sick chicken!!! help

[mypicklebird]

I thought the Rogers Co fair (Oklahoma?) was Sept 10-15, that's less than a month away. Too close in my book to bring a bird that was sick today, plus the birds that are treated (or get better on their own) and survive things such as Mycoplasma & Coryza are carriers (reservoirs). Someone will buy the apparently healthy bird at the auction/fair/market ect that had (has) such a bug, was treated and got better- then brings it home, it gets stressed and gets sick again- plus it gives it to the unlucky purchaser's other flock members. So I still think you should not bring these birds to the fair. That's me though- I like to think that the birds I go see at the fair are healthy (and not chronic carriers of something unpleasant). Antibiotics are great- they can be curative with certain infections, but with some- they suppress the active disease and leave a chronic carrier- a 'typhoid mary' of the farmyard.

I read your new/most recent post and see that the story gets worse- they have had it before and now the antibiotics are not working? You most certainly have carriers in your flock if 'it' is the same thing again, and when stressed they exhibit symptoms again. Cull a bird and call your local poultry extension agent- most states or run free disease survey labs. You have to pay to send your bird in sometimes, if there is not a local rep. Look at the sticky at the top of the list of topics. If you call a local vet, they will also be able to give you the phone # for your state vet's office. The staff can give you directions.

If you read my post to the end I suggested a vet OR contacting a poultry extension agent, the later is a free service- other than the phone call. I also did not call you stupid. I am giving you to the point advice and information. You don't have to like it, but it is well meant.
jess

 

[kellim]

Quote:
Hello! I understand not being able to pay a vet, I am in the same boat. My rooster was very ill a short while back and he had pneumonia. Perhaps your has an upper respitory infection, sound like it to me. I used Tyaln 50. It is a cattle and swine medication but can be used in chickens as well. The dose depends on the size of bird. For a bantum you will use 1/2cc once a day for 3 days. For a standard size bird you will use 1 cc for 3 days. I injected it into the back of the neck. Pinch up some skin and insert the needle just under the skin. If it starts bleeding, you hit a blood vessel and just apply a little pressure to the site. Use a 22-25 gauge needle. Also, while doing this you will want to give them a little gatorade or apple juice works too for a boost. The Tylan 50 costed me $9.00 for one 100ml bottle. In our Tractor Supply Store it was located right beside the syringes and needles! Hope this helps you out. If you need more information let me know. I know you are doing the best you can.

 

[Turkens-r-Cute]

well thank you. i only have 1 bird that is really bad sick and i wasnt even going to take him to the fair. i only have 1 bird that i am taking to the fair that has this and if it doesnt get better in a couple of days then i wouldnt take it. i promise i dont sell or take sick birds to the fair. and i dont sell my birds at the fair. i only sell baby birds and they are sold somewhere else. and some of them did have it last year but it was back around this time so i didnt see it as a problem. i figured it was just the weather. because that what happened last time and when i medicated them the last time they had it, it went right away, its just this time it wont go away. so i just thought they have something worse like phneumonia. and i am sorry of what i said in my last post. i am going to try the tylan 50 and if that doesnt work i think i might take your advice. thank you. oh and one more question, you said i migh have a carrier. I have this buff plymouth rock hen that always has a runny nose and i was told it was allergies. Do you think she could be the carrier? or is it the allergies? can chickens even get allergies?

 

[speckledhen]

Ok, first, let me say that chickens do not catch colds. They could possibly get allergies, but that would be very, very rare. They can get sinus infections, but most of what they get with symptoms you describe are pretty nasty diseases, some of which make them carriers for life and always a threat to other birds. Even if it is not showing symptoms itself, it may infect other birds if it's a carrier. Please, please, please do not take a chicken that has had respiratory illness to the fair. Here are some articles that may help you match symptoms.
http://www.shagbarkbantams.com/ib.htm
http://www.shagbarkbantams.com/laryng.htm
http://www.shagbarkbantams.com/page22.htm

 

[Turkens-r-Cute]

i would never take sick chickes to the fair. and when i say cold i mean respiratory infection.

 

[speckledhen]

But, my point is that if you dont really know what disease the bird has, exactly what disease, you dont know if it is a carrier. I personally would never buy a bird I knew had ever had a respiratory infection of any kind. Nor would I sell one to someone else. It can cause devastation in someone else's flock.

Being a carrier means it is a sick bird. It will ALWAYS be a sick bird, even if it is not showing symptoms at the time.

 

[Turkens-r-Cute]

all of my birds though i have had since they were 2 or 3 days old. the only one i can think of that might be a carrier is a buff plymouth rock hen that always has a runny nose. do you think she maybe the carrier?

 

[MissPrissy]

This may seem harsh but must be said -

The replies in this thread indicate this is not the first time your birds have been sick.

Respiratory infections in chickens is VERY serious business and most often is contegious by way of one of the birds being unaffected by the disease but carrying the disease and shedding to all birds it comes in contact with.

It is extremely irresponsible to even consider taking any of these birds to a fair for exhibition around other people's birds.

It is very likely that the disease being shed could require a serious breeder who does not raise pets to have to cull an entire flock they have been developing for years.

Once birds are exposed and start becoming sick there will be a state vet investigation and if they pin point the disease spread to your birds you will be held accountable and they can come in and cull your flock if they feel the disease being spread warrents it.

You should have a necropsy done on one of the birds and have a vet give a specific diagnosis and care plan.

Not being able to afford a vet is a very poor excuse.

If you can't afford proper care when in need maybe you should not have the birds and if they are shedding disease you should think twice about taking them to a fair where you will expose other birds to the same disease.

 

[Turkens-r-Cute]

FOR THE LAST TIME....I AM NOT TAKING THOSE SICK BIRDS TO THE FAIR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MissPrissy]

Any birds breathing air any where near the sick birds can carry the disease. Chickens don't get colds they carry disease and spread it. You can acrry the disease to other places on your shoes and clothes by being in the same place as sick birds while treating them.