To cull or not to cull? (coryza)

[eamoret]

Three of my pullets have come down with coryza from two birds that I introduced to the flock a couple weeks ago. I gave the carriers back to the breeder and have been treating mine with cephalexin and sulmet. They have days when they seem to be getting better and then days they seem to be getting worse. They always act the same though, totally normal. Eating, drinking, dirt bathing, etc. The only symptom and way I can tell if they are getting better or worse is the rotten smell coming from the discharge of their nostrils.

They have been on the cephalexin for about 4 days, and the sulmet for about the same. I sprayed down the coop and their isolation area with oxine. I bought the vaccine, and I'm going to vaccinate the whole flock once antibiotics are done. Is there something else I should be doing? I hate to cull these birds since they appear healthy, besides the rotten smell and clear discharge.



Also, I'm wondering if it's even coryza. I've been reading sources and the only matching symptom they have is the stench. The symptoms weren't rapidly onset either. It took two weeks for them to show any signs. There's no sneezing, no swelling, no drop in feed/water consumption.

 

[FireTigeris]

Here's another thread...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/679458/foul-smelling-head-some-nasal-discharge

also:



Quote:

Infectious Coryza is an acute-to-chronic disease of

chickens, pheasants, and guineas caused by the Gram
negative bacterium, Hemophilus paragallinarium. Coryza
commonly occurs in game chicken flocks. Mortality from the
disease is usually low, but significant economic losses result
from increased cull birds and decreased egg production.
Furthermore, Coryza often complicates and increases the
severity of other diseases such as mycoplasmosis.
Transmission of Coryza occurs by direct bird-to-bird
contact, inhalation of airborne respiratory droplets, and contamination of feed and water. Coryza is often introduced into
flocks by the addition of birds that are apparently healthy, but
harbor the bacteria (carrier birds).
• Clinical Signs: Watery eyes, foul smelling nasal discharge,
and edema or swelling of the face and wattles. Also,
swollen infraorbital sinuses, which often contain a yellow
“cheesy” exudate.
• Diagnosis: History, clinical signs with an absolute diagnosis
being made by bacterial isolation of the bacteria from the sinuses.
• Treatment: Use of water soluble antibiotics or antibacterials such as erythromycin (gallimycin

), sulfadimethoxine
(agribon

), and tetracyclines are moderately effective, but do not eliminate carrier birds.
• Prevention: Good management, sanitation, and an all
in and an all out program provide the best way to avoid
Infectious Coryza. If possible, raise your own replacements from day-old chicks. In addition, proper disposal
of dead birds is important.
A commercial vaccine, which is effective in reducing the
economic impact of the disease, is available.