Sick Chickens, Help Please

[CaseyMc91]

My chickens have a bad cold or some kind of respiratory illness going on. I've treated with medicated feed (did nothing), rx medicine from the feed store that the owner had for her chickens (kind of worked), and now I'm trying garlic and oil of oregano in their water. One of my pullets started acting lethargic and died 2 days later and now another is acting the same way. I have moved her inside to monitor more and help as much as I can, but I'm not sure what more I can do. Half of my flock has stopped laying. We are adding 26 more chicks to our flock in April so I really need to get these ladies healthy soon! Any and all advice is appreciated!

**Side note: I purchased diatomaceous earth to add to their feed and coop, and they regularly have ACV in their water.

 

[Emelyn]

**Side note: I purchased diatomaceous earth to add to their feed and coop, and they regularly have ACV in their water.

How about VetRX it helped me with my flock. You should be able to get it from TSC. Here's a picture of it.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

**Side note: I purchased diatomaceous earth to add to their feed and coop, and they regularly have ACV in their water.

My chickens have a bad cold or some kind of respiratory illness going on. I've treated with medicated feed (did nothing), rx medicine from the feed store that the owner had for her chickens (kind of worked), and now I'm trying garlic and oil of oregano in their water. One of my pullets started acting lethargic and died 2 days later and now another is acting the same way. I have moved her inside to monitor more and help as much as I can, but I'm not sure what more I can do. Half of my flock has stopped laying. We are adding 26 more chicks to our flock in April so I really need to get these ladies healthy soon! Any and all advice is appreciated!

Where are you located in the world?

In the U.S. "medicated feed" is generally chick starter and contains a minimal amount Amprol/Amprolium which is a Coccidiostat that treats Coccidiosis. It's not an antibiotic and would not treat symptoms of respiratory disease.

How much ventilation is in your coop?
How old are these birds?
What are the symptoms? Coughing, sneezing, mucous, facial swelling, bubbles in the eyes, etc....

Depending on what you are dealing with, you can try treating Symptoms with an antibiotic, this will not be a cure, but may be a way to control symptoms so you can get your birds into better health. Respiratory diseases are contagious and make birds carriers even when recovered, so finding out what they have is always a good idea. You risk any new birds you bring in becoming ill.

Tylosin/Tylan and Tiamulin are both used to treat symptoms of Mycoplasma. Sulfa antibiotics can be used to treat symptoms of Infectious Coryza. Infectious Bronchitis is a virus so has to run it's course, but Tylosin/Tylan may help clear up secondary infections.

Personally I would not use the DE at all. It can be an irritant to the respiratory system (yours and theirs) and possibly compounding the issues they already have.

The one that is sick, if you lose her, then sending the body for testing/necropsy so you can find out more would be helpful to you in finding the right treatment. https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html

Lastly, any time you add something to their water - Acv, garlic, etc. provide fresh plain water too. Some birds will not drink very well and become dehydrated.

Here's info on diseases
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ps044

 

[CaseyMc91]

Where are you located in the world?

In the U.S. "medicated feed" is generally chick starter and contains a minimal amount Amprol/Amprolium which is a Coccidiostat that treats Coccidiosis. It's not an antibiotic and would not treat symptoms of respiratory disease.

How much ventilation is in your coop?
How old are these birds?
What are the symptoms? Coughing, sneezing, mucous, facial swelling, bubbles in the eyes, etc....

Depending on what you are dealing with, you can try treating Symptoms with an antibiotic, this will not be a cure, but may be a way to control symptoms so you can get your birds into better health. Respiratory diseases are contagious and make birds carriers even when recovered, so finding out what they have is always a good idea. You risk any new birds you bring in becoming ill.

Tylosin/Tylan and Tiamulin are both used to treat symptoms of Mycoplasma. Sulfa antibiotics can be used to treat symptoms of Infectious Coryza. Infectious Bronchitis is a virus so has to run it's course, but Tylosin/Tylan may help clear up secondary infections.

Personally I would not use the DE at all. It can be an irritant to the respiratory system (yours and theirs) and possibly compounding the issues they already have.

The one that is sick, if you lose her, then sending the body for testing/necropsy so you can find out more would be helpful to you in finding the right treatment. https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html

Lastly, any time you add something to their water - Acv, garlic, etc. provide fresh plain water too. Some birds will not drink very well and become dehydrated.

Here's info on diseases
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ps044

We are in Texas. I only mentioned the medicated feed because a neighbor recommended it.

We have two windows and an attic fan in our 20'x10' coop.

Pullets are 16 weeks, Hens are around 12 months.

A few sneezes and some clear mucous around the nose on a handful of them. About a month ago there were a few coughing but not anymore.

Thank you for the advice and then links!

 

[Banana01]

Do you deworm your flock or ever notice worms in their droppings? Where i live worms are very prevalent, and any time a bird in my flock shows signs of respiratory infection, it almost is a guarantee they had worms first.

Worms weaken the immune system to where they will be susceptible to the infections. Whenever i treat with antibiotics i always deworm the first day and then can treat with antibiotics.

 

[Lizzy733]

Medicated feed is for helping young chicks develop a resistance to coccidia. It wont do a thing for respiratory illness.

If it's bad and they're distressed, go to a vet and get antibiotics.

Some sneezing with clear mucus is usually not a cause for concern by the way.

You shouldn't add DE to their feed as it has no benefit when ingested (or when allowed to get wet) and you should be mindful not to make their environment too dusty as this may be the reason they are having respiratory problems in the first place.

 

[CaseyMc91]

Do you deworm your flock or ever notice worms in their droppings? Where i live worms are very prevalent, and any time a bird in my flock shows signs of respiratory infection, it almost is a guarantee they had worms first.

Worms weaken the immune system to where they will be susceptible to the infections. Whenever i treat with antibiotics i always deworm the first day and then can treat with antibiotics.

I've not noticed any worms in their droppings. Is it usually pretty obvious? I've heard that the first sign is poop on their eggs when they lay, and all their eggs come out clean.

What do you recommend for deworming?

 

[CaseyMc91]

Medicated feed is for helping young chicks develop a resistance to coccidia. It wont do a thing for respiratory illness.

If it's bad and they're distressed, go to a vet and get antibiotics.

Some sneezing with clear mucus is usually not a cause for concern by the way.

You shouldn't add DE to their feed as it has no benefit when ingested (or when allowed to get wet) and you should be mindful not to make their environment too dusty as this may be the reason they are having respiratory problems in the first place.

They don't really seem to be distressed. Only two of the pullets acted lethargic and by then it was too late.

I haven't used the DE yet but I've read that it help with worms if administered with feed.

Their coops isn't dusty at all and well ventilated.

Idk what else to do at this point except a vet visit.

 

[Myrshine]

I don’t suggest any vets, I suggest sending a sample and getting a PCR done on one or all of them to be tested for the common respiratory diseases that exist. Most respiratory diseases are able to be managed with antibiotics, but there is still a chance that they could have something viral or even fungal causing the symptoms.