Runny noses!!!!

[Kasey]

My mid 8 week old chicks have runny noses!

The runny nose is actually just now developing but they have been feeling bad for a couple weeks now.

It started with a couple just not seeming to feel well. They would be lethargic and a little ruffled for a few days and then return to normal. Their appetite would be a little off but they would still eat and drink. While they sleep they kind of appeared to be gasping or gulping. Essentially they were open and closing their beak. Sinuses stopped up maybe?

This week a couple have watery eyes and a clear discharge coming from their nostrils.

I've looked at the diseases and sounds like maybe infectious bronchitis? Currently they are getting oxytetracyline in their water.

Anyone dealt with something like this before?

 

[Pyxis]

It could also be mycoplasma, which makes sense since infectious bronchitis is usually pretty aggressive and fast spreading. The oxytetracycline will treat it if it is mycoplasma, but the birds will always carry it and they will show symptoms again when they are stressed or run down, like during a molt. They will also pass it to any other bird they come into contact with, so you should never, ever sell them or give them away. The disease, if it is mycoplasma, will also pass down through eggs to the chicks so you should never sell or give away eggs for hatching either. If it's infectious bronchitis, they will also carry it for life. It could also potentially be coryza - does the discharge have a bad smell? If it's infectious bronchitis, the oxytetracycline won't help since it's a virus and it just has to run its course.

 

[Kasey]

What kind of bad smell? Like an overwhelming smell or just a little? I will go check

 

[Kasey]

Is there a chance it's none of those?

 

[Kasey]

So DH and I went out and agreed that those with runny noses have a bit of a rotting flesh smell to their nostrils.

Imagine us picking up and smelling chick noses! Ha!

 

[Pyxis]

Unfortunately it's unlikely that it's something else. Unlike us, chickens don't get just colds. Coryza has a very bad smell to it. It's the nasal discharge that actually smells. There is a small possibility that they are being irritated by their bedding. Is it very dusty? Are you using pine? Cedar is toxic to chickens and should be avoided. The best way to find out exactly what it is is to send a bird out for a necropsy, but you'd have to cull one to do that.

 

[Pyxis]

Most people say coryza smell is kind of like roadkill. Is the smell like that?

 

[Kasey]

Yea I'd definitely say it smells like road kill. It's just not an overwhelming smell, but the ones with out it don't smell that way.


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[Kasey]

They are on a very course cement sand for bedding. It's not very dusty.


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[Pyxis]

With them having the smell, I would consider coryza for sure.