UPDATE****Some type of illnesses ~ few different symptoms

[CK Chickadilly]

I noticed yesterday that 2 of my Silkie/Cochin girls had one eye shut. It wasn't swollen but had just a tiny bit of watery puss to it & closed. I used a Boric Acid solution to wash them out & then a neomycin cream in the eyes. Used Vet Rx in the mouth yesterday too. Today they are open & looking better. Their appetite is great & they seem normal in every other way.

2 of my OEGB's are making an ocassional honking noise, 1 hen & 1 roo. Their appetite is good. No nasal discharge. Used Vet Rx in the mouth tonight.

1 roo is sneezing with a small bit of nasal drainage. Eats like crazy & seems fine too. Used Vet Rx in the mouth tonight.

None of them have any foul odors from the eyes or nose. It has been quite cold out so all of the flock has just been hanging out. The big girls, egg production is 6-7 eggs out of 8 hens. The OEGB's stopped laying quite a while ago.

The rest of the flock are fine. So far.....

Any ideas?

 

[shelleyb1969]

Have you added any new ones to your flock in the past few weeks?

 

[CK Chickadilly]

No new ones since October & they were quarantined for a month with no problems that I could tell.

 

[shelleyb1969]

I'm definitely no expert on respiratory infections, but that's what it sounds like to me. I'm sure someone with way more knowledge will chime in. But check out this thread:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=117121

I do know of 3 people in Michigan who have had ILT in their flocks, and 2 of those 3 people continue to sell birds. So please be careful where you get your birds from.

 

[CK Chickadilly]

If it is ILT then what do I do? Cull them ALL? & after cleaning will I be able to start over again?

If I don't cull.......& if I bring in new birds, eventually they may get ILT so it is a never ending battle? I am trying to understand the severity of ILT. I am so bummed if this is what is what it is.

 

[speckledhen]

Unless you've seen blood slung on the walls, I'd doubt ILT. Other than that, there are lots of things with those symptoms.

 

[shelleyb1969]

If you want to rule out ILT, then you should get one of the birds tested. There's not always visable blood with the disease. I know of someone who had the disease tracked over to her farm and there was no blood anywhere in the infected bird areas. If your birds have a strange "call"/cough, then if it were me...I'd get them tested. It's better to test for it and rule it out than to dismiss it because they don't show every possible sign of the disease.

 

[speckledhen]

And shelley makes my point better than I did. Though it is probably not ILT, sometimes diseases present differently in different cases. Testing is the only way to be really sure. There are so many diseases with similar symptoms.

 

[shelleyb1969]

Indeed, indeed, speckledhen.

Unless a person gets testing done, they could possibly spend hundreds of dollars on medications to treat a disease that their flock will never be cured of.

 

[CK Chickadilly]

Quote:
I have seen no blood.

The 2 girls with the closed eye are better now, no snot or anything either.

The OEGB roo still has the honk but is eating well & out free ranging a tad in the sun & warmer temps we have today. Mama seems ok too, I haven't heard her honk today.

The other full sized roo his nose looked clear today so far & he never did honk.

None of the others have caught it yet & seem normal so far.

Now I did some research & all these diseases are very confusing. I even came across an article that said chickens can catch diesases from rodents & we have had mice around. I found one floating in their water bowl not to long ago. Neighborhood birds are hanging out big time too & I know they can transmit diseases to the flock as well. So the articles say.

The other problem I have is I don't have anywhere I can put these guys. All my cages have been moved for the winter & the polebarn has babies in it. So they can't go in there. Just my stinking luck....

I agree.....they need to be tested. Who tests? Do I call the extension office here in town cause my vets don't know a thing about chickens.

I'll tell ya what....I am so upset over this after I took the correct precautions to make sure those hens were quarantined & to think they may have had some thing that is not noticeable. I contacted the gal I got them from to see what she says.

Thanks for your help! Now that it is the weekend, I willhave to wait til MOnday to call....

I can't stand it!