Respiratory spread theough flock

[Dvent1016]

We have a respiratory going around our flock. The bad ones we separated and gave antibiotics. The remaining we are trying to treat with denegard...the issue....they won't drink it. We added in a ton (3cups) of sugar in a 5 gallon amoun (typical amount they drink in a day) and they won't touch it any ideas?

 

[nuthatched]

What's the sugar for?
If it's a virus, antibiotics likely won't work.
You may need to give direct dosage of denagaurd if needed.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

We have a respiratory going around our flock. The bad ones we separated and gave antibiotics. The remaining we are trying to treat with denegard...the issue....they won't drink it. We added in a ton (3cups) of sugar in a 5 gallon amoun (typical amount they drink in a day) and they won't touch it any ideas?

Welcome To BYC

Sorry to hear you're having troubles.

Did the ones you separated out respond to antibiotics? If so, what did you use? Can you use the same medication for the remaining birds too?

Denagard can be sweetened with juice or karo syrup as well, you can try that.

Otherwise, find a different antibiotic that treats Mycoplasma (Denagard treats only MG). Tylosin powder can be ordered online, that would be the option I would use.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

What's the sugar for?
If it's a virus, antibiotics likely won't work.
You may need to give direct dosage of denagaurd if needed.

Denagard treats only MG and is very bitter. It's common to sweeten the Denagard water so the medication is more palatable

 

[nuthatched]

Denagard treats only MG and is very bitter. It's common to sweeten the Denagard water so the medication is more palatable

Ah, good to know. A bit Salt + sugar would be more effective to hide bitterness, if a chicken's palate is anything like ours.

 

[Perris]

"if a chicken's palate is anything like ours."
It isn't.
Sugar and salt works with humans, and is the mainstay of UPFs, but chickens probably can't taste sweet, so you need a better reason to add sugar to their food or water.

E. Roura, M.W. Baldwin, K.C. Klasing, The avian taste system: Potential implications in poultry nutrition
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2012.11.001

 

[Eggcessive]

We have a respiratory going around our flock. The bad ones we separated and gave antibiotics. The remaining we are trying to treat with denegard...the issue....they won't drink it. We added in a ton (3cups) of sugar in a 5 gallon amoun (typical amount they drink in a day) and they won't touch it any ideas?

What are all of the symptoms have you seen? Have you seen bubbles/foam in either eye, swelling of the face or eyelid, nasal drainage, sneezing throughout the day, congestion? Most sick birds will not drink well, so the medication in the water is not enough. Have you lost any birds where you could send one to your state vet for a necropsy and diagnosis? There are a number of viruses (IB, ILT, others,) mycoplasma, and coryza that affect poultry. The viruses are milder, and will not respond to antibiotics, but most chickens may recover within several weeks. If chickens have MG or coryza, they remain carriers for life, while a virus may make them carriers for a year or less.