Rooster with trouble breathing

[mbailey78]

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My rooster is wheezing and then almost kind of sneezing every 15-30 seconds. This just started tonight or at least some time today. I want to post a video but not sure how. The attach file option only lets me attach pics. Can someone please tell me how to post a video? I’m usually pretty good with technology but maybe I’m missing something obvious. I don’t see anything in his throat but couldn’t look too far down. He was not cooperative. I also noticed his crowing was pathetic the last few days. It’s hard to tell if his comb looks any darker at this time of night. His eyes and legs look fine. I have a few options floating around in my head- worst case bird flu to he inhaled something, to gape worms or some other respiratory issue. Any suggestions? Thank you.

 

[Eggcessive]

Videos should be uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo with a link posted here. It sounds like a possible respiratory disease if he is sneezing often. Can you see any nasal drainage or bubbles in either eye?

 

[chicknmania]

It's possible he could have a respiratory infection which is treatable with antibiotics. In past years I had a rooster or two develop a pathetic crow, and we treated with antibiotics, they recovered with no issues. Anytime I have a sick bird, I confine it to a pen with heat, where it also has some privacy, and do nothing for the first 12 - 24 hours besides provide feed and water and just let the bird rest, calm down, and get acclimated to the weird surroundings. I think a lot of handling and confinement in a bird that isn't used to it, can be so stressful and doesn't really help a sick bird. I can evaluate and observe during that time, and then the following day I can decide which treatment I want to pursue.. and examine the bird more closely. I find this is a good system except in cases where of course, it's very obvious what's wrong with the bird, which in most cases, it isn't. You do want to isolate him from the flock, of course, but I try to have my hospital pen away from the flock but in a location where the sick bird can still see and hear the other birds. It isn't always possible, but it's less stressful when they can.
I learned on here recently that mullein is a good treatment for birds with respiratory issues, and you should be able to get it in most health food stores, or it's even sold as wild bird food in some places. . I don't know how much to give, since I have not tried it, but it is something that you can mix in the food if he's eating, and it won't hurt, might help.
Hopefully it isn't bird flu, but if it is you will certainly know pretty soon because it is so contagious to the other birds. Don't panic just yet, there's lot of things that can cause respiratory issues in birds.

 

[mbailey78]

It's possible he could have a respiratory infection which is treatable with antibiotics. In past years I had a rooster or two develop a pathetic crow, and we treated with antibiotics, they recovered with no issues. Anytime I have a sick bird, I confine it to a pen with heat, where it also has some privacy, and do nothing for the first 12 - 24 hours besides provide feed and water and just let the bird rest, calm down, and get acclimated to the weird surroundings. I think a lot of handling and confinement in a bird that isn't used to it, can be so stressful and doesn't really help a sick bird. I can evaluate and observe during that time, and then the following day I can decide which treatment I want to pursue.. and examine the bird more closely. I find this is a good system except in cases where of course, it's very obvious what's wrong with the bird, which in most cases, it isn't. You do want to isolate him from the flock, of course, but I try to have my hospital pen away from the flock but in a location where the sick bird can still see and hear the other birds. It isn't always possible, but it's less stressful when they can.
I learned on here recently that mullein is a good treatment for birds with respiratory issues, and you should be able to get it in most health food stores, or it's even sold as wild bird food in some places. . I don't know how much to give, since I have not tried it, but it is something that you can mix in the food if he's eating, and it won't hurt, might help.
Hopefully it isn't bird flu, but if it is you will certainly know pretty soon because it is so contagious to the other birds. Don't panic just yet, there's lot of things that can cause respiratory issues in birds.

Thank you. I have him confined with heat. Hoping to get an antibiotic for him.

 

[mbailey78]

Videos should be uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo with a link posted here. It sounds like a possible respiratory disease if he is sneezing often. Can you see any nasal drainage or bubbles in either eye?

His eyes look fine and don’t see any nasal drainage. His comb and wattles look darker than normal. Thank you for the directions for uploading a video.

 

[mbailey78]

Videos should be uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo with a link posted here. It sounds like a possible respiratory disease if he is sneezing often. Can you see any nasal drainage or bubbles in either eye?

Do you know what the best antibiotic would be? My vet said I could come get Tylan tomorrow morning but said it would not be for layers if they get sick. She said if any hens get sick maybe could try doxycycline or baytril but said they had no label for food consumption. I just want to be ready. Also the roo does not seem to be eating or drinking so I assume if he makes it long enough then I would have to give it to him orally.

 

[chicknmania]

Baytril is good or maybe Oxytet, which is more specific to respiratory issues. Or whatever the vet thinks is what I would use. Tylan works too. If you're not going to eat him it doesn't really matter what you use, imo. If he's not eating and you don't want to tube feed, you can try mixing the antibiotic into a slurry that you can make using applesauce or juice, maybe some mashed up banana mixed with a little yogurt, that you can suck up into a syringe and gently syringe a little at a time into the tip or side of their beak; It's annoying because it's not easy but last time I had a sick hen she fought like mad but i was able to get enough into her that way to jump start her for the first day or so, and after that she was eating a bit and I could just give it to her that way, in her food. Or just try mixing the antibiotic in juice to kill the taste and carefully syringe him some that way. Before you do that, you can try to tempt him with goodies...canned catfood, cooked hamburger, mashed banana or applesauce, yogurt, chopped grapes, oatmeal, scrambled eggs,cnopped hardboiled egg, chopped strawberries, small breadcrumbs soaked in buttermilk, or sometimes even just dampened crumbles or dampened UltraKibble for Chicks. Anything to get him eating, and then you can just mix the antibiotic in that. . Grapes are especially good because they get some fluid that way too and those are often times really appealing to sick birds.
Have you been able to examine the inside of his mouth or throat with a flashlight? Look to see if you see anything unusual, or if he has any lesions or spots in his throat or mouth. This is usually a two person job, but not impossible.

 

[mbailey78]

Baytril is good or maybe Oxytet, which is more specific to respiratory issues. Or whatever the vet thinks is what I would use. Tylan works too. If you're not going to eat him it doesn't really matter what you use, imo. If he's not eating and you don't want to tube feed, you can try mixing the antibiotic into a slurry that you can make using applesauce or juice, maybe some mashed up banana mixed with a little yogurt, that you can suck up into a syringe and gently syringe a little at a time into the tip or side of their beak; It's annoying because it's not easy but last time I had a sick hen she fought like mad but i was able to get enough into her that way to jump start her for the first day or so, and after that she was eating a bit and I could just give it to her that way, in her food. Or just try mixing the antibiotic in juice to kill the taste and carefully syringe him some that way. Before you do that, you can try to tempt him with goodies...canned catfood, cooked hamburger, mashed banana or applesauce, yogurt, chopped grapes, oatmeal, scrambled eggs,cnopped hardboiled egg, chopped strawberries, small breadcrumbs soaked in buttermilk, or sometimes even just dampened crumbles or dampened UltraKibble for Chicks. Anything to get him eating, and then you can just mix the antibiotic in that. . Grapes are especially good because they get some fluid that way too and those are often times really appealing to sick birds.
Have you been able to examine the inside of his mouth or throat with a flashlight? Look to see if you see anything unusual, or if he has any lesions or spots in his throat or mouth. This is usually a two person job, but not impossible.

Thank you. My vet doesn’t deal with poultry at all and usually gives me what I want for my birdies. She told me to research it and then get back to her if I want something different than what she mentioned. I don’t mind using a syringe to give him something. Have done it with other birds. Really wanted an idea of meds in case any of my hens start showing symptoms. Thanks again.
*Forgot to mention I got him to eat some blueberries and a little oatmeal this morning.

 

[Eggcessive]

Tylan (tylosin) is actually approved for poultry and a good treatment for mycoplasma (MG.) There is no egg withdrawal, and it can be given orally. Let us know what form it is in, and I can give dosages. It comes in injectable 50 and 200, as well as in a powder for the water. Baytril is very good as well as oxytetracycline, but both require an egg withdrawal time of a month or 2 weeks. Doxycyline would as well. Baytril is actually banned, but many vets use it for difficult infections. If he has a virus, no antibiotic would help. I would try the Tylan.

 

[mbailey78]

Tylan (tylosin) is actually approved for poultry and a good treatment for mycoplasma (MG.) There is no egg withdrawal, and it can be given orally. Let us know what form it is in, and I can give dosages. It comes in injectable 50 and 200, as well as in a powder for the water. Baytril is very good as well as oxytetracycline, but both require an egg withdrawal time of a month or 2 weeks. Doxycyline would as well. Baytril is actually banned, but many vets use it for difficult infections. If he has a virus, no antibiotic would help. I would try the Tylan.

Great thanks. I texted my vet a few min ago. Last night she wanted to give the Tylan that goes in water. I would have to give it to him by a syringe without a needle since it doesn’t seem like he’s drinking much. But if I can get the injectable Tylan then I think I would prefer to use that form.