Just to clarify, treated city water isn't as bad as well water and if you do have access to city water, it fine to use on your flock. (still hard, but not so bad you can't use it) Some of us that live in the middle of nowhere have no choice sometimes. LOL
RO water is called Reverse Osmosis. You can set up your own filters in your home to clean out your water or purchase it if you have places that do this. We have lots of places around here since many of us don't have treated city water. RO water is simply run through the finest, most tiniest of screens and filters over and over until all the minerals are removed. But you can use Distilled with this drug or any of the tetracycline drugs. You can use purchased spring water from the store as well. It is usually very clean, most minerals and sodium have been removed.
Most respiratory infections in chickens are caused from either MG or Coryza. MG which is a Mycoplasma is usually brought into the flock from adding new chickens to your flock that carry this bacteria. Coryza can also be carried in on new birds but many times it is contracted through contact with wild birds. (if they eat or drink out of your flocks water and feeders)
Either of these after contracted will make the bird a carrier for the rest of it's days. But that doesn't mean you have to put them down. This means that when the bird heals over, it CAN carry this bacteria around with it for the rest of its days and if you add new birds to the flock, they too, but not always, will have to deal with this bacteria as well. And of course you never want to sell or give your birds away in this condition to some unknown buyer, thus infecting their flock.
I had MS run through my young flock many years ago. (similar mycoplasa bacteria) I chose to treat them and did get them all through it. However I moved them all off their old grounds after treatment onto new grounds and was meticulous with cleanliness, which I am anyway, LOL, for quite sometime. A couple years later, I DID add to my flock and not a single newcomer or chick contracted this MS. So not always do they remain carriers and you can annihilate the entire thing sometimes if you work at it. AND your birds can still live a wonderful life with you for the rest of their days. Just be aware if you do add to your flock, be ready with the Duramycin just in case.
Oh and watch the rest of your flock, generally when one has a bacteria, so do the rest. Keep this one on the meds for at least 10 days and up to 14. I like to go 3 or 4 days past ALL symptoms.
Good luck and keep us posted on her condition!!
She is wheezing. I put her with the other one. Question, is it hard for them to eat dry food? They ate bread soaked with olive oil applesauce and scrambled eggs very well but don't touch they're crumbles. Any more help is very appreciated.
