Sneezing, Discharge, Funny Poops in 10 Week Olds

[Yanna]

My two birds are doing well otherwise, behaving normally, eating well, etc. but sneeze occasionally, have a little upper respiratory discharge (clear) and their poops are a little watery and off color (more dark than usual). At first, the diarrhea was attributed to giving them too much spinach but it has remained off-color. I gave them a bit of yogurt this morning to see if that would help.

Assuming that this is just a run-of-the-mill upper respiratory infection, what's the best treatment? I've read at an online livestock supply store that Terramycin is not to be used in birds whose eggs are for human consumption. Is this true?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Smoky73]

Yeah, thats true, however, at your birds age, they won't be laying eggs for some time. Most people follow a 30 day withdrawl after antibiotics. Throw out all eggs for 30 days after medication is stopped. Almost no medicine is approved for birds so we have to play it by ear.

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

Copied from http://www.peafowl.org/ARTICLES/15/ (go here for further info.)


DEFINITION: Infectious Coryza (IC) is an infectious contagious respiratory bacterial disease of several avian species. The disease is acute to subacute at onset but progresses to a chronic state as the disease works through the flock. Common names for the disease are roup, cold and Coryza. Coryza is characterized by nasal discharge, facial swelling, sneezing, labored breathing and fetid odor of the exudates. Coryza is a disease of the upper respiratory tract--trachea, sinuses and air passages of the head. Coryza occurs worldwide. In the United States, it is predominately found in small noncommercial, menagerie, or hobby type flocks. The causative agent is Hemophilus paragallinarum, a polar staining, pleomorphic, non-motile, gram negative rod that was first described in 1920. There are three antigenic types (A, B, and C) which all share certain antigens. H. paragallinarum requires "V" factor, a special growth factor in the media to grow. While chickens are the primary host of Coryza, pheasants, guinea fowl and turkeys are also susceptible. It is assumed that other gamebird species will become infected if commingle on a regular basis with chronically infected gamebirds or poultry flocks. Age-wise, Coryza is a disease of juvenile and mature birds or birds 14 weeks of age or older. The incubation period is 1 to 3 days and the course of the disease is 4 to 12 weeks.

 

[coolchickens]

Oh boy... I just bought a standard blu Cochin rooster for my flock and brought him home two days ago. I noticed today when he puts his head down he occasionally has a discharge that runs out. I have heard no sneezing or coughing, even on the 2 hr. ride home with him. Is this the start of the Coryza disease you mentioned? Now my flock of hens is exposed also. The girl I bought him from mentioned she had some chickens in her garage that were sick "in the hospital ben cage". I should have run away then.... Is there anything I can do? Does it pass like a cold in people?

Thanks - Sharon

 

[dlhunicorn]

vitamin A deficiency is more common than you think and often is confused or is present with respiratory infection.
I would give POLYVISOL Enfamil formulation (preferably unflavored and without the extra iron > this is a childrens liquid A-B-D3 vitamin) ... give three drops in beak for a week then taper off the next. Offer a good quality probiotic yogurt (plain not flavored) free choice for a few weeks in addition to the polyvisol and see if that helps. If the respiratory condition worsens then I would try tylan.