Sneezy silkie

[SassiFowl]

I have a young Silkie that came from a bad situation. For weeks she has been sneezing and has nasal discharge that bubbles up around her beak. I wipe her beak off a couple times of day to keep her nostrils clear. Otherwise she is a happy chicken. I was hoping this would improve over time but it has not. Any one else dealt with this before?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Welcome To BYC

Can you post some photos?
How old is she?

Have you looked inside her beak to make sure there's no canker, mucous or lesions inside the beak?
Is the discharge clear or does it have a color?

Hard to know if she's got a respiratory disease or if the environment she was in contributed to the symptoms she has. Getting some testing to find out he cause would be ideal, but sometimes that's not possible.

Respiratory disease like Mycoplasma (MG) and Infectious Bronchitis (IB) are 2 of the more common diseases birds can have. Symptoms of MG can be treated with an antibiotic like Tylosin. IB is a virus and it has to run it's course, but sometimes there's secondary infection, so Tylosin may prove to be beneficial for that.

 

[SassiFowl]

Welcome To BYC

Can you post some photos?
How old is she?

Have you looked inside her beak to make sure there's no canker, mucous or lesions inside the beak?
Is the discharge clear or does it have a color?

Hard to know if she's got a respiratory disease or if the environment she was in contributed to the symptoms she has. Getting some testing to find out he cause would be ideal, but sometimes that's not possible.

Respiratory disease like Mycoplasma (MG) and Infectious Bronchitis (IB) are 2 of the more common diseases birds can have. Symptoms of MG can be treated with an antibiotic like Tylosin. IB is a virus and it has to run it's course, but sometimes there's secondary infection, so Tylosin may prove to be beneficial for that.

She is about 6 months. The discharge is clearish to yellow and collects around her nostrils. Sometimes she mouth breathes until I wipe her beak and she breathes easier again. I can hear a rattle sound when she breathes.

I’m pretty sure it is respiratory as she passed it to two other young hens I have. They each began with the sneezing despite my efforts to keep them separate from her. They recovered within a couple days and have been normal since. She was underweight and sickly when I got her so I am guessing she’s just not robust enough to fight it off.

Is Tylosin something I can purchase or must it be prescribed? I had read it is sometimes effective with MG but that symptoms often return once the meds are stopped. I’m definitely willing to try though.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She is about 6 months. The discharge is clearish to yellow and collects around her nostrils. Sometimes she mouth breathes until I wipe her beak and she breathes easier again. I can hear a rattle sound when she breathes.

I’m pretty sure it is respiratory as she passed it to two other young hens I have. They each began with the sneezing despite my efforts to keep them separate from her. They recovered within a couple days and have been normal since. She was underweight and sickly when I got her so I am guessing she’s just not robust enough to fight it off.

Is Tylosin something I can purchase or must it be prescribed? I had read it is sometimes effective with MG but that symptoms often return once the meds are stopped. I’m definitely willing to try though.

You can order Tylosin online.
https://www.jedds.com/shop/tylan-soluble-100-g/

As for relapse, it's possible a bird will become symptomatic over and over again - especially during times of stress - molt, weather changes, changes within the flock, etc.

 

[SassiFowl]

You can order Tylosin online.
https://www.jedds.com/shop/tylan-soluble-100-g/

As for relapse, it's possible a bird will become symptomatic over and over again - especially during times of stress - molt, weather changes, changes within the flock, etc.

 

[SassiFowl]

Thank you. I’ve ordered the medicine to see if that might improve her symptoms. Your knowledge has been very helpful. Do you know if she does have MG if she would still be contagious when she isn’t showing symptoms?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you. I’ve ordered the medicine to see if that might improve her symptoms. Your knowledge has been very helpful. Do you know if she does have MG if she would still be contagious when she isn’t showing symptoms?

Yes, unfortunately MG makes birds and those that are exposed to them carriers for life, so if she with your birds they would be considered carriers regardless if they ever show symptoms or not.
MG is transmitted bird to bird, through dust/dander, feathers, on your clothes/shoes and shared equipment. It's also one of the few respiratory diseases that are transmitted vertically, meaning it can be transferred to the embryo of hatching eggs. Keeping a closed flock if you have a positive MG flock is a very good idea.

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044