Respiratory problems and weepy eyes has me scared.

[Rjaym73]

I have a hen that I have had for 3 months, a friend of mine had her as a pet and she had to get rid of her so I offered to keep her. She is 7 years old. I kept her away from any of my other birds for a couple of months, and since she has had her own pen (as she hates other chickens). I hadn't seen anything out of the ordinary after a couple of months so I moved her pen directly next to my others, I free range my birds and they peck around her pen. About a week ago (right after I moved her pen) she started having discharge from her eyes, often her face swells. She makes odd noises occasionally, like she tries to cluck but it sounds more of a gurgle/cough. She has been eating and drinking a little less than normal and has had runny stools. A few days ago she started loosing quite a few feathers, it isn't noticable looking at her but I see them in the pen. I started reading about symptoms and keep seeing MG mentioned, now I am worried to death about it. None of my other birds has shown any signs of any illness. Could she have been a carrier and it not shown up until after the stress of moving her pen? I live near Atlanta Ga, where do I get her tested? Could it be something a little less serious? What are the chances my others will be infected?

I know some are against the use of antibiotics, but I am not taking any chances. I am treating all of my birds with teramycin at 800mg per gal.

 

[Andora]

You can start with the state vet's office. They will be able to hopefully point you in the right direction. Find out where you can take a mouth swab for a culture and sensitivity test. Here the test is only $10 with our local university's animal diagnostic lab.

Here's the Georgia info.

Mr. Lee M. Myers, State Veterinarian
Assistant Commissioner of Animal Industry
Georgia Department of Agriculture
19 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Room 106
Atlanta, GA 30334-4201
404-656-3671 (Office)
404-657-1357 (Fax)
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.georgia.gov

 

[Rjaym73]

Thanks for the info. I would like to have my flock tested to make sure. I have quite a few really nice birds and would hate to have to start over and all of the talk of MG on here, and the fact that you can never rid a bird of it, worries me.