Sick flock

[Ragray3]

My whole flock is sick. I’m a newb so please forgive me. Basically they are having trouble breathing and two have died already. The photo I attached shows how their eyes are closing shut and appear to be unable to open.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

What is your location?
Is it cold there now?
The only way to know for sure what is ailing them is to send a bird to your poultry diagnostic lab for a necropsy.

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. How long have you had your chickens? Did you get them as chicks or as started birds? Have you added a new bird recently who may have been a carrier of a respiratory disease. The symptoms they show can sometimes help to identify which disease, but there are bacterial, viral, and fungal diseases. If eyes have bubbles or a lot of drainage or pus, it could be MG or coryza. Milder symptoms with mostly sneezing, might be infectious bronchitis (IB,) the most common respiratory disease. Here is a good list of common diseases, and I would recommend that you get a bird tested or have the state vet do a ncropsy on a bird that dies:
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[Ragray3]

I'm in Texas so it's its 75 degrees here at the moment. I've had the chickens since they were hatched and they were fine until I recently added additional birds to the flock (newb mistake) so I'm guessing it's viral. The birds I introduced are just fine, just the rest of the flock got sick. Doesn't mean they aren't carriers though. Their eyes appear as if there is some secretions that's causing them to dry shut. Their breathing is garbled and labored. Their skin/comb is changing color probably due to lack of oxygen. I've given them some amoxicillin starting today, so lets see if that helps at all. Otherwise any other recommendations are appreciated.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

You have several labs in Texas.

Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (Main) 483 Agronomy Road College Station, Texas 77843-4471 Phone: 979-845-3414

Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory – Gonzales (Branch) 1162 East Sarah DeWitt Drive Gonzales, Texas 78629 Phone: 830-672-2834

Texas Animal Health Commission State-Federal Laboratory 8200 Cameron Road, Suite A186 Austin, Texas 78754-3832 Phone: 512-832-6580

Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory - Center (Branch) 635 Malone Dr Center, Texas 75935-3530 Phone: 936-598-4451

Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory - Amarillo (Branch) 6610 Amarillo Blvd West Amarillo, Texas 79106-1706 Phone: 806-353-7478

You are probably right. Chances are the new birds brought something your birds weren't resistant to.

 

[Eggcessive]

Amoxicillin is not appropriate for bacterial respiratory diseases, such as MG or coryza. Oxytetracycline, Tylan (tylosin) and enrofloxacin are indicated for MG, while sulfa antibiotics are used to treat coryza. The viruses are IB and ILT and no antibiotics will help; they will run their course over a month or so. IB will make the whole flock carriers for up to a year, while all others can make them all carriers for life. Most with diseases will at least close their flocks to new birds. Some cull sick birds. But getting a necropsy on a sick bird can identify what disease, which can help if you choose to treat symptoms. Someday when all birds are gone, it would be safe to get new healthy chicks again after waiting a short time.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

What @Eggcessive stated is the reason one must get a necropsy rather than randomly applying meds. Not all antibiotics can cure any bacterial infection and they are worthless for viral, fungal, environmental, parasitic or nutritional problems.
Without knowing what the problem is, one is just wasting time and their birds suffer in the interim.