Please help, my chickens seem to be all getting sick

[ChickensAreSweet]

I agree with trying to find out which germ it is. I like the idea of the swab test...might be worthwhile in the long run rather than trying different medications to no avail.

In the meantime, there are a couple of links I like to pass out to folks in case they need them:

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044
diagnosis charts at bottom

http://shagbarkbantams.com/contents.htm
click on "my chicken has a cold, part I, II, and III"
he lists the incubation periods which might be helpful to your case especially

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/206700.htm

I don't know if this is the problem, but here is a link.

 

[Chido]

Well I couldn't get Spaghetti to eat anything today, as sick as sh is, she's still one picky grumpy lady. I managed to make her drink some apple juice at least, and I dabbed a tiny bit of Vick Vaporub on top of her beak near her nostrils to see if that can sooth her breathing a bit. I hope I can get her to eat a bit tomorrow,

.

BTW, here's my grumpy lady, poor thing was already in a bad condition when we got her from the feed store a couple of months ago. Her previous owner that dropped her there when we were getting food must've had either a very enthusiastic rooster or her other hens (that she dropped too at the store) bullied Spaghetti, because she just barely now growing back a lot of missing and broken feathers, and most of the scabs she had on her back have finally fallen off, there's only a couple of scabbed wounds left that got reopened due to my rooster and me not noticing her wound in time.

I love this chicken, she's so grumpy looking and vocal, yet she's such a sweetheart and follows me around like a puppy

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Oh boy - you need to get the vaporub off of her asap. Birds cannot handle many natural oils and stong smells, eucalyptus and menthol are both of those things. It can actually make her much worse.

 

[Chido]

... darn. I'm gonna clean her beak now. thank you for letting me know!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

They sell a vetrx remedy. I haven't used it, but it's at the feed store. Maybe someone can say if that would be good for you or not.
http://www.drugs.com/vet/vetrx-poultry-remedy.html

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Quote:

You might try running a hot shower and steaming up the bathroom to see if the steam helps her a little...

 

[Chido]

Quote:

You might try running a hot shower and steaming up the bathroom to see if the steam helps her a little...

I'm gonna try that tomorrow. She's sleeping on my bathtub atm, and I don't want to wake up my family with a midnight shower. I have to go to school early tomorrow, so I'll keep her in the bathroom while I shower and see how that works for her.
I'm gonna check on the Vetrx and see if they carry it at my feed store.

 

[Chido]

I ordered Vetrx and it should arrive in a couple of days. Also, I think my grumpy lady will make it because as bad as she sounds when she breathes, the poopyhead wouldn't eat or drink while isolated in my room. I left the other chickens locked in their run this morning and decided to take Spaghetti outside and let her be in the sun while I go to school, and she suddenly decided that the water in the waterer I put for her is yummy because she's been drinking for about 5 minutes now. What a picky grumpy lady

Her nose isn't runny so I hope her breathing sounds less congested and rattly soon.

Edit: I left the chickens locked in their run today and put Spaghetti outside so she could take the sun and try to eat bugs or something while I was out. When I came back home and took her to my room, she ate some scratch and drank more water. she still sounds awful but at least she ate a bit on her own!

!

 

[Chido]

Well the medicine hasn't arrived, but Spaghetti is getting better I think. I just got back from work and she isn't gasping for air, doesn't sound congested, and even ate some canteloupe with the other chickens. Whatever virus she got has already spread among my pullets, because now Rusty has the area under her beak where the wattles are swollen, and Megatron has nasal discharge and has trouble breathing. I'm bringing Megatron inside along with Spaghetti tonight just so the cold air doesn't worsen Megatron's breathing.


I just hope my roo doesn't get sick too, I don't want to keep a 7 pound brahma cockerel in my bathroom and have him crow at 6 am. Also he's kinda dork, and would make a mess in my room just running around

.