Neem internally for respiratory issues?

[StPaulieGirls]

Hey folks,

Our whole flock is plagued by low-grade respiratory crud (maybe CRD) and I'm thinking of giving them neem tea. There's a gouldian finch breeder out there on the internet who swears by it.

If you have any experience with neem given in water or food I'd be grateful for your wisdom around dosing & duration.

Thanks!

 

[dawg53]

You need to take a look in the environment and see if there's anything causing the symptoms you're seeing in your birds. Examples; feed dust, dust from dust bathing, ammonia fumes from soiled bedding, improper ventilation, pollen, pesticide use, mold/fungus inside the coop or inside feed sacks etc...all of these examples can be corrected or eliminated.

If you know about CRD (aka MG) and other respiratory diseases, then you know that antibiotics and organics including neem tea only mask symptoms, they do not cure birds from respiratory diseases.
Surviving birds of respiratory diseases including CRD, whether it's a mild or severe strain, remain carriers for life and will spread the disease to other birds. You must maintain a closed flock. No new birds in, no birds out to be sold or given away.

If in fact it's CRD, eggs cant be sold or given away to be hatched. CRD is passed through the egg, to the chick as well.
Your other option is to depopulate, disinfect everything and wait a few weeks before repopulating. CRD only lasts in the environment for 3 days. Other respiratory diseases have a longer course time.

If neem tea cured CRD, alot of folks would be using it for their sick birds. Then all CRD problems would vanish in chickens everywhere in the world. My advice is not waste your money on snake oil that's lining another persons pocket with your hard earned money. Save it and get your sickest bird tested. You can contact your local or state extension office to find out how to get a bird necropsied, then you'll know for sure what you're dealing with.