Sick Hens

[2qtkids]

Hello,
I have a flock of 15 hens. The 4 oldest are two year old black sexlink. Two of them have sneezing and coughing. One of them smells bad. The other 11 are mixed breeds: 5 RIR, 3 Barnevelder. These were purchased 13 weeks ago from a local feed store that ordered them from a hatchery. None of the younger ones are sick. However...

About a month ago, I went to a different feed store and bought 3 new Buffs close in age to our other now 13 week hens. I believe these birds sickened my older hens.

I took 2 of them back separatley because it was obvious they weren't right. We were advised to use Duramycin-10. We did a full course of that. And after a week of no change, started a second course. Yesterday we went to a different feed store that suggest we use Sulmet. I am so confused! Can you advise me what to do about my flock? Treat all of them the same or only the obviously sick ones?

For the 2 sick birds we took back: One of them died and the feed store told us today the other seems to be getting better. She said she is giving her B1 in her water.

 

[dawg53]

Sounds like you're dealing with a respiratory disease and it will spread through your flock. Here's a link; scroll down to Infectious Coryza, Mycoplasma Gallisepticum, Infectious Bronchitis...are possibilities. I recommend that you cull the sick birds and watch others for symptoms and cull as necessary. Sick/treated birds will remain carriers and will transmit the disease to newly acquired birds.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[2qtkids]

Thank you Dawg. I've been searching on-line as much as possible. I thought it sounded like Coryza myself. I also read that the Sulmet is harsh on their digestion system and to give them plain yogurt. I brought home two big tubs yesterday and gave it to them on a paper plate. They loved it! Today is day 3 of the Sulmet. I hope they're better!