Respiratory illness in chickens

[Henrysbarn]

I just waited a day between changing from the tetroxy to tylan. Long enough for me to go buy it and get time to medicate everyone. I treated all the sick ones for 5 days no skips even if on the 4th day their symptoms were gone. They are all better and no one is sick they are even picking their weight back up and the roosters are crowing again. They stopped crowing when they were sick and congested. I also would rub vet Rx onto their Combs and wattled when they were all stopped up and unable to breathe. I would pour a drop or 2 down their throats as well after it was warmed of course. This really helped I had a few struggling to breathe but after the vet Rx they opened up. I was able to save all 13 and 2 never came ill. The broody hen also got well within a week and hatched out her chicks the following week and all is well. Tylan saved my birds. I also thought of the fact that if they birds don't drink the tetroxy water then they can't get well. I understand it has a bitter taste but with tylan it's either injected or given orally so they don't have a choice of taking it.

I have been using the VetRx for a while now. I put it under their wings as well so they breathe it in when they tuck their heads at night. I will definitely get the Tylan to have on hand in case this other doesn't work. They are drinking so I know they're getting the Tetroxy. Sometimes I pour a little water in a smaller dish and they seem to act like that is some kind of treat!

 

[chickens really]

I actually had read quite a bit about various respiratory illness including ILT. The weird thing is however, they do not have any of the other symptoms. No discharge from anywhere. Just the rattle in the one bird and other birds didn't even have that.

That's the thing with Chickens, they carry and catch so many diseases it's hard to pin point what killed them without a necropsy.

 

[Henrysbarn]

UPDATE: Two remaining chicks are still alive but not sure for how long. The one that was rattling has cleared up after giving the Tetroxy but is acting weird - hunkering down in the corner of the coop. She also walks backwards (which isn't new but much worse) and acts like her feet hurt. She is still eating/drinking but not as much.

The other one which wasn't rattling, now is just slightly and is acting listless and not eating, which is what the first birds that died did. I suspect she will go soon. I have tried to get water/meds down her with a dropper but she has taken very little in. I was actually surprised she lasted thru the night. I made up oatmeal with banana & yogurt this morning which the chicks ususally go crazy over, but neither of them seems interested.

I had thought at one time they may have Marek's but when I google the symptoms, it doesn't seem to fit exactly. Multiple diseases come up for these varying symptoms and I have no idea at this point except to think these poor little chicks were doomed from the start and have multiple things wrong. Also the opinion of my vet. We purchased them at a local feed store which actually goes against all that I normally believe in but we did it because it was late in the season and we couldn't find any breeders in the area that had any. I am wishing we had waited until spring and made a different choice of where to get them.

I know some of you have said it is important to take them to the state lab if they die but I spoke with ours (Michigan State) and they said given the multiple symptoms it may require testing beyond just the necropsy which may be cost prohibitive for us.

After reading thru many of these threads it just seems there are so many common problems with these wonderful birds and I wonder sometimes if it is worth the grief to do this. Guess I'm just frustrated and sad today.

 

[chickens really]

UPDATE: Two remaining chicks are still alive but not sure for how long. The one that was rattling has cleared up after giving the Tetroxy but is acting weird - hunkering down in the corner of the coop. She also walks backwards (which isn't new but much worse) and acts like her feet hurt. She is still eating/drinking but not as much.

The other one which wasn't rattling, now is just slightly and is acting listless and not eating, which is what the first birds that died did. I suspect she will go soon. I have tried to get water/meds down her with a dropper but she has taken very little in. I was actually surprised she lasted thru the night. I made up oatmeal with banana & yogurt this morning which the chicks ususally go crazy over, but neither of them seems interested.

I had thought at one time they may have Marek's but when I google the symptoms, it doesn't seem to fit exactly. Multiple diseases come up for these varying symptoms and I have no idea at this point except to think these poor little chicks were doomed from the start and have multiple things wrong. Also the opinion of my vet. We purchased them at a local feed store which actually goes against all that I normally believe in but we did it because it was late in the season and we couldn't find any breeders in the area that had any. I am wishing we had waited until spring and made a different choice of where to get them.

I know some of you have said it is important to take them to the state lab if they die but I spoke with ours (Michigan State) and they said given the multiple symptoms it may require testing beyond just the necropsy which may be cost prohibitive for us.

After reading thru many of these threads it just seems there are so many common problems with these wonderful birds and I wonder sometimes if it is worth the grief to do this. Guess I'm just frustrated and sad today.

..Raising Chickens actually isn't always glamorous.
They are complex Birds that carry diseases. Stress generally brings on symptoms and adding new Birds with diseases the others don't have can kill flocks off quickly. Young Birds that don't have a built up immune system are the first to succumb to the disease. Best of luck..

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The one that was rattling has cleared up after giving the Tetroxy but is acting weird - hunkering down in the corner of the coop. She also walks backwards (which isn't new but much worse) and acts like her feet hurt. She is still eating/drinking but not as much.

The other one which wasn't rattling, now is just slightly and is acting listless and not eating, which is what the first birds that died did.

I'm sorry they are not doing better.
I would also consider treating for Coccidiosis if you have not done so or have your vet run a quick fecal sample to see if there is an overload.
You can find Corid at most feed stores.
Dosage is 1 1/2 teaspoons Corid powder or 2 teaspoons of 9.6% Corid liquid per gallon of water. Give for 5-7 days.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/respiratory-illness-in-chickens.1283967/#post-20742222

What are you feeding the chicks?