I don’t know specifically what I’m looking for, maybe just someone to make me feel like I’m not a complete and utter failure? Maybe some guidance on what more I can do? Antibiotic recommendations?
A little backstory for those who don’t know - I brought home a young chicken May 11th and made a horrible mistake of not quarantining and within 48 hours my young birds began sneezing/gasping for air. We treated them and they seem to be doing ok. By May 31st my older birds began sneezing and we went from 30-42 eggs per day to 12-15 eggs per day.
I did not have them tested, but we assumed infectious bronchitis.
Last week one of the roosters passed away. He was thin, but I assumed it had something to do with the infectious bronchitis.
Fast forward to today - one of my hens was very lethargic and when I picked her up she was very thin as well. She was fine yesterday.
I found a vet to take her to, NOT my normal vet. He ran a fecal and said she has no coccidia and no parasites.
However, she has a severe bacterial infection. He did not say what kind, but said he was starting her on a sulfa antibiotic and keeping her overnight.
When I asked about treating my whole flock he said I probably shouldn’t, but I explained I have a flock of over 100 birds. His response was “well maybe you need to sacrifice one of the birds so we know exactly what we are dealing with.”
I would rather NOT sacrifice my bird if it’s preventable. I did walk my yard and I do see what I think is some diarrhea, but also lots of solid poops. I did attach a photo of what I assume is diarrhea from one of the chickens.
I would also rather NOT lose any more of my flock.
I did switch their water to include probiotics immediately.
Tomorrow I’m planning on switching their feed to include more probiotics and vitamins.
However, is there a broad spectrum antibiotic anyone can recommend? I do have a request in for a 2nd opinion from an online vet, but I don’t feel I should sacrifice a bird when the whole flock was exposed to 2 birds now with similar symptoms.
I feel like SUCH a failure in this whole situation. I love my chickens so much, but feel as if I really messed up. I keep hoping this nightmare will end, but I don’t know what else I can do.
Even if they recover, am I always going to have issues? Am I fighting a losing battle?
Thank you for any guidance.
A little backstory for those who don’t know - I brought home a young chicken May 11th and made a horrible mistake of not quarantining and within 48 hours my young birds began sneezing/gasping for air. We treated them and they seem to be doing ok. By May 31st my older birds began sneezing and we went from 30-42 eggs per day to 12-15 eggs per day.
I did not have them tested, but we assumed infectious bronchitis.
Last week one of the roosters passed away. He was thin, but I assumed it had something to do with the infectious bronchitis.
Fast forward to today - one of my hens was very lethargic and when I picked her up she was very thin as well. She was fine yesterday.
I found a vet to take her to, NOT my normal vet. He ran a fecal and said she has no coccidia and no parasites.
However, she has a severe bacterial infection. He did not say what kind, but said he was starting her on a sulfa antibiotic and keeping her overnight.
When I asked about treating my whole flock he said I probably shouldn’t, but I explained I have a flock of over 100 birds. His response was “well maybe you need to sacrifice one of the birds so we know exactly what we are dealing with.”
I would rather NOT sacrifice my bird if it’s preventable. I did walk my yard and I do see what I think is some diarrhea, but also lots of solid poops. I did attach a photo of what I assume is diarrhea from one of the chickens.
I would also rather NOT lose any more of my flock.
I did switch their water to include probiotics immediately.
Tomorrow I’m planning on switching their feed to include more probiotics and vitamins.
However, is there a broad spectrum antibiotic anyone can recommend? I do have a request in for a 2nd opinion from an online vet, but I don’t feel I should sacrifice a bird when the whole flock was exposed to 2 birds now with similar symptoms.
I feel like SUCH a failure in this whole situation. I love my chickens so much, but feel as if I really messed up. I keep hoping this nightmare will end, but I don’t know what else I can do.
Even if they recover, am I always going to have issues? Am I fighting a losing battle?
Thank you for any guidance.
What a horrible thing to go through, my heart goes out to you. You may not like hearing this but I agree with your vet. The only way to know exactly what you're dealing with - and possibly save your flock - is to get a necropsy on one of your birds. Then you'll know exactly how to treat them and, hopefully, restore them to health.
