so if it is Coryza-- what do I do with the rest of my flock?

KellyandKatie

Songster
12 Years
Aug 29, 2007
256
5
139
Kitsap County, WA
1) What type of bird , age and weight. --- 2 silkies, less than one year old, were laying this week, rest of the flock is not showing these symptoms
2) What is the behavior, exactly.-- the 2 silkies are standing with their heads lagging/correcting- like they are nodding off to sleep, then catching themselves, swaying a bit- eyes are swollen and shut, wings lagging down, not held close to body- they look like they are dying right before my eyes. They have diarrhea, discharge from mouth-- one has beak open gasping, the other keeps beak closed - wet nostrols ( are they called nostrols?)
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? I was gone yesterday, so I kept everyone inside for the day with food and water, but I did not see them yesterday, they were out and fancy free on Monday, one of the two even laid a nice egg Monday
4) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. -- no
5) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.--- I changed their food over the weekend-- I was gone yesterday-- it is winter in the Pacific northwest so it is rainy and cold, but they are inside their coop with a heat lamp
6) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.-- I changed their food early this week, and they are free range during the day. Today I offered food and water, one made a peak for it, but did not actually eat it, I offered yogurt - no attempt to eat it
7) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.-- runny and has an aweful smell - one had that bright green watery poop( I am thinking the new food has not set well with them)
8) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?-- they are inside the house, warmth, food and water, quiet- and I am reasearching trying to figure out the next step
9 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?--- I don't know that they look like they will make it through the night- they look bad-- I don't want them to suffer, but it seems like it came on so fast from Monday-- I am not sure what I will do
10) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.-- I don't - but I can
11) Describe the housing/bedding in use
-- deep litter method with new shavings added over the weekend, new coop - they are not using their nesting boxes or roosts, but I thought they were just being silkies and making their own nests on the floor-- the roof of the coop is greenhouse clear roofing- and it does get condensation on the inside of the roof, but the roof is so high and the coop is large and well ventalated, that I did not think the condensation was an issue as long as the beddding was not getting wet- and it isn't-- but maybe that could be something too



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EDITED to add

One of the silkies has passed away, the other is eating and drinking and walking around fine as of this morning. But now what? If it is coryza- then the rest of my flock already has it, and I just wait for them to get sick? What am I risking putting the recovered bird back in with the flock?
I am so upset that I lost of my favorite birds, but I really don't want to loose the entire flock-- -and I very happy to see the other bird acting- well- fine this morning- but
any advice, suggestions, I would really appreciate bouncing this around for ideas
 
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Typically when the eyes are like that I would say a respiratory infection, but the drooling and such makes me think more of poisoning from mold or the like. Especially if new food was added. Do their nostrils and face have a smell to it? If so Coryza could be a problem, is their any wheezing in their chest, bubbling in the eyes? Also, Check your bag of food for mold, not on the top but dump it in a bag and look through it for anything. Check your shavings too, since this seems to have come on quickly. For respiratory I use Tylan 50, for mold you would do a molasses flush... do a search on here for how.
You will need to do supportive care for them, poly vi sol liquid vitamins, try to get them to eat something by putting in their mouth, scrambled egg or warm canned dog food etc..... be careful not to aspirate them when giving liquids..... so sorry. Also, if they will not drink you can take a needle full of 1/2 vitamins and 1/2 warm water and tent the skin on their back and inject a few ccs under the skin. This will help them absorb something if they can't swallow.
 
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You are a good chicky mommy, it happens to all of us. It sounds like that could be a possible cause.... You can also give them vitamin/water mix just under the skin on their backs with a syringe, a few ccs to help it get in them since they can't swallow well. Tent up the skin where you inject. I forgot to mention it earlier.....
 
I updated the first post with new details. One of the silkies passed away, and one has recovered.
BUT
what about the rest of my flock, if it was coryza- they have already been exposed, so I am just waiting to see if any of them get sick?
what now?
 
hmmm well- I should not have said she is fine- but she is eating and walking around, and has control of her neck and wings again- but her eyes are still being held shut, I thought that she could not open them, but she can- just doesn't
 
I can not find the one that is recommended here, but my local cenex said tetracycline in the water would work as well
I am treating the sick bird-- but should I also treat the others- from what I understand there is no curing this, just treating- so then I shoudl not treat the others, right?
 
Coryza normally affects one eye and they will have an awful smell about them most times. If no smell and you still think it is respiratory then MG, or other illness could be the culprit.

Coryza can be treated with Tylan or LA200, the tetracyline is just about worthless when dealing with resp. illness. When recovered you can vaccinate all your birds for it.
 

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