sneezing and nasal discharge - should I worry? UPDATE: FULL RECOVERY!!

[technodoll]

eggrcool, the poops all seem fine (I clean the poop plank every morning and also the main droppings in the bedding which is wood shavings).

There are occasional "intestinal sheddings" but none the past 3 days.

We are due to dust the flock again as per instructions on the de-lousing dusting powder BUT I have checked a few of the girls and I don't see any lice - what should I do??

PS: if rats are getting into the coop and pooping there, would the birds eat rat poop??

 

[eggsrcool]

Quote:
I'd dust them to be sure.

The birds may eat the poop, however I cant imagine it tastes very nice

If they are, then it will cause the spread of disease, with where rats live, and eat, so continue with the traps.

eggsrcool

 

[technodoll]

OK thanks, we will dust the birds and the coop again this afternoon as well as change the bedding.

If my girl gets worse after that, then I will have a better idea of what the problem is!

Rat traps still baited but if I don't catch any soon I will have to seriously consider rat poison and pray that I'm not making a huge mistake!!

Vermin = shudder!

 

[eggsrcool]

If you are going to use rat poison, try and get hold of a trap that does not allow chickens into it- I am currently using one and there is no way a chicken will ever get into it! Also the bait must be similar to that of chicken feed, the rats are probably eating the chicken food so will be used to it, smelling of wheat for example, otherwise a new substance may put the rats off.

Good luck

eggsrcool

 

[Wild Chicken]

And once again, if you are at your wits end, I would contact Dr. Peter Brown, PhD in poultry science. He will direct you in the way you should go!! I wish I would have contacted him sooner, I spent quite a bit of time on the boards worrying myself sick over all the varying opinions, when a simple call took care of it

. He can even let you know if you need to worry about the rat poo!! I guess I push him because he has a doctorate in poultry science, and 40 years of experience to back it, that he will be straight away with you!!

 

[flymamma]

Quote:
Two quick things. First, getting birds straight from the hatchery is no guarantee you won't get sick birds. Many diseases can and are transmitted through the egg. It was reported last year that MM had a AE outbreak and there were a LOT of chicks arriving dead and dying afterwards.

Secondly, do you know where your "dealer" got his birds from? If it was a feedstore, they most likely got their chicks from a hatchery. Most "dealers" who have large quantities of birds get their chicks from hatcheries.

God Bless,

I agree that hatchery chicks are not a guarantee . My dealer got most [ she breeds Delawares ,and BLRW, cuckoo marans , welsummers] of hers from hatcheries , my issue is that AFTER she started seeing bubbly eyes , and runny noses and birds that she said "smelled infected" .. she continued to sell/hatch hundreds of bird per week . Knowing that she was selling them to people who had little to no chicken experience . She said she did not believe in ANY bio security . I thought because all my birds had only ever been at my house or hers that I could relax a bit on my quarantine .. this is my first flock of chickens . I do not believe she did any of this on purpose . More so out of lack of knowledge . When I brought all these issues to her attention she immediately changed some of her practices . My reason for wanting to use a hatchery or perhaps a much more reputable dealer is this . I have a mixed breed / age[hatched between March 11 and April 15th this year] flock . Now that I know what I am doing a bit better , I know I like the look and temperament of the BO . I only got one this year and she just died . Knowing that the BO's do better in a single breed flock . I would take my chances with a hatchery , rather than a semi-reputable dealer .

 

[technodoll]

OK I need to contact Dr Brown, my girl is taking a turn for the worse today...

Does anyone have his email address please?

She is all hunched up and poofy like she is trying to keep warm, she looks very sleepy and is much more quiet than normal... she went out free-ranging with the flock, seemed normal but then stopped scratching, looked a bit dizzy and started pulling her neck in her body, eyes shutting...

She feels warm, could she have a fever?

No vets are open today and I don't have any transportation tomorrow, only have a car on Tuesday and am worried she will get worse by then, and that is IF I can find a local vet that treats chickens.

So stressed and heart-broken, I am fearing the worse and I feel so sick, like I am a failure as a chicken mom

 

[Wild Chicken]

I pm'd you....I know exactly how you feel.....and you ARE NOT a bad chicken mom

.....you are a GOOD one because you are trying to help her out.

Hang in there......

It's hard because these stinking things always seem to happen on a Sunday....that's when mine had taken a turn for the worse and I was up for an hour on the phone with the good Dr. Brown at 10 o'clock at night.

Keep us posted.

Here is the link to his website with allll of his info on it https://www.firststatevetsupply.com/contact-us/

Personal information removed from post; PM the poster for the number, please. ​

 

[Msbear]

Bring her inside now and put her in a cardboard box/plastic bin... whatever and get a light on her. Make sure not too get her too hot but around 80 degrees.

Pm wildchicken for Dr. Browns # or pm three horses https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/profile.php?id=28763. She is always a lot of help. Glenda Heywood https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/profile.php?id=27741 is also extremely knowledgable.

eta: wildchicken already posted

Btw: WC, I would remove the actual # from your post. We try not to post info. publicly unless that is a business line

 

[Wild Chicken]

Oopsss....thanks msbear for that. I am new here and I guess I was just anxious to help. His number is listed on his website, I just figured it was ok.

Sorry.......oh, I see one of the friendly moderator helped me out and removed it for me

Yes Glenda was also a VERY big help to me when I was treating my birds.