Rhode Island Red very sick

[Pet Chicken Owner]

I have two Rhode Island Reds and One New Hampshire Red in Southern California. They are all two years old. The two RiRs started laying eggs without eggshell a couple of months ago (Feb). I assumed it's due to lack of calcium, so I added girts and Oyster Shell to their diet. I've always had plenty of cracked egg shell to their food. It doesn't resolve the issue. One of them started wheezing three weeks ago. I contacted a avian vet and he said I need to give her antibiotics. Living in California, I couldn't find proper antibiotic for chickens. It seems it's illegal to ship or sell Antibiotics in Cali. So, I tried to give her Erythromycin (Human Version) to her for three days. I tried to measure per the vet's recommendation. Wheezing stopped but came back after a couple of days with sneezing. I tried it one more time and same thing repeated. This third time I could get access to Amoxicillin (Human Version) and I gave her a lot during last two days. Today, she doesn't move, does not have any appetite and doesn't drink. She is sleeping all day. The two other ones are standing by her the whole time. I need to say now none of them lay any eggs. I'm devastated. Any help is really really appreciated. Thanks everyone.

 

[Tookie]

@azygous @Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive

 

[azygous]

Not a diagnosis, but this is what infectious bronchitis produces, and it's notoriously difficult to treat. And then it lingers in their bodies to flare up again. I'm sorry about the antibiotic oppression in your state. I love California as the forward thinking state it is in almost all respects, but this ban on antibiotics only penalizes small backyard flocks and is terrible overkill. If I still lived there, I would be getting antibiotics in a back channel manner. I believe most people are aware of the risk of overuse and would not toss them indiscriminently at their chickens and other livestock. Rant over.

What you can do is continue to treat the symptoms with what you have on hand. You can also try a calcium supplement that is easier to digest and absorb than oyster shell. This thankfully can be found at your local Walmart.

One tablet directly in the beak once a day until eggs are back to normal.

 

[Eggcessive]

She may be suffering from a reproductive disorder or egg yolk peritonitis. Shell gland problems and others in the oviduct can be a result of a particular respiratory disease, infectious bronchitis. If calcium is supplemented and on layer feed, it still may not help. But if there is a deficiency, it may. Amoxicillin can help, but most times it is too late when these things cause a serious illness. Sorry that she is sick.