UPDATE: Probably Coryza; One Dead--DO NOT WANT TO CULL.

[EggDropSoup]

UPDATE HERE: I lost one of my hens this morning. At this point, both the vet and I think it's probably coryza rather than IB. He suggested switching to Tylan 200--.25 cc 1x day and see if that offers any relief. The hen who died was actually acting the healthiest yesterday. She was outside eating, drinking, and pecking around. This morning, I found her standing on the back porch very obviously in respiratory distress. I tried to help her, but she died very soon thereafter, probably from asphyxiation.

I have put her body in the freezer and am planning on sending it to the state for a necropsy.

In the meantime, I have three relatively healthy hens outside and 6 very ill hes in the bathroom. Some of the ones who seemed the sickest yesterday seem a bit better today--less lethargic, eating, drinking, etc. Some of the ones who seemed decent yesterday, though, are far sicker today. It's really frustrating and exhausting but I'm truly doing EVERYTHING I can for them. The sickest ones are getting fluids and I'm hand feeding them, if they don't seem to be in too much respiratory distress. Vet RX seems to help them sneeze and expel some of that mucus. After a big, snotty sneeze, the sickest ones will usually immediately start eating, drinking, and preening. I wish I knew what else I could do for them. I'm waiting on a shipment of Oxine AH. It's supposedly scheduled for delivery tomorrow, and I really, really hope that's the case. I feel like I"m at my wit's end, and it's only been five days! I did get a couple of the sickest girls to chow down on some watermelon earlier, which is encouraging since that's both nourishing and hydrating.

What else can I do??

ORIGINAL POST:

Hi all--

I want to start off by saying that I DO NOT WISH TO CULL MY FLOCK. I realize the implications of Infectious Bronchitis--its infected-for-life status and its possible impact on eggs and the fact that my chickens could infect any new chickens I add to my flock. I realize all of that, and I DO NOT WANT TO CULL THEM. They are my pets, basically. Eggs are just a bonus. I have them in an urban area and there are no other chickens nearby. They were infected by a little banty rooster my friend found wandering around. I agreed to temporarily take him in while we found him a new home. He was sneezing a bit...and that's all it took. My entire flock is infected.

So here's what's going on:

Symptoms: sneezing/coughing, horribly rattly breath, wheezing, some bubbly/watery eyes, lethargy

I have already had a vet come look at them, and he advised me to use Tylan50. I've been giving all of them 1/2 cc. once a day, injected intramuscularly.

Six of the 9 chickens I have are currently in my spare bathroom (yes, it's a mess). Their breathing sounded so awful that I wanted to bring them in and plug up the humidifier for them. I have it going 24/7 with Vet Rx, Oil of Oregano, and Eucalyptus Oil in it.

Most of them are still drinking and picking at food, but it seems like they've all reached a point at various times where they just want to sleep, so I'm giving some of them subcutaneous fluids to provide a little boost. They are eating appplesauce, mealworms, yogurt--basically whatever I can get them to take.

They've been sick for four days now (though it seems like forever). I'm lucky because a). I have veterinary experience b). I have a job where I do most of my work online, so I can spend a lot of time on this venture c). my vet is also one of my good friends and has supplied me with lactated ringers, syringes, etc. at no cost.

What I'm trying to figure out is the prognosis for my girls. I've read everything from "low mortality in adult hens" to "up to 100% mortality." I kind of feel like if they were going to die, they'd be going downhill. Not waffling between getting better and sort of staying the same.

Has anyone ever treated their flock for IB? Am I doing the right things? Should I use some other med?? ANY advice is greatly appreciated (except the advice to fry them up).

 

[Eggcessive]

Infectious bronchitis is a virus. The Tylan will help to prevent secondary diseases, but probably isn't necessary. If you look at all of the respiratory diseases, this one is the most mild, so you are lucky if it is that. There is no need to cull your flock because this disease only lasts about a month. It affects all of them, but all of them won't be that sick. A few might carry this disease for up to a year, but most of them will do okay. The only fatalities you might have would be chicks (up to 25%.) They really don't need any special treatment unless it is cold where you live--and most of us are having summer right now--they might need to be kept warm. Lasting effects from I.B. are decreased egg production(10%), funny shaped or wrinkled eggs, or kidney disease in some. Mycoplasma, ILT, and coryza are much worse diseases to have, so good luck to you.

 

[EggDropSoup]

Thanks for your reply, Eggcessive. I just feel so helpless, because their breathing sounds so awful!

 

[Eggcessive]

If you can take video of them while they are coughing, sneezing, or having raspy breathing, it would be of great help here on BYC. They usually have more symptoms in the evening so you might be able to capture some of that. Sorry you are going through this, but they should make it fine unless you have any young chicks.

 

[EggDropSoup]

I will try to take a video this evening. The sneezing has lessened...the sickest ones sound like coffee percolators. One of them, in particular, is worrying me. Her breathing seems normal now, but she is EXTREMELY lethargic, to the point that her eyes seem to just close no matter what activity she's in the middle of. She's still standing and if you wake her up, she clucks and walks around a bit, but then goes immediately back to sleep. I've been giving her fluids and I'm now hand-feeding her a slurry of yogurt, egg yolk, honey, and electrolyte water. I don't know what else to do, and I really, really hope I don't lose her.

The Vet Rx really seems to be helping the chickens who are having the most difficulty breathing. The first chicken to get sick, while still "percolating," starting eating voraciously today, so that's a great sign, I think. All I know is that I'm exhausted. I can't even imagine how my poor chickens feel.