Treating upper respiratory infections

[Eggcessive]

I too have a similar problem. I just started raising a few chickens. I recently bought two laying hens to go with my young pullets which I had already purchased at a local auction. I lost one of the pullets due to unknown problems then late last week one of the laying hens which I had purchased at local sales spot developed a respiratory problem. She is very congested and has a hard time breathing. She eats very little and just lays/stands around listlessly. She stays at the water container drinking a lot. Three days ago I started putting Oxytetracycline in their drinking water thinking this would be the cure for her and would prevent my other chickens from getting the same thing. So far she continues to get worse and I am fearful she will die within a few days. If anyone could offer a suggestion I would appreciate it.

Welcome to BYC. Antibiotics don't ever cure a respiratory disease, they may only help the symptoms. It can always come back if they are stressed, and they will infect other chickens. The problem with sick chickens is that they won't drink the medicated water when they are sick. Tylan 50 injections may be used as a shot, and some will give it orally. Dosage is 1 ml given 1/4 inch into the breast muscle daily or orally for 3-5 days. Here is a link to read about IB, MG, ILT, and coryza which are the more common respiratory diseases: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[casportpony]

Some respiratory infections are 100% treatable with antibiotics. Not all of them are from something like MG, MS or Coryza.

-Kathy

 

[Eggcessive]

Some respiratory infections are 100% treatable with antibiotics. Not all of them are from something like MG, MS or Coryza.

-Kathy

They are all treatable, but I don't know of any that are cured. All of the ones I have read about except for IB are chronic, and can make carriers of the whole flock. Maybe I'm missing something here?

 

[casportpony]

Quote: E. coli and pseudomonas curable, right? I know of two people that have had cultures done on their birds, once was a turkey with a secondary E. coli infection and the other was a peacock with some type of bacteria, pseudomona, I think. Another person's peacock had a bacterial pneumonia that she treated with Baytril and has not had another bird with respiratory problems. One of mine had a throat infection, so not a classic respiratory infection and I have had not any other problems with any of mine. Another person had a hen with "something" and everyone was telling her it was most likely MG and that she'd have to cull her flock. She took her bird to the vet and they sent of sample for MG and the tests came back negative. Can't remember if the bird got better with or without treatment, but none of her others were sick and the sick one is fine.

I agree that mycoplasma is common in backyard flocks and one needs to take a look at how that will impact them if they're selling eggs or birds as those birds and eggs will be carriers.

-Kathy

 

[Eggcessive]

From most of my reading if they get E.coli air sacculitis, it is very hard to treat because it spreads to all parts of the body. Many of the diseases such as IB, MG, ILT, and coryza, can be together at the same time with some being secondary infections. To treat with antibiotics, that is a personal choice, one that many backyard chicken keepers choose to do to save their pets. More people who have working livestock farms with hundreds of chickens and other poultry will usually cull so as not to risk infecting their whole flock. When treating these diseases, people should close their flocks to selling or giving away any birds or hatching eggs.

 

[chixinrox]

I hope everything worked out for the sick Hens mentioned in this post! With all the antibiotic treatments to use, I too, am using an antibiotic (Oxytetracycline) in the flocks (5 chickens) water, preventative for some, and to treat one of my birds. She is also going to the vets tomorrow. Last visit, a different hen came home with antibiotics that were awful to give orally. I wonder then, when is it safe to eat the eggs? Is it going to be, if it seems once they get these viruses, they are carriers for life? None are laying, so we have some time to work with. Some folks say 2 weeks, some say longer after you remove the antibiotic water. This is my second one acting like she has a cold, though I know they don't get colds.
I keep our coop clean, water fresh everyday, good food, and I keep having this problem. Our neighbors, who don't pay near the attention, have had no problems. ???

 

[amandarc]

Many vets will use a new needle to fill the syringe and another new needle to inject the animal because of that. Great post!

-Kathy

I'm back again....
Well healthy chickens for a time, but now the one that began symptoms is getting worse. She is lethargic and stands still and closes her eyes sometimes. She has a slight rattle to her and i have heard her sneeze along with a few others. Seems like many have poo that is caramel colored and runny!!! I think it's time for Tylan 50.
Confirming the dosage.... 1/2cc twice/day? Once/day? My birds are about 5 months old, no bantams, mainly rirs and EEs. Medicate 5 days? Shot in the neck or breast?

 

[amandarc]

X2. If you have a foul odor, clogging of the nostrils and sinuses, sometimes facial swelling, then you have Coryza. Sulfadimethoxine powder @  1 tsp for 5 days, or Sulmet (sodium sulfamethazine at 1 tsp per gallon for 7-10 days is the treatment for coryza. If the foul odor is cleared up, etc., yet you still have runny eyes, nose, a throat rattle, you must change medication. Tylan 50 @ 1/2 cc under the skin on the back of the neck with a 25 gauge needle every day for 5 days is the best treatment for CRD. If the bird is over 5 lbs, give an additional 1/2 cc in the breast. Locate the breast bone and alternate each side for an injection site each day. Duramycin is probably the least effective treatment of CRD besides apple cider vinegar. If you want to add something beneficial, a few drops of RX Poultry Remedy in the water can help clear sinuses. I wish you a speedy recovery.

P.S. Always follow up with a vitamin, mineral, and probiotic soluble powder after completing treatment with antibiotics or medication. Avian Super Pack and Probios are two excellent quality products I recommend.

trying to figure out dosage... my birds are about 5 months old. Most are RIRs and EEs. I think I need to give them 1/4cc in neck twice a day, but I'm unsure. 1/2cc? They are not full grown, I would guess under 5lbs

 

[Eggcessive]

trying to figure out dosage... my birds are about 5 months old. Most are RIRs and EEs. I think I need to give them 1/4cc in neck twice a day, but I'm unsure. 1/2cc? They are not full grown, I would guess under 5lbs

There is a lot of leeway in Tylan dosage, so many different opinions on the amount to use, and whether to give it in a muscle, under the skin, or even orally. Plumbs Veterinary Handbook says 10-40 mg for every KG, or 2.2 lb, given twice a day. Tylan 50 has 50mg per ml. I would use 1/4 ml for bantams, 1/2 ml for large fowl under 5 lb, and 1 ml for over 5-10lb given once a day. Since Tylan is usually given into a muscle, I prefer to give it in the breast if there is enough meat, but some give it under the skin in the back of the neck. Here is another medicine chart used by some with dosages: https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/medicine-chart

 

[amandarc]

There is a lot of leeway in Tylan dosage, so many different opinions on the amount to use, and whether to give it in a muscle, under the skin, or even orally.  Plumbs Veterinary Handbook says 10-40 mg for every KG, or 2.2 lb, given twice a day. Tylan 50 has 50mg per ml.   I would use 1/4 ml for bantams, 1/2 ml for large fowl under 5 lb, and 1 ml for over 5-10lb given once a day.  Since Tylan is usually given into a muscle, I prefer to give it in the breast if there is enough meat, but some give it under the skin in the back of the neck.  Here is another medicine chart used by some with dosages:  https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/medicine-chart

thank you. I already gave the hen 1/2cc in the back of the neck. She was too wiggly for the breast. I will continue through Friday