Respiratory Problem

[KsKingBee]

AugeredIN told someone that there is hardly a time without a respiratory problem being on the first page of the forum, so I felt obliged to create one. Not really but I do have a question.

I have become very apt to identifying respiratory/sinus infections in my flock as it has been plaguing us for a while now. Thanks to advise from the forum here a shot of Tylan followed by another on day three if needed seems to fix them right up.

My question is whether I should administer a shot at the first signs of infection or give them a chance to fight it off themselves first?

I have never been one to run for a shot, pill, or any medication until it was really called for but taking care of my peas I feel differently. I have a hen that is yawning or gaping and scratching at her head, I know what this is leading up to but what would you do? Wait until she begins to get swelling around the eyes to give her a shot or get er done right away?

 

[zazouse]

I have lost 1 bird to a sinuse infection in 4 years, she was gone the same day i noticed her ill.

I would treat the peas as soon as you see anything wrong, and if you think this stuff seems kinda cronic in your flock you might consider having them tested for infectious coryza, sometimes this can be very contagious it can take only one bird or even an egg can carry it , and i think if they do recover they are carriers.
Not trying to scare you but if it keeps happening you need to find the cause.
Here is something on UPA on it
http://unitedpeafowlassociation.org/InfectiousCoryza.html

 

[zazouse]

PS meant to mention to you that any time you give meds it is usually for 3,5,to 7 days so one shot is a bad idea, what happens is you barley stave off the infection only next time the infection is more immune to the antibiotics and sometimes if there is only one antibiotic to cure the ailment you will loss your animal cause the only med that would cure them no longer works.

 

[KsKingBee]

Hmmm. Link didn't open, I will go there next. I will study up on Coryza. It seems like we always find the weather to blame whether it is or not, but lately it has been like the dust bowl days. Lots of high wind and dust, both cold and hot.

We treated two hens last week with puffy eyes and runny noses, one might have been beat up by that black shoulder cock but the other was definitely showing signs of infection. Thanks for your input and I will get to studying up on Coryza and how to get tested.

 

[KsKingBee]

That makes sense. The last time the hen looked almost completely over it on the third day so we did not give her the second injection. On the forth day she looked bad again so she got the second shot then and that took care of it. From now on I will always give the second shot even if she looks well. Thanks.

 

[zazouse]

The magic numbers are 3, 5, and 7

not 2

 

[KsKingBee]

I read up on Coryza.

The recommendation is to cull all of your flock, sterilize the area, wait for 60 days and then replace all of your stock with non infected birds. How you know if the replacements are clean would be a crap shoot in my opinion.

 

[zazouse]

Buy from folks with tested flocks that abide by the rules, some folks think cause they got tested birds they are ok to sell but then they buy and sell birds that may not be test and put them with their flocks that are tested.

testing does not mean they can not get it it means they did not have it at the time of testing.
Stay away from LIVESTOCK AUCTIONS

and e-bay (unless you know the person) buy a few birds at a time and wait a few months to buy a few More that way if they got something the stress of the move is most likely to reveal it.

 

[casportpony]

I read up on Coryza.    The recommendation is to cull all of your flock, sterilize the area, wait for 60 days and then replace all of your stock with non infected birds.  How you know if the replacements are clean would be a crap shoot in my opinion.

I'd be more suspicious of mycoplasma (MG & MS). Read up on those, too. Like Zaz, said, buy eggs and birds from flocks that test clean or have no history of respiratory infections.

-Kathy

 

[zazouse]

I forgettted about that one