Sick Chickens

[AConk81]

Most of my chickens are showing some signs of respiratory issues. Most only have gunky/swollen eyes, though yesterday one was wheezing. I bought some tylan 50 but only gave it to the one that was wheezing as I read that it's better not to treat unless they absolutely need it so that they're not building up an immunity. I read many different suggestions for how to treat which ranged greatly (FYI: I am not culling my flock..they're pets not for production and I don't plan on breeding, so if your suggestion is culling I understand your reasoning behind it, but it's not going to happen for me.) but went with this option as it seemed to make the most sense. I am treating the eye issues with vetrimycin eye gel and it's greatly improved the one who had it worse yesterday but I still put some on her again today.

Anyway I have two questions. One, the chicken that was wheezing is now no longer wheezing, yesterday she sat around a lot and I was kind of worried about her but today she's up and about and no wheezing and looks to be better. I still give her a does of tylan for two more days though right? For a total of 3? Or do I stop since the symptoms stopped?


Then there's one chicken whose eye is so gunky it is shut. Yesterday it was too, but the gel was able to reach it and allow it to open. Today though..it doesn't look like it's going to be able to. How would I go about getting it to uncrust enough to open it for the meds to work? I thought maybe a warm wet compress? But I'm not sure.


Ok I lied, make that three questions. I have another chicken who keeps going in to roost even during the day. Besides that she seems fine, no wheezing, clear eyes, she's eating and drinking and seems normal. Is her going in to roost during the day an issue? She is new to the flock (Maybe the carrier that brought this all in) so I don't know if this is really normal for her or not. When we first got her they were in our second coop and run which doesn't have roosts like this, so I am not sure if she just really like these roosts (they're up very high and it's a cooler place during the heat) or if she's sick. I am trying to only treat with tylan if necessary so I am not sure whether this behavior indicates that she needs it.



This is the first time we've ever had any kind of sickness in the flock and I am completely new to all of this so any kind of advice is greatly appreciated (as long as the advice is not to kill the whole flock..not gonna happen).

 

[ChickenCanoe]

For the crusty eyes, like you thought, I'd try a warm compress perhaps with a little vinegar if it's real tough. After the meds an eye ointment might help keep it clear.

When I put new birds in (after a long quarantine) they often go to roost during the day because they don't have friends to hang out with.

As for the first question, whether it's humans, dogs, horses, fowl or whatever, once one starts medicating for a bacterial infection, never stop just because the symptoms stop, that's how super bugs are created. Always complete the course.

On a side note, how many birds do you have in total and how big are your ventilation openings?

 

[AConk81]

I will try that with her eye and see if it works.

The new bird is one of two, so she has a friend, but she just goes back on her own and roosts a lot. (That started yesterday evening, she was added into the main flock on Saturday so it had been a few days before she started that). She seems alert and bright when I go in to check on her though, she looks down at me and cocks her head and if I stay there talking to her she'll hop down to come visit. And if she hears the scratch bucket open she runs right out for that.

I'll make sure to keep the one on the tylan for the 3 days recommended, that was my thinking as well...causing a super bug as I know that is what happens with humans.

We have 9 chickens total (thought right now only 7 are in that run since I have two others that are separate in attempts to break their broodiness), the ventilation is on each side 6 inches by 4 feet and then on the back and front there is about 4 inches by 6 feet on each. We also have a large door in the back that is left open during nice weather so that they have a 3x6 opening to air out the coop. It's only shut during rain and usually at night so that they feel more secure. It's a newish coop and hasn't gone through a summer yet so we'll see if it's closed on hot summer nights. Then, in the front of the coop there is a 18x18 inch door that is always open since they are in a secure yard. There are also two ducks who share their yard but they sleep under the coop or on the coop's deck, they do not share the coop with them at all.

 

[AConk81]

Oh, they're also not stuck in the coop even during rain. We have a covered deck attached to their coop which is 6 feet by 6 feet, so they have that to run around on or roost on in the fresh air or they can go under the whole coop which has about 60 sf of walking area, which is what they usually do during any inclement weather. So, I don't think that ventilation or space is what is causing their issue, at least I hope not because their run is 360 sf and the coop is 60 sf total with the covered deck, and the actual closed part of the coop is only for roosting at night and for laying eggs.