Rooster Crackly Breathing, Hens Sneezing, 1 Hen diarrhea, Eating/Drinking Normal

[Fenix]

Hello!

1) Barred Rocker/Easter Egger Cross Rooster + 5 hens - Rooster and 3 hens are 13 months old, other 2 hens are about 6 months old
2) I was out of town for a week, and when I returned last Wednesday I noticed my rooster sneezing loudly. 2 days ago his crow starting sounding really off, today his breathing is crackling. One hen is sneezing now when she normally doesn't (6 months old hen), and all their poop looks normal except the other 6 month old hen who has had diarrhea since I got back (I noticed it was green diarrhea when I returned and noticed my rooster sneezing). No discharge or foam in eyes, combs are all red, everyone is eating and drinking normally.
3) I live in dry Eastern New Mexico. We have had quite a bit of wind and rain lately.
4) I started them on safeguard via drinking water yesterday and today.
5) The nearest chicken vet is 2 hours 20 minutes away, I'd prefer to treat at home if I can.
6) They live outside in a coop at night, and free range during the day. They have lived like this with no issues since I adopted them in November 2024.
7) Additional questions besides how to help them:
- Can I mix safeguard together with poultry cell in their daily safeguard water?
- I've read probably 30 threads/articles all with different dosages for safeguard than the medication insert that came with my box. Mine is for poultry specifically and very clearly says to give .05ml in 4 cups of water daily to flocks weighing between 22-50 lbs TOTAL for the entire flock. Yet a bunch of articles are saying to give much much more per kg of bodyweight. Please advise?
- I am going to order Doxy-Tyl from Jedds (https://jedds.com/products/doxy-tyl), but it won't get here till Saturday. Is this the best option to give them, and will it be too late to start them on Saturday?

I am at a loss, and feel like a really bad chicken mom. My birds and flighty and will eat treats/food from my hand, but absolutely do not want me to pick them up or touch them. I've got vetRX im going to try to administer tonight after they are cooped up, but not thinking it's going to go super well putting it on them physically.

I'd greatly appreciate any advice anyone has.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

No discharge or foam in eyes, combs are all red, everyone is eating and drinking normally.

- Can I mix safeguard together with poultry cell in their daily safeguard water?
- I've read probably 30 threads/articles all with different dosages for safeguard than the medication insert that came with my box. Mine is for poultry specifically and very clearly says to give .05ml in 4 cups of water daily to flocks weighing between 22-50 lbs TOTAL for the entire flock. Yet a bunch of articles are saying to give much much more per kg of bodyweight. Please advise?

Welcome To BYC

It sounds like you have Safeguard Aquasol which will treat Roundworms only. Follow the directions on the insert to your flock's water.

IF you are wishing to treat any other type of worms except for Tapeworms, then you will want to use a higher dose of Fenbendazole, most use Safeguard Liquid Goat dewormer or Equine paste dosed by weight and given to each bird orally because these are not formulated to go into the drinking water.
You can also use Valbazen (Albendazole) dosed individually by weight and given orally.

Doxy Tyl or Tylosin are commonly used to treat symptoms of Mycoplasma, follow the dosing on the package.

You were out of town, were your birds cooped up and the droppings built up? Sometimes symptoms can be due to environment. Dry dusty bedding, poor ventilation, ammonia in the coop, etc.

 

[Fenix]

Welcome To BYC

It sounds like you have Safeguard Aquasol which will treat Roundworms only. Follow the directions on the insert to your flock's water.

IF you are wishing to treat any other type of worms except for Tapeworms, then you will want to use a higher dose of Fenbendazole, most use Safeguard Liquid Goat dewormer or Equine paste dosed by weight and given to each bird orally because these are not formulated to go into the drinking water.
You can also use Valbazen (Albendazole) dosed individually by weight and given orally.

Doxy Tyl or Tylosin are commonly used to treat symptoms of Mycoplasma, follow the dosing on the package.

You were out of town, were your birds cooped up and the droppings built up? Sometimes symptoms can be due to environment. Dry dusty bedding, poor ventilation, ammonia in the coop, etc.

Thanks so much for the reply! It is aquasol - I'll get a higher dose tomorrow. I'm worried it's gapeworm based on the rattling noises.

When I was out of town they were still only cooped up at night and free ranged during the day. I had someone checking on them twice a day.

Tonight when I went to tuck them all in, my rooster (who has the worst of the symptoms), was doing the open mouth outstretched head movement, and scratching at his head. I tried to give him VetRX, but he violently pecked the bottle. I have no idea how I am going to administer a worming medication to him orally that's not in a community feeder or waterer. Any suggestions?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

He's scratching his head? Any lice or mites?

You're in a dry climate, so you may be dealing with respiratory illness instead of Gapeworm which is fairly rare in dry climates.

Here's how to give oral medications:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/