Respiratory Problems Help

[HargroveOutdoors]

So, looks like I may have found the underlying cause of all the issues I’ve with the chicks I picked up from a local “hobby farm”.
Within the last day or two I noticed sneezing and gaping in one of the chicks. I was hoping it was just a dusty brooder and cleaned and added vitamins to the water and yogurt to their diet. Now several are having the same symptoms. Today when I checked them, one has crusty nostril and elongated, oval shaped eyes.
I can remember reading about an illness that causes these symptoms, but I cannot find it now. Mycoplasma? Can anyone help me identify the illness. Is there a book on chicken diseases that I can pick up?
My major question is that I have a healthy rooster and two hens outside and this batch of chicks from an apparently unsavory seller has been plagued with problems since day one. I’m considering culling for the safety of my established birds and starting over. Advice is much needed. I’ve never run into so many problems with chicks in so short a time. Chicks are approximately 3 weeks old.

 

[Punkybrewster]

Have they been anywhere near your flock?
I would cull them. Sanitize anything they have come in contact with.

Any type of coughing, sneezing, lethargy, crusty nose and swollen eyes is a bad combination. You are right to suspect MG.

You may want to let the breeder know.
Google: MC in poultry

 

[Eggcessive]

It looks like there could be symptoms of mycoplasma (MG.) It can cause that sunken eye appearance from conjunctivitis, foam or bubbles in an eye, sneezing or other respiratory symptoms. Symptoms can be treated with certain antibiotics, but the chicks are still carriers of the disease. Testing or a necropsy can check for MG. Use very good biosecurity caring for these chicks and going between them and your others. Here is some reading:
https://extension.umd.edu/sites/ext... Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) Infecti....pdf

 

[HargroveOutdoors]

Have they been anywhere near your flock?
I would cull them. Sanitize anything they have come in contact with.

Any type of coughing, sneezing, lethargy, crusty nose and swollen eyes is a bad combination. You are right to suspect MG.

You may want to let the breeder know.
Google: MC in poultry

They were taken outside for about 30 minutes several days ago before these symptoms appeared and placed near enough to be seen by the other birds, but not interact. It’s a shame because I got some very healthy chicks from a friend at the same time. They’ve been in the brooder with these guys from this hobby farm. The chicks from the hobby farm have had constant problems. Thanks for the quick reply.

 

[Punkybrewster]

Have they been anywhere near your flock?
I would cull them. Sanitize anything they have come in contact with.

Any type of coughing, sneezing, lethargy, crusty nose and swollen eyes is a bad combination. You are right to suspect MG.

You may want to let the breeder know.
Google: MC in poultry

I meant to write "MG in poultry."
So sorry if i confused anybody.
My typing skills are awful.

 

[HargroveOutdoors]

It looks like there could be symptoms of mycoplasma (MG.) It can cause that sunken eye appearance from conjunctivitis, foam or bubbles in an eye, sneezing or other respiratory symptoms. Symptoms can be treated with certain antibiotics, but the chicks are still carriers of the disease. Testing or a necropsy can check for MG. Use very good biosecurity caring for these chicks and going between them and your others. Here is some reading:
https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/_docs/programs/poultry/FS-1008 Recognizing and Preventing Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) Infecti....pdf

Thanks for the reply and the link. I have a small yard area and once they go outside I will be unable to keep securely separated from my established birds. Would you suggest this treatment and bringing them into the established flock or culling the chicks to avoid (if possible) introducing this disease to my established birds. I understand this is a disease that is established in the wild.

 

[HargroveOutdoors]

Bump, further reading suggests a possibility of Infectious Bronchitis, particularly since the eyes are watery instead of foamy. Hoping to send sample to lab for further diagnosis.

 

[HargroveOutdoors]

3 days out from cleaning the brooder. The chicks that were exhibiting milder symptoms have improved. The Marans with the worst symptoms also shows some improvement. No foamy eyes have appeared. This hopefully means we can rule out mycoplasma.

 

[HargroveOutdoors]

The Marans chick was dead this morning. A grey Olive Egger is beginning to show more advanced symptoms. Unknown if this is viral or bacterial. Have VetRX coming, could hit with antibiotics to just to be safe. In contact with my state lab for testing.

 

[Punkybrewster]

Please update with what the test results are