Sneezing And Yawning Motions

[My First Time Farm]

I have about 27 Chickens of all different breeds and every single chicken sneezes and had watery eyes and nasal secretions. I have been told this might be a respiratory issue or a "gape worm?" And I just wanted to know of this could kill my chickens if untreated. I would also like to know medicine recommendations as the nearest aviary is around an hour and a half away. I really care for my chickens as they are like my little kids. They have also been like this for about 4 months but I have not had any deaths.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have about 27 Chickens of all different breeds and every single chicken sneezes and had watery eyes and nasal secretions. I have been told this might be a respiratory issue or a "gape worm?" And I just wanted to know of this could kill my chickens if untreated. I would also like to know medicine recommendations as the nearest aviary is around an hour and a half away. I really care for my chickens as they are like my little kids. They have also been like this for about 4 months but I have not had any deaths.

Can you post some photos? Birds, coop/run?

Any other symptoms besides sneezing? Lethargy, watery/bubbles in the eyes, coughing, rales, facial swelling, etc.?

If they have been like this for 4 months and no deaths (no better/worse), then very likely it's not Gapeworm. You may be dealing with a viral respiratory illness like Infectious Bronchitis which will have to run it's course.

Ensure that your coop has plenty of ventilation and that ammonia is not an issue.

 

[My First Time Farm]

Can you post some photos? Birds, coop/run?

Any other symptoms besides sneezing? Lethargy, watery/bubbles in the eyes, coughing, rales, facial swelling, etc.?

If they have been like this for 4 months and no deaths (no better/worse), then very likely it's not Gapeworm. You may be dealing with a viral respiratory illness like Infectious Bronchitis which will have to run it's course.

Ensure that your coop has plenty of ventilation and that ammonia is not an issue.

As you can see I am dealing with snow at the moment so all of the extra wood walls are just there for protecting from winds. I never have snow and these will go dijw as soon as the snow stops. And I also let my chickens out every day except fir the snow days like now. Ok so all of the symptoms are. Sneezing, Coughing, Watery Eyes, Runny Nose, The Yawning Motions, Gurgling Noise when they breathe, and I had a rooster get a bumb on the side of his face and as is popped it secreted clear stuff. And all I know is that it spread FAST because I noticed one had it and I went to go put it in isolation but then the next few days all of them had it. And now they have been like this for a while now. I have also been giving them some medicine for it and there has no recovery that I notice.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

As you can see I am dealing with snow at the moment so all of the extra wood walls are just there for protecting from winds. I never have snow and these will go dijw as soon as the snow stops. And I also let my chickens out every day except fir the snow days like now. Ok so all of the symptoms are. Sneezing, Coughing, Watery Eyes, Runny Nose, The Yawning Motions, Gurgling Noise when they breathe, and I had a rooster get a bumb on the side of his face and as is popped it secreted clear stuff. And all I know is that it spread FAST because I noticed one had it and I went to go put it in isolation but then the next few days all of them had it. And now they have been like this for a while now. I have also been giving them some medicine for it and there has no recovery that I notice.

Good idea to provide winds blocks!

Do you notice if the secretions/birds have a bad/foul odor?

IF there's not really an odor, then you may be dealing with Mycoplasma. Symptoms can be treated with an antibiotic like Tylosin bird will still remain carriers for life and you may have to manage symptoms as they arise. If there's facial or eye swelling, then that would be pus which needs to be pressed out. Care for eyes is to flush with saline, press out pus and apply an eye ointment like Terramycin 2-3 times a day.

IF there's a bad odor, then you may be dealing with Infectious Coryza. A sulfa antibiotic is better used to treat symptoms for this disease. Since you have not lost any birds, I would suspect that Mycoplasma is more likely.

VetRx is a remedy that can be used to help alleviate minor respiratory symptoms, but it would be similar to using Vick's Vapor Rub for pneumonia. It won't necessarily hurt them, but sometimes you need further treatment.

The gurgling may be from the respiratory illness, but I would check their crops to make sure they are emptying overnight. (Should be flat before they have eaten or drank anything). See that they have a source of grit so they can process foods properly.

I would also check inside their beaks, just to make sure they don't have any lesions, yellow or white pasty material.

Here's more information about diseases
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[My First Time Farm]

Good idea to provide winds blocks!

Do you notice if the secretions/birds have a bad/foul odor?

IF there's not really an odor, then you may be dealing with Mycoplasma. Symptoms can be treated with an antibiotic like Tylosin bird will still remain carriers for life and you may have to manage symptoms as they arise. If there's facial or eye swelling, then that would be pus which needs to be pressed out. Care for eyes is to flush with saline, press out pus and apply an eye ointment like Terramycin 2-3 times a day.

IF there's a bad odor, then you may be dealing with Infectious Coryza. A sulfa antibiotic is better used to treat symptoms for this disease. Since you have not lost any birds, I would suspect that Mycoplasma is more likely.

VetRx is a remedy that can be used to help alleviate minor respiratory symptoms, but it would be similar to using Vick's Vapor Rub for pneumonia. It won't necessarily hurt them, but sometimes you need further treatment.

The gurgling may be from the respiratory illness, but I would check their crops to make sure they are emptying overnight. (Should be flat before they have eaten or drank anything). See that they have a source of grit so they can process foods properly.

I would also check inside their beaks, just to make sure they don't have any lesions, yellow or white pasty material.

Here's more information about diseases
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

There is indeed a Foul oder and I just thought it's was because they needed a bath. So if I treat them for Coryza and it is not Coryza will it hurt them further or ? Or if I treat them for Mycoplasma when it's not Mycoplasma will it hurt them?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

There is indeed a Foul oder and I just thought it's was because they needed a bath. So if I treat them for Coryza and it is not Coryza will it hurt them further or ? Or if I treat them for Mycoplasma when it's not Mycoplasma will it hurt them?

Look inside their beaks for canker or lesions and make sure their crops are emptying overnight as well.
What you're trying to do here is rule out odor coming from crop issues, canker or if it's the secretions from the respiratory illness.

Treatment for either wouldn't necessarily hurt them, but it may not be as effective. Say you use Tylosin, it may help with infection due to Coryza, but not completely or vice versa if that makes sense.
Having testing through your state lab or vet to find out more about what you are dealing with would be ideal, this way you give the correct treatment the first go round. You are in TX so check with your LAB to see how much it costs - each state is different, some are quite reasonable while others are just nuts. I understand if that's not possible too - sometimes you have to go with your budget

Do you have any photos of the birds themselves so we can see their face/eyes/nostrils?

 

[My First Time Farm]

Look inside their beaks for canker or lesions and make sure their crops are emptying overnight as well.
What you're trying to do here is rule out odor coming from crop issues, canker or if it's the secretions from the respiratory illness.

Treatment for either wouldn't necessarily hurt them, but it may not be as effective. Say you use Tylosin, it may help with infection due to Coryza, but not completely or vice versa if that makes sense.
Having testing through your state lab or vet to find out more about what you are dealing with would be ideal, this way you give the correct treatment the first go round. You are in TX so check with your LAB to see how much it costs - each state is different, some are quite reasonable while others are just nuts. I understand if that's not possible too - sometimes you have to go with your budget

Do you have any photos of the birds themselves so we can see their face/eyes/nostrils?

Ok I went out to check on them and realized the clear stuff is pretty much gone(might be because of the cold) but I checked in all of their mouths and noticed nothing to be concerned. All of the mouths are a light pinkish color and is all one color. The gurgling noise are still present so are the sneezing but the noses are looking pretty clear as of secretions.

 

[Myrshine]

Maybe they’re just sneezing from dust of the coop? A lot of people also get confused with crop adjustments and gaping. Crop adjustments are like a big yawn that looks like a gape.