of this are facial swelling, including eyes swollen shut, with a fowl odor from the nasal area.
Treatment
Streptomycin
Gallimycin
Sulfadimethoxine

It is recommended to cull infected birds, as symptoms can come back after treatment, and all infected birds become carriers of this disease, and will continue to infect other fowl on your yard.

Gallimycin you can get here for $6.95 (25 tablets)
Sulfdimethoxine you can get here for $19.95 (a bag)

Chris
 

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