Respiratory Illness in Wyandotte

[Madvalleychick]

My 12 week old golden Wyandotte (in a flock of 6 birds), is the only bird showing signs of an infection: one foamy clogged eye, wheezy sounds... I’ve separated her and cleaned out all our bedding hoping the others don’t get it if they haven’t already. What else can I do for her while separated? Do I keep her warmer (fresh air too of course). ...Give her and the others medicated feed or supplements? They were vaccinated for a whole list of disease... and we’re on medicated chick feed - but I have them on regular feed now. I put some antibiotic drops in her eye but it seems much more than an eye infection.

 

[Eggcessive]

Where did you get your chickens? Were they vaccinated by a breeder or a hatchery, and what for? Are you near other chicken flocks or friends/family with chickens? The symptoms sound like possible mycoplasma (MG,) a chronic respiratory disease that can cause sneezing, congestion, watery eyes with bubbles, a swollen eyelids usually on one side. It can be treated with Tylosin or several other antiobics, but symptoms may recur. Your other chickens probably are already exposed. It is a fairly common disease in backyard flocks. Here is a link for Tylosin and about MG:
https://www.jedds.com/shop/tylan-soluble-100-g/

https://extension.umd.edu/sites/ext... Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) Infecti....pdf

 

[Madvalleychick]

Thanks - darn in Canada I think I need to get tylocin at a vet. I tried your online source - just USA. No contact with other flocks so I’m not sure - I guess from the breeder. I got my birds 4 weeks ago and one had a closed eye that I put drops in - she’s healed up with no respiratory issues at all. But maybe it was MG mildly?

 

[Madvalleychick]

My big question is do chickens get colds and respiratory symptoms without it being something terrible - or are we definitely having an issue? I’m god to ride this out and nurse them back to health - but I haven’t put them in my coop yet, and if this is something bad I don’t want to contaminate it.

 

[Eggcessive]

Chickens can seem to have environmental irritation to some things that may cause sneezing, such as dust or feed, and a peck to the eye might cause eye bubbles or foam. Most respiratory disease are caused by viruses or bacteria, and make them carriers for a year to life. Denagard might be available to you, and doxycycline, oxytetracycline, and other antibiotic drugs might be prescribed by your vet. Your vet could also recommend how to get pcr testing from a lab in Canada, to test a sick bird. Sorry that you are going though this.

 

[Madvalleychick]

A quick update, I hope it’s not too soon to make, but my sick bird is much improved. Her respiratory symptoms are gone and she’s behaving normally. One eye still shut at times. Of course the other Wyandotte’s eye is shut now, but so far no other symptoms- it looks like they will each in turn suffer through this. I don’t have a vet who will take chickens, but from your help and reading I suspect an underlying virus or bacteria that the cold outside visit I gave the pullets triggered symptoms to. Also possible that the dust bath I offered them with a bit of DE earth and wood ash mixed in has irritated their system.... final possible cause could be just some regular dust from their wood shavings. So I’m only taking them out in 15+ degrees, no DE for now, and making sure things are well ventilated. Wow! Lots to manage and learn.

 

[Eggcessive]

Glad that they are doing a little better. Cleaning the eyes with water or saline and a clean cloth can help, and if you have Nesoporin or Triple antibiotic ointment it can be applied 2-3 times a day.