Sick Chicken Help!

[tplummer]

I have a little chicken that I bought at a sale. I have her in a cage by herself. She, from everything I have read, has a cold. I have been told to use Vet RX on a Q-tip in the roof of her mouth or simply use vinegar. I read to use 1 tsp to 1 L of water. This should be her only drinking water. Does everyone agree with one of these solutions? Any other suggestions?

 

[threehorses]

Didn't you post something in another post? If so, could you link it please?

VetRx and vinegar aren't treatments. They are supportive methods that do two different things.

The vinegar should be organic apple cider vinegar, not white, not non-organic apple cider vinegar. OACV has living bacteria in it, is a good source of potassium, helps correct the gut pH of the bird (that sinus drainage hurts), and it also helps clear the tract of excess mucus that usually occurs with respiratory illnesses.

By the way, chickens don't get colds - the get bacterial, viral, or fungal respiratory infections.

The VetRx is used to help facilitate breathing and decrease inflammation in the ill bird. You use a q-tip, a new q-tip end for each spot, a new q-tip completely for each bird. Mix a few drops with a few drops of very hot water. Swab and clean and press into the nares of the bird with a wet q-tip. Use a wet q-tip to swab and press into the cleft opening in the roof of their beak (the choanal opening). Use some vetrx wherever on their body they lay their head at night.

Neither of these products will treat your bird. They will support it.

 

[tplummer]

I did post elsewhere. My daughter was logged in and I was under the wrong heading too.

I think the chicken has the laryngotracheitis. She is by herself. I do not want her near my other chickens. I am having trouble finding much, other than antibiotics to treat her.

 

[threehorses]

I would dearly hope that the bird doesn't have ILT as it's reportable, absolutely deadly, and highly contagious. It's one of the few diseases that is unquestionably cullable.

There are a number of other diseases that all share the same symptoms, most are treatable, many don't cause the bird to become carriers.

Can you give us the symptoms of the "cold" and why you think this is ILT? IS she coughing and flinging blood and mucus?

 

[feather leg farms]

No, she is not slinging blood and mucus. She has no discharge. Her main symptom is watery eyes and seems to shake her head. She also stretches her neck every now and then. She is eating and drinking. She has been in isolation. I am keeping my hands washed, etc. She is in a cage, so there is no going in and out of her coop. It actually imitates allergies in a human to me. Just like we get if we have a bad allergy attack or simple cold. After reading more on ILT, I do not feel it is. I just don't know what to treat.

Sorry, my daughter did not log off again. I thought I was under my name.

 

[threehorses]

OK good on no blood or mucus, and good that you feel it sounds less like ILT!

Did she come with this, or did it develop at home? It could be that she's been introduced to the things your poultry carry (even through your own shoes, clothes, hands, pens, etc even if seperate) and is fighting a respiratory illness (viral or bacterial) and will overcome it. There are other things that can also cause gaping like old bouts with fungi in her respiratory system, dust, gapeworm, etc. The weepy eyes and shaking head could be one thing or many. And the nature of bacterial diseases is that you want to try to avoid treating with medicine X if medicine X isn't the right one for bacteria A.

In an ideal world, she would be taken to a vet, a culture and sensitivity would be done, and she's receive the exact antibiotic based on the exact bacteria grown and identified from her sputum.

But this doesn't often happen. In the mean time, she should receive supportive care as any ill bird would - particularly those with respiratory issues.

First, vitamin A is essential for healing the mucus membranes and respiratory tract. It is an oil vitamin and is sensitive to light. For that reason, I recommend that sick birds receive it on their food or directly in their beak - not in water preparations. Some studies found certain oil vitamins to be up to 45% more effective given in conjunection with food versus with drink. . The most wonderful solution I've found to that issue is simply Enfamil baby vitamins, Polyvisol (not the added iron formula). I found ours at our local Walmart - vitamin section - infant vitamins. Three drops in her beak daily should help. Some of the symptoms of vitamin A deficiency are water eyes, excess mucus in the throat, and sometimes nasal drainage. Vitamin A is the vitamin that most often degrades from feed because of its sensitivity to light and heat, and because it does better in oil (not dry) conditions.

If you give the polyvisol, you will also be giving other helpful oil vitamins - like E which is wonderful as an antioxidant.

The tear ducts open connect with an opening in the roof of the beak (the choanal opening) which in turn connects with the digestive tract. Drainage and possibly infective bacteria change the pH and beneficial bacterial lode of the digestive tract. So it's not uncommon for birds with drainage to get secondary diarrhea. To prevent this, I would give her a probiotic daily through this illness and then every other day for 2 weeks after her symptoms abate.

Unless you decide to medicate with medicines containing an active ingredient ending with -mycin or -cycline, you could use plain unflavored yogurt at 1 teaspoon per day. Some birds love it, other birds need tricking. Another option would be to pick up acidophilis capsules from the vitamin section while you're getting the polyvisol. The capsules or tablets are easy to use as the powder you get from emptying the capsule or crushing the tablet is easily mixed with a tiny bit of water, or anything really, and given to the bird via beak. If the bird loves bread, one capsule sprinkled onto bread might not be noticed. Or egg yolk.

You want the good bacteria to thrive and be strong and the living bacteria in those products helps to assure that. It will also help her absorb more from her foods. She needs full nutrition for full healing.

If you feel she has mucus in her throat (indicated by her gaping), using organic apple cider vinegar (1 teaspoon per gallon of water) will help cut through the mucus. It additionally also contains living beneficial bacteria, and can even help readjust the pH of the gut to be more friendly to your GOOD bacteria army, and unfriendly to the bad bacteria - including those that slough down from the respiratory system. Only use organic as it's the one with the "mother" (living bacteria) and other nutrients.

These treatments would be necessary even if being treated with an antibiotic, but starting them now might facilitate her healing so that she recovers from this on her own.

Of course, she needs to be on the best food you can offer. At least 95% of a complete age-appropriate ration. The rest can be treats, grains, etc.

If you have questions, please feel free to email me (as my PM box is usually full) or contact me through this thread.

I'll help in any way possible.