Runny beak, sneeze, occasional snot bubble 10 wk girls

[freddiethedog]

I'm a novice and need advice

I'm giving you all the info I think might be helpful.

Backstory
Earlier this year I got my first batch of 5 chicks from TSC and all went well. A hawk got one and the place just felt empty, but lucky me, found some for sale and picked up two barred rocks. One looks about a week older than the other so now they are 10-11ish weeks old.

I noticed their turds were loose almost all the time and didn't have a pleasant odor. I am still not an expert at navigating a good duke from a danger duke, so to be safe, I put them on Corid just in case they had coccidiosis. Kept them on this for about a week and turds are looking normal and the smell seems normal. I clean their litter every other day. Pine flakes.

So, while I was treating the probable coccidiosis problem, I noticed the littlest one of the two had a snot bubble. Then I noticed a tiny sneeze happening. It was just luck that I observed it because it was so tiny and I have been spending more time with them trying to get them acclimated to people so I am obsessing over them. If they were in a large flock, I doubt this would even have been noticed.

The sneeze is a little more frequent and I noticed the larger one has a sneeze from time to time. They shake the head and a little glisten is at the nostril. So something is for sure going on.

Tonight I started with oxytetracycline powder in their water. 1 TBSP /gallon
This am I put a very tiny amount of VetRx under their wings then stroked the top of their beaks and head with whatever was still on my finger. There is also a drop or two bobbing around in their water.

They are not with my adult spring girls and are in my garage with a heat lamp.

Aside from the sneeze situation, they seem to be fine. They are much more reserved than my first batch, which were very bold and precocious at the same age (granted, they had been fawned over since 3 days old).

They do sleep quite a bit with the smaller one seeming to have a bit puffier feather position, but she is more in that awkward stage with feathers and floof.

I've made an appointment for a vet for monday (today is wednesday) and I have a call in to another vet to see if they take chickens.

They are eating, drinking, pooping, and generally acting normal.

So my question to you is:
1. do you think the oxytetracycline is the best bet?
2. VetRx...would you use it?
3. Would Tylan be a better bet? If so, what would be the oral dose you would give and how often?
4. Any other suggestions?

Thank you ever so much in advance.

Chris

 

[Isaac 0]

Someone had the same problem yours don't have the same symptoms but you can check it out https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/712512/respiratory-outbreak-cured-with-vitamin-c

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry that you may have bought chickens wirth a possible respiratory disease such as MG, infectious bronchitis, or coryza. Oxytetracycline can treat symptoms if they drink a normal amount of the water. Tylan 50 injectable can be given orally to an individual chicken who is not drinking well. Chickens with common respiratory diseases can recover from symptoms with antibiotics, but may be carriers for life (or up to a year in IB) so I would try to return the chickens to the previous owner. Your other healthy chickens could be in danger. Here are some links from University of Florida to read about the common diseases in chickens:

Infectious Bronchitis

Synonyms: IB, bronchitis, cold
Species affected: Infectious bronchitis is a disease of chickens only. A similar disease occurs in bobwhite quail (quail bronchitis), but it is caused by a different virus.
Clinical signs: The severity of infectious bronchitis infection is influenced by the age and immune status of the flock, by environmental conditions, and by the presence of other diseases. Feed and water consumption declines. Affected chickens will be chirping, with a watery discharge from the eyes and nostrils, and labored breathing with some gasping in young chickens. Breathing noises are more noticeable at night while the birds rest. Egg production drops dramatically. Production will recover in 5 or 6 weeks, but at a lower rate. The infectious bronchitis virus infects many tissues of the body, including the reproductive tract (see Table 1). Eggshells become rough and the egg white becomes watery. (See publication PS-24, Egg Quality, for other causes of poor egg quality.)
Transmission: Infectious bronchitis is a very contagious poultry disease. It is spread by air, feed bags, infected dead birds, infected houses, and rodents. The virus can be egg-transmitted, however, affected embryos usually will not hatch.
Treatment: There is no specific treatment for infectious bronchitis. Antibiotics for 3–5 days may aid in combating secondary bacterial infections. Raise the room temperature 5°F for brooding-age chickens until symptoms subside. Baby chicks can be encouraged to eat by using a warm, moist mash.
Prevention: Establish and enforce a biosecurity program. Vaccinations are available.

Mycoplasma gallisepticum

Synonyms: MG, chronic respiratory disease (CRD), infectious sinusitis, mycoplasmosis
Species affected: chickens, turkeys, pigeons, ducks, peafowl, and passerine birds.
Clinical signs: Clinical symptoms vary slightly between species. Infected adult chickens may show no outward signs if infection is uncomplicated. However, sticky, serous exudate from nostrils, foamy exudate in eyes, and swollen sinuses can occur, especially in broilers. The air sacs may become infected. Infected birds can develop respiratory rales and sneeze. Affected birds are often stunted and unthrifty (see Table 1).
There are two forms of this disease in the turkey. With the "upper form" the birds have watery eyes and nostrils, the infraorbitals (just below the eye) become swollen, and the exudate becomes caseous and firm. The birds have respiratory rales and show unthriftiness.
With the "lower form", infected turkeys develop airsacculitis. As with chickens, birds can show no outward signs if the infection is uncomplicated. Thus, the condition may go unnoticed until the birds are slaughtered and the typical legions are seen. Birds with airsacculitis are condemned.
MG in chicken embryos can cause dwarfing, airsacculitis, and death.
Transmission: MG can be spread to offspring through the egg. Most commercial breeding flocks, however, are MG-free. Introduction of infected replacement birds can introduce the disease to MG-negative flocks. MG can also be spread by using MG-contaminated equipment.
Treatment: Outbreaks of MG can be controlled with the use of antibiotics. Erythromycin, tylosin, spectinomycin, and lincomycin all exhibit anti-mycoplasma activity and have given good results. Administration of most of these antibiotics can be by feed, water or injection. These are effective in reducing clinical disease. However, birds remain carriers for life.
Prevention: Eradication is the best control of mycoplasma disease. The National Poultry Improvement Plan monitors all participating chicken and turkey breeder flocks.

Infectious Coryza

Synonyms: roup, cold, coryza
Species affected: chickens, pheasants, and guinea fowl. Common in game chicken flocks.
Clinical signs: Swelling around the face, foul smelling, thick, sticky discharge from the nostrils and eyes, labored breathing, and rales (rattles—an abnormal breathing sound) are common clinical signs. The eyelids are irritated and may stick together. The birds may have diarrhea and growing birds may become stunted (see Table 1).
Mortality from coryza is usually low, but infections can decrease egg production and increase the incidence and/or severity of other diseases. Mortality can be as high as 50 percent, but is usually no more than 20 percent. The clinical disease can last from a few days to 2–3 months, depending on the virulence of the pathogen and the existence of other infections such as mycoplasmosis.
Transmission: Coryza is primarily transmitted by direct bird-to-bird contact. This can be from infected birds brought into the flock as well as from birds which recover from the disease which remain carriers of the organism and may shed intermittently throughout their lives. Birds risk exposure at poultry shows, bird swaps, and live-bird sales. Inapparent infected adult birds added into a flock are a common source for outbreaks. Within a flock, inhalation of airborne respiratory droplets, and contamination of feed and/or water are common modes of spread.
Treatment: Water soluble antibiotics or antibacterials can be used. Sulfadimethoxine (Albon

, Di-Methox

) is the preferred treatment. If it is not available, or not effective, sulfamethazine (Sulfa-Max

, SulfaSure

), erythromycin (gallimycin

), or tetracycline (Aureomycin

) can be used as alternative treatments. Sulfa drugs are not FDA approved for pullets older than 14 weeks of age or for commercial layer hens. While antibiotics can be effective in reducing clinical disease, they do not eliminate carrier birds.
Prevention: Good management and sanitation are the best ways to avoid infectious coryza. Most outbreaks occur as a result of mixing flocks. All replacement birds on "coryza-endemic" farms should be vaccinated. The vaccine (Coryza-Vac) is administered subcutaneously (under the skin) on the back of the neck. Each chicken should be vaccinated four times, starting at 5 weeks of age with at least 4 weeks between injections. Vaccinate again at 10 months of age and twice yearly thereafter.

 

[freddiethedog]

Thank you so much. Going to read up on these now.

 

[freddiethedog]

I've contacted the seller to see if they will take them back. It just isn't worth risking my other girls.