Possible respiratory illness with rooster

[Eggcessive]

My flock got infectious bronchitis and they acted normally with only frequent sneezing that lasted almost a month. I separated the ones who sneezed. They got better, and another group started sneezing. They all went about their normal routine, eating and drinking. I noticed a couple of wrinkled egg shells which can be another symptom. Eventually all chickens got it and recovered over weeks. Since they were carriers for 5 months or more, the new birds I added or hatched got it later. I stopped adding birds for over a year, and no one else got it. The problem with infectious bronchitis virus, is that it can affect egg laying and cause various egg shell problems and oviduct issues. Many of my hens later suffered those reproductive disorders and did not live past 3-4 years. Others lived as long as 10 or 11. IB virus affects young birds more than adult birds.

 

[dawg53]

Check his nares (nostrils) for debris, they should be clear. Also look inside his ears, they should be clear.

@Eggcessive I considered Infectious Bronchitis (IB) in this instance but no other birds are affected. As you know, IB passes quickly through a flock.

 

[Shely514]

Check his nares (nostrils) for debris, they should be clear. Also look inside his ears, they should be clear.

@Eggcessive I considered Infectious Bronchitis (IB) in this instance but no other birds are affected. As you know, IB passes quickly through a flock.

 

[Shely514]

@dawg53 Did you see my additional post where I said this rooster has yet to crow and he’s 14 months. He makes hissing sounds and a little screeching noise only.

 

[Eggcessive]

Did he come from a person with chickens that sells birds? That is how many get a disease into their flock. The bird can come in looking normal, and then can develop symptoms after the stress of the move. Environmental things, dust, mold, poor air circulation, can add to symptoms.

 

[Shely514]

Did he come from a person with chickens that sells birds? That is how many get a disease into their flock. The bird can come in looking normal, and then can develop symptoms after the stress of the move. Environmental things, dust, mold, poor air circulation, can add to symptoms.

Yes he came from someone who breeds Ayam Cemani and Marans. This rooster has me so confused! He seems fine except sneezing! We brought him into garage and he hadn’t sneezed once since he’s been inside. Outside, he’s constantly sneezing. He doesn’t crow, he makes hissing noises and like a screechy noise. The guy says he never truly crowed and has others that don’t. So is everyone from his flock sick or is this just a weird rooster with allergies

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can you get some nice clear well-lit photos of his face, nostrils and inside of the beak?

A video of the sounds he makes would also be nice. Upload video to YouTube and provide a link.

Thanks!

 

[Eggcessive]

Have you asked the breeder about the hissing sounds and the sneezing? Some people don’t know about chronic respiratory diseases and symptoms. Many want to sell the most sought after breeds to make money. It is never okay to sell a chicken from a place that has ever had a respiratory disease in the past. Those can cause every bird on the place to be a carrier. It might be for 5 months for IB virus, or for life with a disease, such as MG, coryza, ILT, and a few other viruses. Fungal diseases such as aspergillosis are also common in chickens. When one has a respiratory disease, they should close their flock to any birds leaving the flock. Hatching eggs can also pass certain diseases, especially MG. Some birds can get diseases from flocks of migrating birds. It is always a good thing to get a necropsy on a sick bird to find out what disease they may be carrying. Hopefully, your new rooster doesn’t have anything serious, but I would just keep observing his behavior and any symptoms. There is testing available at some labs which do PCR testing for various diseases. They send you a kit to test the bird and then you mail it in to the lab for testing results. Zoologix here offers a poultry respiratory panel for 8 diseases:
https://www.zoologix.com/avian/index.htm