Sick poults - help needed

[SycolinWoodsChickens]

This is the first year we are raising turkeys. We have 7 poults who are 3 weeks old in our mudroom in a brooder. In the past week I have heard some sneezing but today noticed some nasal discharge. Their poop looks normal but they are eating less than I would expect from birds of that are the size and age. Their eyes look fine and they have a lot of energy and are flying to the top of the brooder when I open the top. We have talked to the breeder who claims his flock is disease free and suggested we bring the birds to a vet.

I may bring a bird in tomorrow to the vet but in the interim does anyone have any ideas?

I've read on the web that some folks chlorinate the poults water. Does anyone recommend that?

Just to add that we are also brooding 24 chicks in a separate brooder and both brooders are kept VERY clean including a change of liter daily and new food and water 2x per day. There are no signs of illness with the chicks.

 

[bigdawg]

tylan50 antibiotic. half cc by mouth. it will only get worse. then death

 

[SycolinWoodsChickens]

We have Tylan50 injectable for our chooks. Is that the same type of Tylan that I can give them by mouth or do I need another type?

 

[kuntrygirl]

Sounds like it may be a possible respiratory problem. It is VERY common in poults and adult turkeys. You have to move quickly in trying to treat them. You will need to administer a small dose of Tylan. If not treated in a timely manner, your poult will die. Make sure the poults are removed from your other animals. You have to hand feed and give them liquids so that they will keep their strength.

I have posted a thread with information about respiratory problems along with wry neck in turkeys.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=5884914#p5884914

 

[SycolinWoodsChickens]

Great. Thanks for the responses.

I am running by my vets office to get an oral syringe.

We also have Tetroxy HCA-280 water soluable powder would that be better than Tylan? It says on the package that is treats Mycoplasama

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
I only use Tylan, so I am not sure about the other med that you listed. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[SycolinWoodsChickens]

One more question. How often should I give the Tylan? The birds have been given a single 1/4 cc dose orally.

I decided on the lower dose based on posts I researched on the BYC website showing the amount of tylan50 per pound of body weight.

BTW, their breathing still sounds wheezy but I haven't heard any sneezing today. They were given some scrambled eggs and I made sure everyone had some in addition to their regular food.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
I would give it 2 - 3 times a day but no more. I have never administered Tylan to a poult.........only to an adult turkey, so I adminster 3 times a day to an adult turkey. The lower dosage is probably a great idea being as though they are so small. Are they drinking liquids or are you adminsitering liquids?

Tylan is a great med, so you should see improvement in a few days. Good luck.

Keep us posted.

 

[SycolinWoodsChickens]

Update. The poults were much more active this morning. Running around like wild children.

I bought water soluble Tylan 100mg today. The instructions are to mix the bottle into 1 gal of water then mix that into 50 gal of water. The mix should last three days.
With poults I think the dosage is too high and I can't mix 50 gals of water every 3 days! The bottle of Tylan was $48 and I won't need very much to treat them.

Any ideas on how to safely mix a small amount? I have to go to work tomorrow and can't treat each poult separately like I have been doing the last few days with the oral dosage.