New chickens and they're sick!

[sabella]

I just got my birds on Sunday. They're my first. When I bought them #2 girl had a injured eye. It's almost 100% now. Well the first night #3 got pecked in the eye. On the second or third day (Tues or Wed) she was listless and sort of weezy. I called the breeder and he said she likely had a cold due to stress. (probable as she was shipped and pecked in 24hrs.) He recommended Vet RX on head and behind wings and antibiotics in the water. The abios he suggested are penicillin based and I'm allergic so I got oxytetracyclene. I did half the minimum dose as my birds are 6 and 8 weeks. Well it reacted strangely. First it foamed up, then it turned dark and when I poured the remainder out I saw it had discolored my galvanized waterer. I poured it out because the birds weren't drinking it. The did consume a gallon or so but only drank when desperate. This morning they were drinking raindrops and I worried that they were dehydrated. They dove in when fresh water was put out. Now my #1 girl is sick. Presenting the same as #3. One eye weepy and closed and labored breathing. I put the Vet RX on her but I'm concerned about the abios. Now #3's eye is glued shut.

What should I do? What is it?

Here's some pics.

#1 girl

#3 girl

 

[speckledhen]

I called the breeder and he said she likely had a cold due to stress

Chickens don't get colds, as such, so he's completely off-base about that. I'm betting the injured eye wasn't really an injury at all, judging by the fact that two birds have the symptoms. None of my birds who have gotten pecked in the eye have reacted like that at all. Even stressed birds don't usually become sick unless they are already carriers of a respiratory disease.

No reputable breeder would sell you a bird with those symptoms and tell you to give them antibiotics. In fact, most reputable breeders would have already euthanized her. Sorry if that ruffles some folks' feathers to say that, but I won't back down on that issue.

This happens so often here on BYC and I realize that no one wants to cull a bird they just got, but if this bird has one of the many respiratory illnesses, they will most likely make her a carrier. Vet Rx cures nothing and has little value for this type stuff. You can get Terramycin antibiotic ointment for the eye, but if it's a respiratory virus, that won't do much for it. I hate to be a downer and I could be wrong, but with two birds showing symptoms, I don't think they have injuries.


By the way, never put antibiotics or anything acidic in a galvanized waterer. Always use plastic.

My advice to anyone who is picking up birds at a breeder--if they have any issues, any at all, run.​

 

[pinkchick]

IMO, that looks like it could be pink eye......get yourself some teramyacin eye ointment. Glove up and smear a small amount on the eye, from front to back.2 times daily and I think it was for 5-7 days, can't remember right now. Do not use the same finger for the other eye. Be sure to toss the gloves in the trash, wash your hands thoroughly. If it is not pink eye then I don't know....but by the looks of the eyes and the symptoms...I'm thinking that's what this is or very well could be. If it is the ointment should help and you should see signs of improvement in a couple days. If left untreated it can actually make the eye start to look clouded and gray. It's worth a try and I keep this ointment around in my medical supplies just in case I need it.

Hope this helps.

And edited to add: I agree with Speckledhen 100% on everything.

 

[un-named]

Quote:
Chickens don't get colds, as such, so he's completely off-base about that. I'm betting the injured eye wasn't really an injury at all, judging by the fact that two birds have the symptoms. None of my birds who have gotten pecked in the eye have reacted like that at all. Even stressed birds don't usually become sick unless they are already carriers of a respiratory disease.

No reputable breeder would sell you a bird with those symptoms and tell you to give them antibiotics. In fact, most reputable breeders would have already euthanized her. Sorry if that ruffles some folks' feathers to say that, but I won't back down on that issue.

This happens so often here on BYC and I realize that no one wants to cull a bird they just got, but if this bird has one of the many respiratory illnesses, they will most likely make her a carrier. Vet Rx cures nothing and has little value for this type stuff. You can get Terramycin antibiotic ointment for the eye, but if it's a respiratory virus, that won't do much for it. I hate to be a downer and I could be wrong, but with two birds showing symptoms, I don't think they have injuries.


By the way, never put antibiotics or anything acidic in a galvanized waterer. Always use plastic.

My advice to anyone who is picking up birds at a breeder--if they have any issues, any at all, run.

good advice, thank you.
Or at least the breeder could be honest and let the customer choose if they want to take on the vet care for the bird(s), even if it means stating they are not sure what is wrong with the bird

 

[speckledhen]

I hope it's just the eyes, but we've seen so many of these stories here on BYC, it breaks my heart. I would never let a bird leave here with anything like that wrong with it and I'd hope most breeders wouldn't, either. As myself and pinkchick mentioned, the Terramycin ointment would be the place to start (it's a bit pricey, but good to have for actual eye injuries), but you said they were having trouble breathing, so I just don't know that it's just the eyes.

 

[chickengrl]

wow, how sad. the breeder sold you birds that he knew were sick. He probably has it running though his whole flock. I really feel bad for you. It looks like one of the many respiratory imfections that birds can get. Most of these cannot be cured and are contagious. I hope it isn't true. Good luck with those poor hens.

 

[pinkchick]

Pink eye is highly infectious but my dealing with it has been strictly with goats....but pink eye is pink eye. I thought I remember reading somewhere that if advanced far enough that pink eye can actually cause sinus and nasally, respiratory symptoms causing the animal to appear and actually be sick and if left unattended can cause blindness. Don't quote me as I may well be wrong. Yes the ointment is a bit pricey but very worth having in the supplies.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I am sorry if I offend anyone but this breeder needs to be reported for selling sick chickens.

 

[speckledhen]

The only real way to know what is really wrong would be to have them tested by a vet or your state poultry lab. It's hard to diagnose anything with 100% certainty over the web. No one should have to start their chicken keeping career this way.

 

[marquisella]

Quote:
You can use cotton and warm water to try & open the eyes.

They are sick. And probably the changing homes is adding to their stress which isn't helping. At this point, I would use an injectable antibiotic, I'm not sure they would get enough in their systems by drinking to help.

If you can get Tylan injectable and inject .5 cc once a day for 3 or 4 day. Otherwise I'm afraid they won't last.

If it was me, I would take them back get a refund. The breeder was unethical in selling you sick birds.

And even if you pull them through, they may continue to be un-thrifty and cause you all kinds of problems in the future.

Sue