Respiratory help

[RainValleyFarm]

Hi everyone! I found an abandoned rooster last week. He was clearly sick and just a bag of bones. I brought him home and he does eat and drink pretty well on his own.

I've been treating with .5cc Tylan 50 orally twice a day, for 4 days now. Very RX on his nose and wings twice a day as well. But he is not showing any improvement.

He keeps "coughing" and you can hear congestion when he breaths. His nose is runny with clear liquid. His comb is pretty pale. He does have more energy than the day I found him but I'm worried the infection is not improving.

I'm curious what else you might try? I can take him to the farm vet tomorrow morning and they're pretty good about giving me an antibiotic or medication I recommend since they don't know a ton about chickens. They've worked with me for multiple birds on various issues. I was thinking baytril might be a good option? I did see doxy is a common one used along with Tylan for respiratory as well. But id appreciate the suggestions!

This is Todd if you're in the Facebook group you may already know him!

 

[Sally PB]

Take him to the vet tomorrow. I'll tag some of our more knowledgeable members for their input.

If he was abandoned, he very well could have a serious, contagious illness. Keep him away from any other chickens, if at all possible.

@Wyorp Rock
@azygous
@Eggcessive

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I've been treating with .5cc Tylan 50 orally twice a day, for 4 days now. Very RX on his nose and wings twice a day as well. But he is not showing any improvement.

Poor guy.

I agree, if you have a vet that will see him, that's best.

Hard to know what you are dealing with; there's quite a few respiratory diseases.

How much does he weigh? Your dosing is for a 2lb bird. Tylan50 dose is 0.25ml per pound of weight given orally 3 times a day for 5 days in a row. Could be that he may benefit from increased frequency and adjustment of dosing or another antibiotic. Tetracyclines and Tylan are both used to treat Symptoms of Mycoplasma.

Possible he's got a viral infection that has to run its course or he has bacterial respiratory infection that doesn't respond to Tylan or Tetracyclines.

I'd keep him quarantined away from existing flocks and consider what you wish to do with him if he recovers. Most all respiratory diseases make birds carriers even if they are asymptomatic.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Most all respiratory diseases make birds carriers even if they are asymptomatic.

Good to know. I did not know this.

 

[RainValleyFarm]

Thank you, he is currently living in our house so he is separated

Take him to the vet tomorrow. I'll tag some of our more knowledgeable members for their input.

If he was abandoned, he very well could have a serious, contagious illness. Keep him away from any other chickens, if at all possible.

@Wyorp Rock
@azygous
@Eggcessive

 

[RainValleyFarm]

I have had other bird s

Poor guy.

I agree, if you have a vet that will see him, that's best.

Hard to know what you are dealing with; there's quite a few respiratory diseases.

How much does he weigh? Your dosing is for a 2lb bird. Tylan50 dose is 0.25ml per pound of weight given orally 3 times a day for 5 days in a row. Could be that he may benefit from increased frequency and adjustment of dosing or another antibiotic. Tetracyclines and Tylan are both used to treat Symptoms of Mycoplasma.

Possible he's got a viral infection that has to run its course or he has bacterial respiratory infection that doesn't respond to Tylan or Tetracyclines.

I'd keep him quarantined away from existing flocks and consider what you wish to do with him if he recovers. Most all respiratory diseases make birds carriers even if they are asymptomatic

Poor guy.

I agree, if you have a vet that will see him, that's best.

Hard to know what you are dealing with; there's quite a few respiratory diseases.

How much does he weigh? Your dosing is for a 2lb bird. Tylan50 dose is 0.25ml per pound of weight given orally 3 times a day for 5 days in a row. Could be that he may benefit from increased frequency and adjustment of dosing or another antibiotic. Tetracyclines and Tylan are both used to treat Symptoms of Mycoplasma.

Possible he's got a viral infection that has to run its course or he has bacterial respiratory infection that doesn't respond to Tylan or Tetracyclines.

I'd keep him quarantined away from existing flocks and consider what you wish to do with him if he recovers. Most all respiratory diseases make birds carriers even if they are asymptomatic.

He is only 2lbs but he should likely be around 8+lbs. I had always thought it was twice a day so I can give him an extra dose today and see if that helps at all. But I still plan to take him to the vet in the morning.

I have him living in our house so he is separated from my flock!

 

[Bawkbok]

How kind of you to rescue this bird and try to rehabilitate him. It's great you have access to a vet willing to treat poultry. Hopefully antibiotics will help and he will recover. Best of luck.

 

[Eggcessive]

Older info on BYC used to say treat with Tylan/Tylosin twice a day, but in Plumbs Veterinary Manual, it says to use it 3-4 times a day. 0.25 ml per pound is an average minimum dose. If you use the Tylosin/Tylan soluble powder in the water, if they drink a normal amount of fluid for their weight, they will get the right dosage. It treats MG, as does doxycycline, but doxy is not approved for poultry. Tylan is approved for chickens.

If he has no bubbles/foam/gunk in his eye, or swollen eyelid or face, I would think he has a virus, such as infectious bronchitis. IB virus can last about a month, and survivors are considered carriers/infectious for around 5 months. It will not respond to antibiotics, but will run its course. Let us know if this guy gets over his illness.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have had other bird s

He is only 2lbs but he should likely be around 8+lbs. I had always thought it was twice a day so I can give him an extra dose today and see if that helps at all. But I still plan to take him to the vet in the morning.

I have him living in our house so he is separated from my flock!

I'd increase the last day.

If you have no luck with the vet, then try the Baytril, if that doesn't help with infection, then getting testing to find out what he has would be the next step so you can give him the correct medications/treatment.

 

[RainValleyFarm]

Older info on BYC used to say treat with Tylan/Tylosin twice a day, but in Plumbs Veterinary Manual, it says to use it 3-4 times a day. 0.25 ml per pound is an average minimum dose. If you use the Tylosin/Tylan soluble powder in the water, if they drink a normal amount of fluid for their weight, they will get the right dosage. It treats MG, as does doxycycline, but doxy is not approved for poultry. Tylan is approved for chickens.

If he has no bubbles/foam/gunk in his eye, or swollen eyelid or face, I would think he has a virus, such as infectious bronchitis. IB virus can last about a month, and survivors are considered carriers/infectious for around 5 months. It will not respond to antibiotics, but will run its course. Let us know if this guy gets over his illness.

Thank you, he doesn't have any bubbles in his eyes and his nasal discharge is clear. He just does these loud gasp/coughs occasionally - today they seem a little more frequent. I will do some reading on the bronchitis!