Possible Respiratory Illness in Hen What are My options?

[Topato]

She is a Svart Hona about a 1 1/2 years old. I noticed yesterday she had some signs of diarrhea (droppings sticking to her feathers around her vent) and today she was found laying there and not getting up. Was able to pick her up with out a fuss and felt for an egg incase she was egg bound. I noticed she was pretty skinny (too skinny) and didn't feel an egg. I was able to give her about 5 ml of water with electrolytes in it but that's about it. She still won't get up and is sneezing once every 5 minutes. This morning and while caring for her I would get a smell that smelled like something dead every once in a while but didn't constantly smell it. When she breathes she sometime has a rattle to it as well. No sign of swollen eyes or discharge from her eyes, nose, or mouth. I have noticed a decrease in egg production lately too. My other 7 birds are acting just fine as of now. Showing no similarities. Poop is normal for all the other birds as well. She is quarantined as of now and still just lays in there. I have read multiple post about multiple respiratory illnesses. The smell I noticed sounds similar to coryza but it isn't a constant smell. I really hope it's not coryza because that sounds like a nighymare for the rest of my flock. I am in the process of decontaminating their coop and run, while they are out and about free ranging. I've seen post where they have said you might have to cull the flock depending on what it is and can't imagine having to do that. Neither do I want a flock of carriers of a certain disease that will infect any birds I want to add in the future. I am willing to treat my flock if I need to and saw that tylan 50 is something that could help. I don't understand how she caught this nor do I know what to do. Thank you all in advance for any suggestions you might have.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

An odor is usually a sinus infection and others will have it as stress brings it out and or weather so unless you want to keep a closed flock meaning no birds in or out then you can treat them otherwise id cull

 

[Eggcessive]

Have you added another bird to your flock in recent weeks? If not, the flock may have been exposed by wild birds or even by contaminated shoes or clothing. Your local vet or poultry extension agent could help with testing for coryza. If you are not seeing eye drainage, swelling around an eye or the face, or thick nasal drainage, you could just be dealing with a virus such as infectious bronchitis. Mycoplasma (MG) is another disease that can either be mild or more serious with the symptoms above. Here is a good list of those and other disease symptoms: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[Topato]

Thank you for your replies and the link. Looking at the mycoplasma(mg) in the link it describes the birds as being stunted and or unthrifty. She is about half the size of my other three Svart honas and much smaller than my sex-links. I have had all of these birds since June. And introduced them by keeping them separate for about a month. If it is MG are my options the same? I would be sad to have a closed flock, but can't imagine having to cull my chickens. Is there an antibiotic that covers most respitory infections? Also is it too late for the one who isn't moving?

 

[Eggcessive]

What state are you located in? Many state vets can do a necropsy and test for disease on a culled chicken, and that is a good way to get a diagnosis. She could be just stunted and have a poor immune system to common illnesses. Sneezing often without other symptoms can be common in infectious bronchitis, a virus which makes chickens carriers for as much as a year. IB usually is very contagious and quickly spreads through a flock, although most recover. Other respiratory diseases can be chronic and make the whole flock carriers for life. If you are wanting to breed, then you may want to cull her and get testing to know how to handle this. I would at least keep her quarantined until you know what is going on. Tylan 50 can treat symptoms in bacterial respiratory infections such as MG or coryza, but will not affect them being carriers. Dosage is 0.2 ml per pound of weight, given twice a day for 5 days, either given orally or by injection.

 

[Topato]

We are near Belfast, Maine and have a local vet here that sees chickens. I do not plan on breeding any of my chickens. I own them as pets that give me eggs. I am going to go and get some antibiotics (tylan 50) and treat the rest of my flock and hopefully they will only get minor symptoms if any. I really appreciate the help it is very appreciated.