Runny noses, sneezing, 'yawning'...help please!

[Chickadee95]

Hi,
I have 3 BO pullets and 1 EE at about 17 weeks. Since they were about 1 month I've noticed sneezing, and I treated with duramycin-10. However recently it's been more pronounced, and now they have runny noses. When they shake their heads, clear, watery discharge flies out. Also I've noticed at least 2 of the BOs stretching their necks and opening their beaks. At first I thought that maybe there was something stuck in their throat but I've looked and there is nothing. These symptoms have been going on this noticeably for about a week, but I wouldn't doubt that it's been happening since they were 4 weeks.
Other than that they behave normally and look healthy.
I'm thinking something respiratory? How do I treat it? I currently only have Duramycin-10 on hand but can possibly get other meds. I can't go to any vet.
Thank you!

 

[Pumpkinismygirl]

I have a friend how has the same problem with her chickens. She gives them medicated food and medicated water (not sure what brand) that looks like lemonade. It helps them stop the sneezing. It does sound like a respiratory infection... do any of them have diarrhea? :/ Do they're "behinds" look like hay? It sounds treatable, and you could probably look for the water at any feed store. They probably have medicine there too, though sadly I have no recommendations! Best of luck!

 

[dawg53]

I agree that you're probably dealing with a respiratory disease, possibly not an environmental issue. Here's a link regarding diseases in poultry. Take a look at Infectious Bronchitis (IB,) Mycoplasma Gallisepticum (MG,) and Coryza. Antibiotics may treat symptoms in birds, but never cure the disease and they will always have the disease if they survive. Survivors will be carriers and will infect newly acquired birds. If you decide to treat them, you'll have to maintain a closed flock. No new ones in, none out, and no selling or giving away eggs to be hatched as some diseases are passed through the eggs. I recommend that you have bloodwork or a necropsy performed to find out what you're dealing with. You can contact your local extension office or your state department of agriculture to find out how to go about doing this. Otherwise, I recommend that you cull your birds, disinfect everything and wait a few months before getting new birds. Remember and practice biosecurity.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[Chickadee95]

Today we started adding ~2 1/2 tsp Duramycin-10 per 2 gallons for them. Does that sound about right for the dosage? We will do this for about 2 weeks to lessen the symptoms.
Because these guys are pets, we won't cull them, but we also won't breed them and will be careful about possibly spreading the disease.
I read about those diseases dawg53 and none of the birds have any rattly breathing or eye discharge. But still I understand that the diseases are probably spread the same way.

Also, about 3 weeks ago when our birds were in a larger flock, they were tested for diseases like avian bird flue, I think, and something else and came up negative.
If we get them tested again and they come up positive for something, can they force us to put our birds down???

Thanks for the responses!