URGENT HELP NEEDED! Silkie has upper respiratory infection

[dcartwright8806]

Can anyone help me and tell me what I should do for this poor girl…. She always has a runny nose on one side of her beak that crusts over! She seems happy and eats good, doesn’t seem lethargic or anything! I’ve been giving her poultry cell for half the day then regular fresh water the other half- feeding her regular food with some black soldier fly larvae (just for some added protein), grit, and minced garlic and oregano which she seems to love but can’t get her to shake this upper respiratory thing she has going on. I’ve had her since May 31st- have had to keep her quarantined just because I don’t want the other “kids” to get sick too. She gets extra lovies since she has to be alone- which she eats right up! Her comb has more color to it than it did a week ago- might just be because she is filling out- she is 9-10wks old now. No open mouth breathing- so she isnt stuggling to breathe. Been keeping her clean and her bedding clean and making sure she has ventilation- it was pretty rough here the past few days with the heat index at 105 degrees. Took her out for a little while yesterday to get fresh air and forage. I just don’t know what to do and I have no idea what “rales” sound like because I’m new to chickens- my others are younger so they sound like babies yet I have no comparison. I’ve also been putting VetRX in her nose on that side and under her wings. Been using a diffuser with eucalyptus oil in the room as well. Any insights would be great!!! Im not sure if she is allergic to something or the food has too much dust or if she is sick. No eye discharge at all. She does sneeze occasionally and scratches at that side of her face -no parasites present. I’m not sure if there is a vet in my area that can help me with her if antibiotics are necessary- looking into that today as well! Please any advice would help- she is my pet and just adore her so culling or euthanizing her is definitely not an option unless it becomes the only option but I will do what it takes to avoid that! Pics below.

*Called several vets- no luck in finding anyone that works with chickens and I can’t get the Tylosin from Tractor supply without a prescription!! Please Help!!!

 

[alinas2010]

Hello, welcome to the site. I’m so sorry it is under these circumstances. I’m not super familiar with chicken respiratory infections, but here is a link to get antibiotics from if you need some. They have about everything, including Doxy-Tyl (combo of doxycycline and Tylan). A user I am friends with on here has ordered from them before and received product, so they are legit.

https://allbirdproducts.com/collections/chicken-medications

Some respiratory infections are chronic and may always afflict them, but can be controlled. Times of stress will bring the symptoms out, usually.

Rales will sound a little like crackly and like wheezy almost. Does she have bubbles in her eyes at all?

Because I don’t know much about the different respiratory infections I am going to tag some of the educators for more information @Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive @azygous, what antibiotic would you recommend in this case?

 

[MROO]

*Called several vets- no luck in finding anyone that works with chickens and I can’t get the Tylosin from Tractor supply without a prescription!! Please Help!!!

Ask your vet if they'll give you a scrip for Tylosin, so you can purchase it yourself.

 

[Eggcessive]

Common respiratory diseases are mycoplasma gallisepticum and infectious bronchitis virus. Infectious bronchitis is a virus and antibiotics won’t treat it. You can get Tylosin which treats MG without a prescription from pigeon suppliers. Jedds here usually has it and others do if it is out of stock:
https://jedds.com/products/tylosin-...FlBymnw78AuHkbeoG4pqNv78kvVWW1OXe-rsSWXL06zfP
Dosage is 1 tsp per gallon of water for chicken for 5 days. That will treat mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG, CRD.)