respiratory disease again, are my 3 month olds doomed for death?

[Maryallison]

I have a respiratory illness in my flock of chickens that are just 3 months old. The illness somehow got to their pen. I think a few of the chicks may have come in contact with the adult coop where the original infected birds were before I cleaned it out. Just 2 weeks ago we culled our adult flock of 7 chickens because after 7 weeks of treatment they were still dying. The chicks have meds in the water, we are giving shots of Tylan & we are quick to quarentee at the 1st sign of any weepy/closed eyes.

DO my chicks even have a chance? I am also trying to be very quick to pull them outta the coop with even a partial closed eye. At this point any small symtoms scares me.

 

[purpletree23]

How long do you give the Tylan injections? How many days? Are you using the correct dosage? If not you might have a super bug on your hands.

 

[Maryallison]

We would give the Tylan then 48 hours give it again. DH did the dosage, but he was careful to read about it. We would do it Friday nights then again on Sunday nights.

 

[purpletree23]

How long did you do this? How many doses in a weeks time?

Are you using Tylan 200 or Tylan 50?

 

[Maryallison]

Tylan 50 & we were only doing it on Friday & Sunday nights. SO 2 doses a week.

 

[purpletree23]

The label for Tylan has a phone number that connects you with a real live veterinarian at the manufacturer. Call them and explain what is going on. Maybe you are using the wrong dose. I spoke to someone there once and they were very knowledgeable.

If you are using the Tylan 200 I would administer .3 cc in the breast muscle every other day for 6 days and then no more. That would be 3 doses. Please call the number and talk to someone. Don't take my word for it. I like the Tylan powder. Mix right in their water.

 

[purpletree23]

I think you need something stronger and possibly a different medication. It sounds like they have built up a tolerance to it and it is ineffective. The infection you are fighting is resistant to the Tylan. 7 weeks of treatment for your older birds created a bug that the Tylan just can't fight.

How many cc's of Tylan 50 are you giving?

 

[purpletree23]

You could contact a vet for Baytril or go to firststatevetsupply.com and see what the chicken doctor there says. He is very good and the medication would be sent through the mail.

 

[Maryallison]

Thanks for all the great info! Soon as DH gets back from the store we will call. DH does the dosages so i have no idea.

So purpletree.... Do you know of anyone who has had chickens recover from a respiratory illness? Do they ever go back to the flock? Or do they need to stay to themselves forever? I am real hands on with the chickens cause I love them so much and don't wanta worry forever about did I touch the 2nd flock.

Seems stressful if i will ALWAYS have to worry about the disease coming back.

And I'd like to add that I did have a few chickens from the other flock that never got the disease and last time i did not quarentee. (I just didn't know where to put them) Seems like where I live if anything gets left out something eats it.

I just didn't have another pen ready. And after my poor DH culled the 7 chickens I found a pile of 5 eggs in the corner. I was so sad.

Like they were getting better and I just didn't catch it in time.

So maybe I am overreacting.... I am so sad to be going through this yet again. My flock of 3 month olds are very important to me and I do not want to loose them all from this illness. Is the chicken respiratory illness just very common and most people just treat it and move on?

 

[purpletree23]

All of my chickens have had it and thankfully all have recovered. Only took a week of treatment. If I ever decide to get more chickens I will add them to what I have and just be prepared to treat them for respiratory infection.