Sneezing Hens and Pullet

[DanielleOrbach]

I have two RIR's that are around 6 months old and a Golden Laced Wyandotte pullet that is around 12-14 weeks old. I got them as well as a Blue Plymouth Rock, Brahma, and EE pullets the same age all at the same time, on July 14th. The RIR's were sneezing almost immediately, but we didn't know they were sneezing, we thought it was just a weird chicken noise, like they were trying to get at a fly and were frustrated, but I think it was happening when they were eating at first, which from what I read is fairly common. Now however one of the RIR's has had a little bit of gurgling breathing, and the GLW Goldie started sneezing the other day and sounds a little gurgly as well. They are all eating and drinking okay. I put out some pedialyte and put some ice cubes in it. It is in the high 90's in Austin TX and feels like it's over 100. There seems to be no nasal or eye discharge, but we have seem what looks like clear mucus in one of the RIR's mouths twice, pretty sure it was the same bird, but I could be wrong. The RIR's are laying eggs, but the one that seems to be gurgling when breathing has seemed to lay eggs that are lighter in color the last two days. Poop seems normal. The RIR that seems to be at the top of the pecking order has ears that seem to be pale, and her comb is a little droopy. She is the one with the darker head. Here is a link to a video I took to try to get the breathing sound.

I got VetRx in the mail and plan on using that, but there are so many different applications on the sheet it came with that I don't know the best way to apply it. I am planning on putting it on the top of their head and under their wings as well as in the water, but there was one method where it says "Prepare solution, add one teaspoonful of warm VetRx to one cup of very warm water. Note: VetRX mixes with hot water, but floatso n top of cold water. This characteristic can be helpful. Place a few drops of warm VetRx, straight from the bottle, straight down the throat of bird at night. Also, rub some warm VetRx from the bottle over the head of birds and under wings. Stronger mix of one teaspoonful VetRx in one-half cup of hot water can also be used. Swab throat and wash head and eyes four or five times per day. Keep nostrils, eyes and throat as clean as possible." It also says it can be sprayed over many birds. I guess my question is, what is the best application for the symptoms? Also it is a LOT easier to handle the RIR's than Goldie. All the pullets are hard to catch. I won't be able to wash their heads that many times a day, besides I don't know how to do that and I thought you are supposed to keep them dry. Any advice is very much appreciated, thank you in advance.

 

[azygous]

VetRX is not a cure. It will soothe and help a sick chicken breathe easier, however, so it's good to use. But if the hens that are showing respiratory symptoms get any worse, appetite falling off, becoming lethargic, I strongly recommend treating with Tylan 50. If you're in the USA, you can get it at most feed stores.

 

[DanielleOrbach]

VetRX is not a cure. It will soothe and help a sick chicken breathe easier, however, so it's good to use. But if the hens that are showing respiratory symptoms get any worse, appetite falling off, becoming lethargic, I strongly recommend treating with Tylan 50. If you're in the USA, you can get it at most feed stores.

Thank you. What is the Tylan 50 for? Is it an antibiotic? If so, how long would we not be able to eat the eggs?

 

[DanielleOrbach]

VetRX is not a cure. It will soothe and help a sick chicken breathe easier, however, so it's good to use. But if the hens that are showing respiratory symptoms get any worse, appetite falling off, becoming lethargic, I strongly recommend treating with Tylan 50. If you're in the USA, you can get it at most feed stores.

Also, what do you think they have, and should I treat all the birds as a precaution?

 

[azygous]

Generally, seven day egg withdrawal after the final dose. Some say no withdrawal is necessary. Not eating the eggs is mainly a safety precaution in case you are allergic to the antibiotic.

The chickens likely have MG, Mycoplasma gallisepticum.

It's a very common CRD, chronic respiratory disease.

Tylan 50 is a common broad spectrum antibiotic, easily obtained and administered orally at .5ml twice a day for five days. Only those chickens that are symptomatic should be treated, although all your chickens are carrying the virus in their cells.

You will need to obtain a needle syringe to extract the med from the vial, then remove the needle and give the med into the chicken's beak.

 

[DanielleOrbach]

Generally, seven day egg withdrawal after the final dose. Some say no withdrawal is necessary. Not eating the eggs is mainly a safety precaution in case you are allergic to the antibiotic.

The chickens likely have MG, Mycoplasma gallisepticum.

It's a very common CRD, chronic respiratory disease.

Tylan 50 is a common broad spectrum antibiotic, easily obtained and administered orally at .5ml twice a day for five days. Only those chickens that are symptomatic should be treated, although all your chickens are carrying the virus in their cells.

You will need to obtain a needle syringe to extract the med from the vial, then remove the needle and give the med into the chicken's beak.

Thank you so much for all this information. We are also looking into borrowing a coop for isolation, but if as you said they all have it anyway, then isolation wouldn't be necessary right?

 

[azygous]

The chickens all have it. Once they are exposed to a chicken that carries it, the virus enters the cells and remains a part of the chicken for life. Some chickens carrying the virus never show symptoms. Others will get sick if their immune system is stressed for some reason. The virus isn't making the chicken sick. It's lowering the immune system defenses and bacteria is what causes the chicken to be sick. The antibiotic doesn't do anything to the virus, but it will knock down the secondary bacterial infection. This is why it's useless to treat chickens that are not symptomatic.

 

[DanielleOrbach]

The chickens all have it. Once they are exposed to a chicken that carries it, the virus enters the cells and remains a part of the chicken for life. Some chickens carrying the virus never show symptoms. Others will get sick if their immune system is stressed for some reason. The virus isn't making the chicken sick. It's lowering the immune system defenses and bacteria is what causes the chicken to be sick. The antibiotic doesn't do anything to the virus, but it will knock down the secondary bacterial infection. This is why it's useless to treat chickens that are not symptomatic.

Thank you.