Pullet sneezing/gasping/mouth discarge

[Anaf]

My gold-laced wyandotte pullet (Valentino) is about 16 weeks old. About a month ago, I noticed her sneeze a few times. However, she would sneeze for about a minute and I wouldn't hear her do it again for a few weeks. It has come and gone about 3/4 times now and today is happened again. For about 15 minutes, she was sneezing/coughing. I examined her more closely and found that she had mouth discharge and a subtle foul odour coming from her mouth. She appeared to be gasping for air, straining to breath. She also kept trying to swallow the discharge. She seems fine now, but I thought I'd post to find out what others might know of this. My other three hens are all healthy and display no signs/symptoms that would suggest otherwise.

 

[llombardo]

Following. I had 2 of mine sneezing yesterday, otherwise acting normal. I put some AcV in the water and I am monitoring the situation.

 

[Saaniya]

Seems mycoplasma
It's very common and symptoms you mentioned is suits with the mycoplasma and it's treatable with the proper Antibiotics here you can use
• Baytril 10%
• Doxycycline Combined With Neomycin Sulfate
• Tetracycline
• Tylan

 

[Eggcessive]

@Anaf, where are you located? That can help us to recommend medicines. Are any other chickens sneezing or coughing? It sounds like she may have a respiratory disease. It could be a virus such as bronchitis, or mycoplasma (MG, CRD,) or even coryza. Can you see a vet where you live? Can you buy antibiotics locally? In the US, most are not available without a prescription. Tylan 50 (tylosin) can be used, and some may be available online.

 

[Anaf]

@Anaf, where are you located? That can help us to recommend medicines. Are any other chickens sneezing or coughing? It sounds like she may have a respiratory disease. It could be a virus such as bronchitis, or mycoplasma (MG, CRD,) or even coryza. Can you see a vet where you live? Can you buy antibiotics locally? In the US, most are not available without a prescription. Tylan 50 (tylosin) can be used, and some may be available online.

@Eggcessive I am located in NZ and am in an urban area without any vets experiences with poultry. I need a prescription to buy any antibiotics, I don't think its possible to buy them online over here due to strict regulation.

 

[Anaf]

If this is in fact mycoplasma (I suspect it might be as this is common in almost all small flocks in NZ), is there a high risk of my other hens becoming infected? The only medication I am able to access for poultry where I am is anticoccidial medication and aviverm (wormer). Anything else would require a veterinary prescription which would be difficult considering there are no vets specialised in poultry in my region. Would I be wrong to assume that my pullet will cope with mycoplasma as long as she does not contract another respiratory infection?

 

[Eggcessive]

If you are seeing a virus, such as infectious bronchitis, it may last for about a month with frequent sneezing, and perhaps some congestiona and watery eyes. Usually more than one bird sneezes. If you see bubbles in the eyes or swelling around an eye or the face, that can be MG or mycoplasma gallisepticum. Coryza causes more severe coughing, thick nasal drainage from beak, a foul odor, and eyes with pus. MG and coryza would need an antibiotic, and those 2 diseases make carriers of your flock for the life of the flock. MG responds to tylosin, tetracyclines, tiamulin, and enrofloxacin, while coryza may respond to sulfa antibiotics, such as sulfamethazine and sulfadimethoxine. Here is a good link with symptoms of those and other common diseases:
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[Anaf]

@Eggcessive , thanks so much for the info! I will look into it and see what I can do about antibiotics. I can definitely say that there is no swelling around her eyes/comb/wattles and no eye discharge. Today, she is breathing perfectly and has not sneezed at all.

 

[Eggcessive]

That sounds good. I would rather not use antibiotics unless there is eye discharge/swelling or if she is nit really struggling. Hopefully, it is a virus that won’t require one. But it is always good to find a local vet who would agree to seeing you.