Rooster respiratory. Help please

[Court82]

Hi! So I have my guy here.. he’s an older gentleman (Willis). Last week I noticed some rattles. He moved into my garage. His crow was kinda ‘off’ too. His girlfriend Black Queen also had kinda the same thing going on but she presented with this cough/sneeze thing. No runny nose, no smell, nothing in their mouth. I checked for bugs, crop seemed fine unless it was a warmer day and they went wild with water. At one point I hit em with meds but I wasn’t even sure what I was dealing with. I’m now prob 80-90% it’s resp. Although no one else has it. I put them out today to get some sun and they literally sound worse. ESP my guy here. Gurgling, it’s almost scary. But it just seems to be in his throat… my question is- what should I hit him with as far as meds? And anything else y’all can advise? TY

 

[Eggcessive]

Have you seen any bubbles/foam or watery eye? How is your coop ventilation? Is there any problems with mold or dust? Have you added any new birds to the flock who could have brought in a respiratory disease?

 

[Court82]

Have you seen any bubbles/foam or watery eye? How is your coop ventilation? Is there any problems with mold or dust? Have you added any new birds to the flock who could have brought in a respiratory disease?

Ty for replying! Ventilation is pretty good. No new birds added, it is kind of dusty in the run. No mold, but I do have some puddles at times (not when this all started). I have not noticed any bubbles in their eyes. Maybe a bit watery, but nothing I would call tearing.

 

[SkyWolf]

Do you have any pictures of him and the hen? Also, the gurgling is when they breath, correct? Is their breathing heavy (like panting almost)? Are they gasping at all?

 

[Court82]

Yes, when they breathe. And honestly I’m kind of neurotic about these 2 (and 1 other that is now $2k from the suprelorin- shes ok as of now ) l watch them on camera since this. No panting. I only saw mouth breathing when they went nuts outside yesterday when it was warmer. I also have not seen gasping, which I was sort of waiting for in a panic. Only before he let out a cough/sneeze thing last night. I see her intermittently do that cough thing during the day but it’s more at night- same w his gurgle stuff. Let me get a pic now.

 

[Court82]

Nothing out of the ordinary. What you see on his beak is watermelon. So it wasn’t like he was drooling. When I ‘disturbed’ them they both let out that weird cough

 

[SkyWolf]

Yes, when they breathe. And honestly I’m kind of neurotic about these 2 (and 1 other that is now $2k from the suprelorin- shes ok as of now ) l watch them on camera since this. No panting. I only saw mouth breathing when they went nuts outside yesterday when it was warmer. I also have not seen gasping, which I was sort of waiting for in a panic. Only before he let out a cough/sneeze thing last night. I see her intermittently do that cough thing during the day but it’s more at night- same w his gurgle stuff. Let me get a pic now.

They look healthy (besides the breathing) which is good. Because they are no gasping it isn’t likely a parasite or blockage.
So, if you are going to do meds antibiotics could be a good route.

We usually use Penicillin or Amoxicillin. We don’t have vet and you can’t get it over the counter. But you can get fish amoxicillin/penicillin at most feed stores and pet stores. This works out great since chickens take small doses.

Just make sure to give them the right dose and give it to them consistently for the alotted time. Not longer and definitely not shorter, otherwise if could make the infection resistant.

 

[Court82]

Thank you. I do have this Tiagard- would that work?? I also have Baytril and augmentin. (I think the Baytril would be over kill maybe)… he seems to be slightly better tonight as far as the gurgles. I watched her and she coughs on and off. Opens her mouth like she’s trying to cough it up. But I don’t see it as much during the day. I guess it’s kind of like humans with the resp- worse at night

 

[Eggcessive]

TiaGard is for treatment of mycoplasma (MG) so it can treat symptoms of that. It won’t treat other respiratory diseases or viruses.

 

[Court82]

Ty for the info. So augmentin (Amox-clav) or the fish amoxicillin would probably be helpful in the situation.