Sudden rumbling in chest, gasping, sneezing chickens? Best antibiotic?

[Liza728w]

My chickens suddenly came down with a sickness. They have rumbling when they breathe (mucous in their lungs), they gasp for air and are sneezing. I'm really concerned. It came on very fast, like within 24 hours they went from showing no symptoms to all of this.

I have trimethoprim/sulfa powder, but I'm not sure if that's the best option. I'm looking for recommendations for antibiotics.

Cages are very clean, everyone is spoiled rotten here. Never dealt with a respiratory sickness like this before. I may end up at the vets office tomorrow but it's too late to call in tonight. Just in case they can't get me in, I need to order antibiotics as soon as I can unless the trimethoprim/sulfa powder I have on hand is a good option to try. Thank you for any recommendations!

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

That quick an onset makes me wonder about bird flu. Is it possible its that?

 

[Eggcessive]

Have you added any new birds recently, or has there been any new stress? Is there any bad odor from any of their faces or beaks? Do you see any bubbles or foam in the eyes, or eyelid swelling? Tylan 50 injectable given by mouth, or tylosin powder in the water can help treat MG. The trimeth/sulfa is more used for coryza and intestinal diseases.

 

[Liza728w]

Have you added any new birds recently, or has there been any new stress? Is there any bad odor from any of their faces or beaks? Do you see any bubbles or foam in the eyes, or eyelid swelling? Tylan 50 injectable given by mouth, or tylosin powder in the water can help treat MG. The trimeth/sulfa is more used for coryza and intestinal diseases.

No new birds for the past 3 months. No stress other than temperature drop - but they go in the garage each night with a space heater. No bad odor. No eyelid swelling. No prior respiratory issues either except for the occasional sneeze when some of my chickens were young. I have one of my roosters inside right now since he's having a lot of trouble.

 

[Eggcessive]

It could be that the cold stress has brought out symptoms from MG or another disease. If you can find the Tylan 50 injectable and a syringe with a needle at your feed store, give it orally by removing the needle to him 0.25 ml per pound 3 times a day for 5 days. Do you know how much he weighs? Tylosin powder generic is put in the water, and may be found online. Make sure that he is drinking well. Many stores are out of Tylosin powder, but here is one that may have it:
https://pigeonsuppliesplus.com/products/tylosin-99-100-grams-pdr-pigeon-supplies-plus-line

 

[Liza728w]

It could be that the cold stress has brought out symptoms from MG or another disease. If you can find the Tylan 50 injectable, give it orally to him 0.25 ml per pound 3 times a day for 5 days. Do you know how much he weighs? Tylosin powder generic is put in the water, and may be found online. Make sure that he is drinking well. Many stores are out of Tylosin powder, but here is one that may have it:
https://pigeonsuppliesplus.com/products/tylosin-99-100-grams-pdr-pigeon-supplies-plus-line

I will see if tractor supply has the tylan injectable. Thank you! He is a little serama weighing 15oz. His flockmate caught whatever this is as well and has the same symptoms. I kept my little serama rooster inside last night on a heat pad so I could watch him. Lots of rumblies in his chest and sneezing. Poor little dude!

 

[Liza728w]

It could be that the cold stress has brought out symptoms from MG or another disease. If you can find the Tylan 50 injectable and a syringe with a needle at your feed store, give it orally by removing the needle to him 0.25 ml per pound 3 times a day for 5 days. Do you know how much he weighs? Tylosin powder generic is put in the water, and may be found online. Make sure that he is drinking well. Many stores are out of Tylosin powder, but here is one that may have it:
https://pigeonsuppliesplus.com/products/tylosin-99-100-grams-pdr-pigeon-supplies-plus-line

So update! By the time I tried the tylosin powder, everyone in the garage got over it just fine. It's just one hen that is still really struggling. I treated her with tylosin powder for the recommended 5 days, but 0 improvement. She heaves with every breath now and only wants to be fluffed up with her beak behind her wing.

I called around to my local vets, and literally no one sees chickens. I don't understand why vets aren't trained to see chickens. Not sure what to do next with her. Poor girl.

 

[Eggcessive]

She might not have drunk enough of the treated water. Or she could have developed air sacculitis, a secondary bacterial infection of the air sacs. If you have Baytril or enrofloxacin 10% you could try that. Or if not, give her some concentrated Tylosin 3-4 times a day for 5 days. Some feed stores in the refrigerated medicines, sell LA 200 or similar oxytetracycline injectable. It is given as an injection into the breast muscle once every 3 days. I would give 0.5 ml. I hope that she gets better.

 

[Liza728w]

Thank you SO much for your reply back. I just ordered some baytril off of allbirdproducts.com, hoping it will arrive soon. It'll be good to have in my medicine cabinet regardless if it helps clear this is up. She squeaks every time she breaths in and out, I feel so bad for her. Hoping for the best with her, I'm keeping her inside since it's a little chilly in our garage this week.

 

[Liza728w]

I will also go to tractor supply tomorrow to see if they have LA 200. I think you're right, she could've just not drank enough of the water. I'm not sure though. I wish I had a vet near me that would see her. Southern Ohio/WV border doesn't have many options unfortunately.