Resp.Symptoms/Plz Check my Treatment Plan

[jBabychickn]

Hi there; Newbie here!!

I’m dealing with a 18wk old Jubilee Orpington cockerel with Raspy breathing sounds, otherwise eating and drinking normally as far as I can tell. He’s acting his normal self from what I can tell as well. — I spend 2-3hrs with my Babies daily. We are a small Flock of #10 with 6 Salmon Fav and 4 Jubilee Orpingtons. So far, only my Orpington Cockerel is showing these signs. They just started about 3 days ago.

From reading helpful Posts here, I think I’ve found a possible culprit. We have a handmade “Chicken Tunnel” that takes them from their Coop to their Omlet Run. The coop has Pine Shavings and their Run has Sand; however from their travels, the Shavings have gathered in the Tunnel and have become wet from exposure to the Elements. I’m thinking perhaps Mold is involved.

Here’s my Treatment Plan:
1) Remove wet Litter (Clean/Sanitize)
2) Start Tylson 50 orally for my Cockerel
3) Apply VetRx for Symptom relief

Thoughts & Questions:
1) If others begin to show signs, Switch to Denagard so that I can treat everyone easily with drinking water - Or, should I go ahead and do that anyway?
2) I don’t currently have a space to separate our cockerel.
3) Any ideas on how to “Dry-in” a Chunnel??

 

[Eggcessive]

Have you added any new chickens or other poultry to your flock recently? If you suspect mold, antibiotics are not necessary. Just remove the possible mold areas and dry out the area. Sand is very good and drains well. You could remove the shavings in the coop and put the sand in there as well.

There are a number of respiratory diseases that affect chickens. Those include viruses—infectious bronchitis, ILT, the bacterial diseases—mycoplasma (MG,) coryza, and fungal—aspergillosis from mold.

Unless you see bubbles or foam in an eye, swollen eyelid, or thick nasal drainage, I would just watch him. His voice just may be changing. Vet Rx is mostly herbal oils in some corn oil plus alcohol as a preservative. Vicks probably does as much.

 

[jBabychickn]

Oh good! Thank you; this is good news! My Hubs just picked up the Tylson 50 and VetRx today for me from Tractor Supply, so I’ll go ahead and use the VetRx to see if that helps his raspiness. And, I do feel better having the other. I will keep it on hand for any possible future needs.

And, you’re so right about Sand in the Coop! (Do you use Sand in your Coop as well? If so, how often do you change it out?) I’m gonna plan for that and do it this week. It’s been my goal, but it’s been low on my list and I’ve been putting it off. I do like having the Shavings for compost, but if it’s gonna be a continuous issue in that Tunnel system, especially with wet winter season upon us, it’s not worth the compost materials after all…

Thanks so much for talking this out with me!

 

[Eggcessive]

I use sand in my run, but just clean it out with a kitty litter shovel daily. We add to it, but don’t change it. I am glad that you could find Tylan 50 at TSC. It will be good to have on hand. Most people cannot buy it anywhere. Here is a good list of common diseases and symptoms including the respiratory ones:
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ps044

 

[jBabychickn]

I use sand in my run, but just clean it out with a kitty litter shovel daily. We add to it, but don’t change it. I am glad that you could find Tylan 50 at TSC. It will be good to have on hand. Most people cannot buy it anywhere. Here is a good list of common diseases and symptoms including the respiratory ones:
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ps044

“Thank you; Extremely helpful!!”

Apologies… I forgot to answer your question from earlier —
No, I haven’t added anyone new. However, I do have 8 Silkies in the Brooder right now who are 6wks old this week. I take care of them First, before going out to the Chicken yard and seeing/caring for the 18wkr’s. I do wash my hands, but I don’t typically change my clothes. They also free-range for around 3hrs a day.

 

[Eggcessive]

The reason I asked, is that if you bring in birds from a breeder or any place other than a hatchery or feed store chicks from a hatchery, they can sometimes bring in a respiratory disease. Some can be exposed through their hatching egg or be carriers just from being on a farm with carriers. Typically respiratory diseases show up from a few days to 2 weeks after exposure. Wild birds and shoes are known to bring in diseases as well.