Possible Coryza how do I treat?

[chantel93]

I think I have a coryza outbreak among my flock. I'm so heartbroken... How do I treat this? Is it as serious as everything makes it sound? Can I still eat eggs from affected chickens? I really dont want to have to cull my whole flock... Should I? Please any help would be wonderful...

 

[Guinea girl 123]

Hi, I'm looking for some help here. I think my baby flock might have that to, what does " cull " mean? Hope I won't have to do that either whatever it is

 

[chantel93]

Hi, I'm looking for some help here. I think my baby flock might have that to, what does " cull " mean? Hope I won't have to do that either whatever it is

Cull means to kill/euthanize...

 

[Guinea girl 123]

Aw man that's terrible. I really hope you won't have to do that & that you find the answers you need. Thank you and good luck!

 

[Revan]

Aw man that's terrible. I really hope you won't have to do that & that you find the answers you need. Thank you and good luck!

The word 'cull' is widely used to refer to the killing of animals. However, it also means to 'remove.' A number of breeders use the term in this context and simply take birds that don't meet the standard they are breeding for and either give them away or have a laying flock for themselves (this is what I primarily do). However, in the case of sick/injured beyond help birds, yes, culling by way of euthanasia is really the only thing that can be done.



As for the OP, I am sorry to hear about your sick birds. I hope for the best. I don't know much myself about this infection, as my mother and I have never seen it in our flocks, but I found this from a member, posted back in 2012. Maybe it'll help you.

Infectious Coryza normally has a foul odor about the head area of chickens. If there isnt an odor, you might be dealing with mycoplasma gallisepticum or infectious bronchitis, only bloodwork or necropsy can determine what disease you're dealing with. You can contact your local extension office or state dept of agriculture to find out on how to go about getting a bird tested. Here's a link to respiratory diseases in poultry; you can scroll down and read about the diseases mentioned, symptoms/treatments etc...
Your other option is to cull the sick birds.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

Also, this:

Coryza is not transmitted through eggs. Survivors are carriers of the disease and will spread it when stressed. There isnt any immunity to the disease. Coryza is easily spread via feeders, waterers, clothing, sneezing birds etc...
If you decide not to cull sick birds, there will come a time that sulmet and antibiotics wont work due to resistance by the disease itself. Then you'll have to purchase other types of antibiotics, most likely more expensive and more powerful, to treat (but not cure) your birds. It's also possible that mycoplasma gallisepticum could be involved in conjunction with coryza. Consider having your sickest bird sent off for necropsy to find out exactly what you're dealing with. You can contact your local extension office or state agriculture department to find out how to go about doing that. Good luck.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I think I have a coryza outbreak among my flock. I'm so heartbroken... How do I treat this? Is it as serious as everything makes it sound? Can I still eat eggs from affected chickens? I really dont want to have to cull my whole flock... Should I? Please any help would be wonderful...

Hi @chantel93
I'm sorry you are having trouble. Can you provide more information:
Do you have photos?
How old are your chickens?
What symptoms do they have?
Have you had any testing/necropsy performed?

It's very hard to know what you have unless you send samples or a bird for testing.
Infectious Coryza is a contagious respiratory disease that usually has facial swelling, a foul smelling sticky discharge (mucous) from the nostrils and eyes, labored breathing and rales (rattle sounding breath).

There is no cure for Infectious Coryza, but antibiotics can be used to help with secondary infections. Birds that have had the illness and recovered and those exposed to sick birds remain carriers of the disease for life.

 

[chantel93]

Hi @chantel93
I'm sorry you are having trouble. Can you provide more information:
Do you have photos?
How old are your chickens?
What symptoms do they have?
Have you had any testing/necropsy performed?

It's very hard to know what you have unless you send samples or a bird for testing.
Infectious Coryza is a contagious respiratory disease that usually has facial swelling, a foul smelling sticky discharge (mucous) from the nostrils and eyes, labored breathing and rales (rattle sounding breath).

There is no cure for Infectious Coryza, but antibiotics can be used to help with secondary infections. Birds that have had the illness and recovered and those exposed to sick birds remain carriers of the disease for life.

The first bird to get sick was around 3 months old. The rest of my flock are about 2 years. The first sick one I could hear rattling when I put my eat to her. She would stretch out her neck and open her beak to breathe (I initially suspected gape worm). She did have a watery looking eye that ended up getting goopy? and stuck shut. She also had mites and lice terribly bad and would shake her head a lot. She started showing all symptoms just a couple days after I brought her home. I noticed she smelled bad but the smell seemed to be coming more from her rear than her head. I now have 2 other birds that sound a little raspy when I listen...

 

[chantel93]

I forgot to mention she was also sneezing.

 

[chantel93]

This is my other girl. I'm pretty sure it's coryza... Her eye is swollen and watery/goopy here.

 

[chantel93]

The girl in the pictures is also around 3 months old. The other hen I have showing symptoms is an adult about 2-3 years. The rest of my flock is not yet showing symptoms.