New chickens and they're sick!

[snowbird]

Another point if you do not get the eye open and clean they will more than likely loose eye sight. Just use some soapy dish water and a soft rag to open the eye. You do not need to buy the expensive eye ointment, just liquid LA-200 or Duramycin come in 100 cc bottle and put unused portion in fridge. Don

 

[BigDaddy'sGurl]

Quote:
SOAPY dish water??? Wouldn't that potentially cause more damage to the eye if it is already injured or infected???

 

[tnchickenut]

According the the OP and the pics... I would treat with Tylan or put them down. Here are your two options. I underline treat because you won't be cureing it at all. Just making the symptoms better. Like if your back hurts all the time and you take aleve or whatnot... you aren't cureing or fixing the ailment... just making it feel better.

Because of that you may want to put them down. If you ever get more chickens... these will only make them sick EVENTUALLY. Alot of people think "well it's been three months and no one else is sick" Yes they are. They just aren't showing yet. They are still spreading it around.

Personally... I would have them tested by the state... and report the breeder. Everyone gets a sick bird in their flock but not honest person would SELL IT!!?!?!?!??!!? Blows my mind.

When people say "cold" with chickens they usually mean MG which is a respitory infection SIMULAR to a humans cold. Again... you can treat it with Tylan.

I'm sorry as a newbie you are having to deal with this. Personally, I would put them down. THey don't look too good. I'm sorry. They are suffering when they are huddled up with their heads tucked in like that.

Again... don't let this "breeder" get away with it. Give them a piece of your mind at least. I don't live far from GA.. matter of fact, I'm going down to sell a rooster today.... give me his name and I'll make his like h*ll!!LOL

 

[snowbird]

When experienced chicken people refer to Colds and Roup, they are refering to Coryza. The mild soapy dish soap will not hurt the chickens. I see several saying to report the seller, Just who do you want to report them too. This is not a reportable disease last time I looked.

I do not believe the poster is interested in culling these Marans. The info I gave will clear up the eye problem. Don

 

[sabella]

Quote:
I will give this a shot. I prefer to treat things naturally and do want to go organic. The babies do not stink. There is no nasal discharge. Just the goopy eye and labored breathing. I will also call the breeder. I can't do penicillin. According to the Dr. who treated my reaction to it I can never have it again or risk death. So I won't even handle it.

 

[chickengrl]

Sabella,
I just re-read your post and realized that these birds are the start of your flock. right? Honestly, and I don't say it lightly, you should cull the birds. I am really sorry, but whatever they have is probably infectious and even if they survive, they will carry the disease and here you are with the bare beginnings of your flock and have birds that will make any new ones sick. It is heartbreaking. If one dies, you can take it to your state agriculture dept veterinarian for a necropsy to find out what you are facing. Some states it is even free, and they can help you sort things out. I still think I would reccomend culling these and starting over. You can get a fresh start on a truly healthy flock. IMHO, I will never buy adult birds from anyone again. You are far more likely to bring disease home again. Most folks who have been doing chickens for some time will only buy day old chicks or hatch eggs for this exact reason. I wish I had known this before we started because we are in the same situation you are except we have 22 adult birds and 20 chicks(isolated and not sick). Also, something you should know is a chicken can look perfectly healthy and still be a carrier.

I know that our best bet (for us) is to cull all the adults and start over, but this has been very hard for us to actually do since we have become attached to them. If you decide to keep the birds the ethical thing would be to keep a CLOSED flock and they can never be sold to others. Not even eggs, because some diseases will pass through the egg. (MG) If anyone suggests that you can get them healthy and sell them to someone else, PLEASE don't!!! Please, consider that you might infect someone elses flock and they might lose all their birds. I don't get the feeling you are one of those sorts of "chicken trader" types, but that solution may be suggested to you.

No matter what you decide, neither is right or wrong. I wish you the strength to find the right path for yourself. Good luck with the birds.

 

[sabella]

Well I'm still conflicted, frustrated and sad. But they are looking better. I left a message for the breeder. We'll see what happens. If I do have to cull the lot I can't afford to replace them so will just have to get feed store birds. What a mess!

 

[sabella]

duplicate post

 

[math ace]

Quote:
Keep us updated on the birds and the breeder

 

[sabella]

I got some plastic waterers and made a gallon of the homeopathic and a chick size of the abios. Currently have only given the abios as the little blue girl, who was better at breakfast, is worse. Now both eyes are ooky. Everyone else has recovered. The black with the eye stuck shut opened it up over night and the eye looks fine now. The roo and the smallest still look great.