Only my second year with chickens and I am getting frustrated! Respiratory problems and lice?!

[Lady of McCamley]

Ok so it's been 4 days since I brought them home. The two that are sick are in the same room as 8 baby chicks but in a separate enclosure. I am going to go get some Tylan today. Could powder be used? I will be moving the 8 baby chicks into the house and keeping the two sick birds in the room until I figure out what I want to really do (I keep going back and forth). Should I dose my 8 chicks as well and what would be the dosage for baby chicks? They range in ages 2-9 weeks old. So far the 8 aren't showing any symptoms of what is suspected to be Coryza. I talked to the lady about returning the chicks and she said she could take them back but I won't be getting my money back. I'm fine with that as I just want them gone but I don't want another unsuspecting customer getting them either.

Here is a good medicine chart for typical meds, uses, and their doses.
https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/medicine-chart

Tylosin (Tylan) is listed as useful against Coryza and a host of other bacterial infections, so it is a good broad based antibiotic. Be aware that you are still treating symptoms and that the birds could always be potential carriers, periodically shedding the bacterium if Coryza.

I would treat ALL that were in that room as Coryza is very infectious. You also have the issue that those other 8 chicks could become lifetime carriers as well, though they do not show outward symptoms now. I would recommend doing a lot of reading on Coryza from ag universities and vet literature to get a feel for what you want to do with all potentially exposed per the ag literature above. You may decide to vaccinate all new incoming birds to help protect them.

I am disappointed the seller won't refund the money. Selling obvious sick birds is not responsible business practices.

LofMc

 

[butterfliesdoku]

Here is a good medicine chart for typical meds, uses, and their doses.
https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/medicine-chart

Tylosin (Tylan) is listed as useful against Coryza and a host of other bacterial infections, so it is a good broad based antibiotic. Be aware that you are still treating symptoms and that the birds could always be potential carriers, periodically shedding the bacterium if Coryza.

I would treat ALL that were in that room as Coryza is very infectious. You also have the issue that those other 8 chicks could become lifetime carriers as well, though they do not show outward symptoms now. I would recommend doing a lot of reading on Coryza from ag universities and vet literature to get a feel for what you want to do with all potentially exposed per the ag literature above. You may decide to vaccinate all new incoming birds to help protect them.

I am disappointed the seller won't refund the money. Selling obvious sick birds is not responsible business practices.

LofMc

You mentioned vaccinating all new incoming birds so I was wondering if my outdoor flock should be vaccinated before introducing the 8 chicks to the outdoors?

 

[KayTee]

I talked to the lady about returning the chicks and she said she could take them back but I won't be getting my money back. I'm fine with that as I just want them gone but I don't want another unsuspecting customer getting them either.

And there you have the responsible chicken keeper's dilemma. You don't really want to keep infectious birds on your property, but you worry that if you give them back they will go on and infect another flock. That's what makes the difference between those of us who really care about animal welfare and those who just breed and sell birds for money.

The breeder who sold them to you obviously doesn't seem to give two hoots about what she passes on to other flocks, but at the very least she should refund you for birds that were obviously sick when she sold them. I appreciate that money isn't the issue to you, but it's the principle that counts.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

According to the Merck's (an EXCELLENT resource), your birds will be the optimum age for vaccination when they are above 5 weeks of age, then again for a second dose 3 to 4 weeks before point of lay....so your 9 week old birds would be ideal now to vaccinate, then vaccinate again in 4 weeks before they start to lay (typically around 20 to 24 weeks).

So, if it were me, yes, I'd vaccinate all within that time frame, waiting for the younger chicks to get a bit older then doing both doses as recommended.

LofMc

http://www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/products/130_120667/productdetails_130_121121.aspx (vaccine info)

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/poultry.html (Merck Veterinary Manual online)

 

[Lady of McCamley]

And there you have the responsible chicken keeper's dilemma. You don't really want to keep infectious birds on your property, but you worry that if you give them back they will go on and infect another flock. That's what makes the difference between those of us who really care about animal welfare and those who just breed and sell birds for money.

The breeder who sold them to you obviously doesn't seem to give two hoots about what she passes on to other flocks, but at the very least she should refund you for birds that were obviously sick when she sold them. I appreciate that money isn't the issue to you, but it's the principle that counts.

...indeed....as a responsible seller, she should NOT want them back, but suggest you cull them and refund fully.

LofMc

 

[mg15]

What a mess. So sorry for all that you are going through. It is tough.
mg

 

[butterfliesdoku]

Ok. So i have not started my sick chicks on antibiotics yet. I was wondering if Coryza always smells. I was thinking about separating the chicks and culling any that develop a smell to see if I could save any.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Do you have more birds sick now?

Coryza typically smells, but it wouldn't have to per the disease charts.

Personally, I'd put everybody on the antibiotics whether they have symptoms now or not if they were in the room with the sick birds. If you have not kept careful biosecurity (used the same clothing to go to your other birds, in particular shoes or food bowls), then they are at risk too, although lower, and you may consider putting them on antibiotics.

If you keep your birds for your own use and do not plan to sell or take them anywhere (shows), then treat them to good health again (if you can) and enjoy them knowing that you will expose any new bird brought into your flock with a chance of being exposed to Coryza, for which you may desire to vaccinate...which is not the end of the world, just added expense and hassle for you.

It is only if you want to sell birds, breed them, sell hatching eggs, sell eating eggs, that you should be concerned that your flock may be forever tainted with Coryza. If this is the beginning of a business plan, then take a sick bird to the vet for culture and diagnosis. Depending upon his answer, you can decide if you need to cull and start over after appropriate disinfection.

However, if the birds are kept for your own pleasure and you never sell or give away any or take them anywhere, don't sell eggs from them (technically as they've been treated with off-label antibiotics non-vet prescribed), and are careful to strictly use clothing, boots or shoes for your birds that you never take anywhere else to other people's poultry..careful not to share chicken items with anyone...in other words use strict biosecurity, which you should be doing anyway...

Keep a "closed flock"....Treat them, enjoy them, and don't worry about it.

LofMc

 

[butterfliesdoku]

Thank you so much! You have been of great help to me. The two that arrived sick are still the only ones sick. I take care of my outdoor flock first and once I visit the sick chicks I don't go back to my outdoor ones. I will treat them and keep a closed flock.

 

[butterfliesdoku]

Giving an update. From the two that arrived sick the Dominique seems to be doing the same, and the bantam looks to be doing better. The sick black sex link is doing a lot worse, there is now foam in his eyes and he moves around blindly. The other chicks sharing the room still appear healthy. One chick in the outdoor flock now has a swollen face and a bubbly eye on one side. 5th day on Duramycin 10 (it was what my husband brought home). Will be starting the flock on the Tylan injectable on Thursday. Is there anything wrong with doing the Duramycin and then Tylan?