Recurring infection/respiratory disease in hen

[jade1378]

Hopefully someone can give me some advice. My poor hen has had a recurring infection/respiratory disease. Twice I have taken her to the vet for antibiotic shots and she has recovered for a limited time. This time I noticed her getting sick again and I am going to try tetracycline in the water. Is there anything I can do to cure her or am I destined to give her antibiotics every few months? Also, could this be an infection or since it is recurring is it most likely a respiratory disease? I do understand that the antibiotics won’t continue to work as she will build up immunity to them, so I’m hoping there is something else I can do since I don't have the heart to put her down. Her symptoms include laboured breathing, tail feathers pointing down, occasional sneezing (not much and no discharge), and weakness. However, she is still eating, drinking, preening, and pecking at the other hens if they come near her while she's eating. As well, are all respiratory diseases contagious? I first noticed her looking ill in late February this year and she has been with the others the majority of the time since and I haven't noticed even a hint of anything wrong with them.

 

[TeamChaos]

Did the vet tell you what bacteria he suspected was the root of her infection? I'll take a blind guess and go with CRD (chronic Respiratory Disease) http://www.thepoultrysite.com/disea...ction-mg-chronic-respiratory-disease-chickens A bird with a chronic condition can benefit from supportive care to boost their immune system and overall health and possibly with some changes to their housing/management if it's possible that it's contributing to their re-infection. As far as the risk to your other hens, are you selling birds, chicks, or hatching eggs? Are you adding new birds to your flock? A lot of times diseases like CRD won't surface until an animal is stressed and their immune system is already compromised- if you are not selling birds, chicks, or eggs and are willing to provide supportive care to the rest of your flock that has already been exposed, it is my personal opinion that conditions like this can be managed.

 

[jade1378]

The vet deals with chickens but only to a certain extent he didn't know exactly what was wrong with her but just started her on antibiotics to see if it would help. I only have four hens and a rooster and don't plan to get anymore...they are just pets. What kind of supportive care do you mean? Just putting them back on antibiotics when it resurfaces? Also, would she die if left untreated or is it a condition that just has its ups and downs. I do have a rat problem in their coop that I haven't been able to solve, could this be causing her to become sick again?

 

[TeamChaos]

By supportive care I mean adding immune boosters to her diet, maybe the whole flock's diet- I like to use garlic, apple cider vinegar, and yogurt with active cultures as my go-to immune boosters. I'm sure if you do a search both in this forum and on the internet in general, you'll find lots of different ways that people boost their flocks' immunity. As far as the likelihood of it killing her, well, chronic illness of any sort- especially if left untreated- is going to shorten the life span of the sufferer. I have some birds who are prone to getting the "creeping crud" as I call it- I make sure they get all of the good stuff listed above and a few more depending on what they are dealing with, I clean them up w/ vetrx and/or vetericyn and I separate them from the flock if they have any sort of "spray" going on (sneezing, coughing, watery eye, abnormal poop) or if their condition seems worsened by the weather. It's just the way I choose to keep them, it's very rare that I run for the antibiotics.

Yikes, now the rat problem really worries me. I have not dealt with rats personally but I know they can carry a great number of diseases that both chickens and humans can contract. So, yes, by all means, the rats could be related to her falling ill... hopefully someone w/ more experience can chime in here rather than me cut/pasting stuff from the internet I have no experience with. Maybe do a forum search in the predators and pests or change the title of this thread to include "rats" and see who pops in.

 

[jade1378]

Thanks so much for all your help, i'll look into all your suggestions and hopefully find a better way to keep her from getting sick. For now i'm going to stick with starting her on antibiotics since she has really gone down hill in the last few days and it has worked in the past. Once she starts feeling better i will try to boost her immunity with your suggestions to keep it from coming back.

 

[AndreaS]

I second TeamChaos-

and I would also add that most birds are carriers for life/your other birds are exposed and may be carriers as well. It is good that you don't plan on adding to your flock now. You can just focus on keeping these guys well and not worry about spreaading it.

Here are two links with AWESOME information about help for respiratory issues- I find myself passing these links along constantly.

The first one is all about supportive care, https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/235844/weepy-eye-and-sneezing-in-3-week-old-araucana#post_2788452 scroll down to the article posted at the bottom of post #2

And here is great information about Oxine, a product I use and love, and it's treatment of respiratory issues http://www.shagbarkbantams.com/oxine.htm

Good Luck!