Sick chicken - what to give her?

[cdahl383]

We’ve had chickens for about 6 months now, this is the first time one has gotten sick. Our one hen is sneezing and coughing, has difficulty breathing, making gurgling noises, etc. Her eyes are clear, she still moves around, still eats and drinks a little, but at time stands around and nods off a little. We isolated her away from the others. I’m not sure what to do with her. My one friend with chickens said to give her corid. I looked up a few other antibiotics but none are available without a prescription.

The other chickens all seem okay at this point. I’ll monitor them over the next week or so to see if any of them develop symptoms.

Any advice would be appreciated. I want to help her but don’t know what to do.

 

[Eggcessive]

Corid would only treat coccidiosis, and it sounds like your chickens have picked up a respiratory disease. Have you added any new birds in recent weeks or months? Does your friend have any birds who have suffered from a respiratory disease or infection before? I would try to get the sick chicken tested for the 5 or so common respiratory diseases. They are contagious and other chickens become carriers, sometimes for life or for 5 months to a year with infectious bronchitis. MG, coryza, ILT, and ORT are other diseases. Here is a good link about common diseases with symptoms:
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044
Certain antibiotics may be obtained from a vet or sometimes online for pigeons, but those only treat bacterial diseases or mycoplasma (MG.)

 

[cdahl383]

Corid would only treat coccidiosis, and it sounds like your chickens have picked up a respiratory disease. Have you added any new birds in recent weeks or months? Does your friend have any birds who have suffered from a respiratory disease or infection before? I would try to get the sick chicken tested for the 5 or so common respiratory diseases. They are contagious and other chickens become carriers, sometimes for life or for 5 months to a year with infectious bronchitis. MG, coryza, ILT, and ORT are other diseases. Here is a good link about common diseases with symptoms:
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044
Certain antibiotics may be obtained from a vet or sometimes online for pigeons, but those only treat bacterial diseases or mycoplasma (MG.)

No new birds added, water is clean and contained, feed is changed, bedding is clean in the coop, etc. Not sure where she got it from.

We’ll call a vet tomorrow and see what we can do. I’ve found all the good antibiotics are only available with a prescription.

 

[Eggcessive]

Many good antibiotics are available online from pigeon or fish suppliers. But it would be good to get a diagnosis, so that you use one that is right for the disease. Viruses do not respond to AB’s.

 

[cdahl383]

She seems to be doing a little better today. She seems more alert. I gave her some grapes, blueberries, and some bread and she scarfed all that up. Tried giving her some sunflower seeds but wasn’t interested in that at all. Not sure how much she is drinking, but I have water in her cage right now.

Keeping her in the garage in her cage where it’s a little warmer, no wind, nothing to scare her etc. Will bring her out tomorrow when it’s nicer and sunny out.

Her eyes look good and clear, no discharge from her nostrils, she’s eating and I believe drinking. Her comb is a nice color. Hopefully she gets better soon.

She still makes a gargling noise when she breathes and sneezes/coughs a little. She’s no longer stretching her neck was out, just standing around normally. She sounds very congested.

I’ll call the vet later and see what they say.