Respiratory infection - recovery and reintegration?

[pittsburgh_chickens]

Sooo backstory here...Wednesday morning, I noticed one of my 7 week old silkie pullets making a funny noise when she was breathing. It wasn't a wheeze coming from her lungs, necessarily, but more of a vocalization with every breath - like coming from her voice, a purring noise with every breath. I noticed first thing in the morning, isolated her, and she wasn't eating/drinking at all. I got a variety of things from tractor supply - ok, all the things - vitamins, electrolytes, nutri drench, vet rx...the whole shebang. I gave her all the things I could - she was lethargic and let me medicate her with a syringe easily. The next day (yesterday) she started eating and pooping again - she was also impossible to medicate so I stopped with the syringe. I did notice her start sneezing yesterday, otherwise symptoms improving. Left some nutri drench in her water. Today, shes up moving around, squawking for her friends, and puts up a heck of a fight if I even try to catch her. I ordered supplies to crop feed her (thanks to the threads on here!!) and ordered some antibiotics from jedds. The antibiotics aren't here yet and I won't be giving them since she seems to be making big strides. She hasn't had any other respiratory symptoms - no cough, no eye issues or drainage, and breathing easy again.

In my attempt to isolate her, I moved everyone else to the coop so she could isolate quietly and far enough away in case it was airborne. This also allowed the rest to move to a completely fresh and uninfected environment. The rest are between 4-7 weeks, the older ones are fully feathered and the younger guys have a heat plate. She has a heat lamp in the garage and it's pretty chilly at night so I plan to keep her in the garage for a bit yet.

My questions:

Any idea what respiratory infection I'm dealing with her? Is this likely something everyone already has been exposed to, since they were all in a brooder together? I planned to rehome some roosters soon - should I wait on that? Not rehome them at all now (aka eat them ourselves)? I gave them all nutri drench in the water for 24 hours but they weren't drinking much of it so switched out to plain water. None of the other chicks seem ill.

When should I consider integrating her back into the flock? I had to bring one of my 4 weeks inside due to a toe nail injury, just to clean it up, and she heard the chick peeping and lost her mind in there trying to get to the chick. She's already lowest in the pecking order so I'm worried if shes away longer, they'll be hard on her when she returns. I don't think shes ready for the coop in the cold temps we have, having just had this issue. It should warm up in a couple days...should I try to put her back then? Should I try to give her a friend in a couple days inside the garage? Then move them both to the coop?

 

[pittsburgh_chickens]

A video of her breathing the first morning, in case that helps anyone!

 

[pittsburgh_chickens]

Just bumping to see if anyones around for advice!

 

[Amberan02]

I’m in the same situation you are! Joining your conversation to see if I should keep or sell the the day old chicks that were exposed to 2 other Cochin chicks I bought for 12 ours. The Cochins seem better after 2 doses of baytril but not sure if I’ve already damaged my Orpington chicks!! I’ll let you know if I find out! Glad you fixed yours!!

 

[Eggcessive]

The sound your chick is making in the video is called stridor, which is a high pitched sound on inspiration and expiration. It is caused by something partially blocking the airway, suchas a mucus plug or swollen tissue from a respiratory infection, or a small piece of food. Many times it disappears in several hours unless there is an infection. Sneezing would indicate that. If this chick was with all of the others, there is no need to isolate her. I would put her back. Testing would be available by a vet, your state poultry lab, or by Zoologix, a national lab that will send you swabs to collect.

Can you give some background on where the chicks came from and if you have older chickens or bought hatching eggs?

Respiratory diseases can be from viruses, bacteria, or mold fungus. Infectious bronchitis, mycoplasma gallisepticum , ILT, coryza, and aspergillosis are some of them. Here is a good link for diseases to read about symptoms:
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[Amberan02]

The chicks I purchased came from Tsc but was also exposed to a silkie from another farm.
I hatched my chicks my self from my flock.. I’m kicking my self and just sick over it!! My chicks seem ok so far. But I had just read chicks were ok to bring in....I didn’t realize this lady had also purchased from another breeder. lesson learned. Anyway sick chicks were sneezing, breathing hard and making a popping like noise in their throat. I’m wondering if just the 2 hour or less traveling did it to them? And are they even safe to ever put with my flock? How long do I watch my new babies for?

 

[pittsburgh_chickens]

The sound your chick is making in the video is called stridor, which is a high pitched sound on inspiration and expiration. It is caused by something partially blocking the airway, suchas a mucus plug or swollen tissue from a respiratory infection, or a small piece of food. Many times it disappears in several hours unless there is an infection. Sneezing would indicate that. If this chick was with all of the others, there is no need to isolate her. I would put her back. Testing would be available by a vet, your state poultry lab, or by Zoologix, a national lab that will send you swabs to collect.

Can you give some background on where the chicks came from and if you have older chickens or bought hatching eggs?

Respiratory diseases can be from viruses, bacteria, or mold fungus. Infectious bronchitis, mycoplasma gallisepticum , ILT, coryza, and aspergillosis are some of them. Here is a good link for diseases to read about symptoms:
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

Thanks for your response! The stridor only lasted 12 hours or so, then she started sneezing. I purchased her with 8 others from tractor supply as babies, but the silkies were in the discount bin - they were older, bigger, and 25 cents inch. Maybe a week old or so? Shes eating and drinking fine, acting normal. None of the other chickens are symptomatic. This is my first batch of chickens. we had the 9 from tractor supply, then I added 3 more from a private breeder - they were day olds and I kept them in their own pen for two weeks, then moved their smaller pen into my larger brooder. So all the chicks could see each other but the little ones were safe from the bigger ones.

The only change in her environment was a change in brooders - moved everyone to a larger brooder in the garage, with heat. They were in the new brooder for 2 days and her symptoms appeared.