What's going on with all this ILLNESS?

[Badhbh]

Every other thread is about chickens sneezing, coughing, running at the nose, eyes bubbling. It seems like we're all having the same illness. The antibiotics at TSC yesterday were cleared OUT. All the water solubles were gone. I had to get injectable Tylan.
So is it the time of year? We're having whacky weather here- 90* days and 50* nights. Are we having a "bad virus year"? It's really frustrating seeing all these folks having the same issues, and not knowing where it comes from.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I don't know. I've never had a disease problem. I've occasionally had some other problem, just not disease. I always figured I was just lucky. I've wondered if disease problems are worse in the areas with milder winters. Our state has strict regulations about importing and also about shows and swap meets. Although NPIP regs don't cover all the diseases, it discourages people from passing as many chickens around, so other things don't get spread as much, either. People also tend to just get chicks from a hatchery then, too, which are normally not carrying disease.

Things really do go in streaks on this board, though. A lot of things are more common at different times of the year.

 

[hinkjc]

The sad thing is folks are treating illnesses that they don't even know what they are. Without a necropsy, they will never know. Plus antibiotics will do nothing for a virus, so the fact that folks are so quick to use them are not helping the chicken population. JMHO

Edited for typos..sorry

Jody

 

[gumpsgirl]

I agree with Jody. It has to be diagnosed to be treated affectively. I did not have a necropsy done on my flock when they were sick because the state vet did not recommend that I do so at that time. My flock was diagnosed by a poultry vet with Infectious Coryza and was successfully treated for it, but I would never just run out to grab antibiotics and shove them down my chickens without a diagnosis from a vet. When you do that, you are only opening your flock up to bigger problems down the road. That being said, does anyone know if chickens can have allergies? I know my dog does and we treat them with benedryl, but what about chickens? Anyone know if that could be what's going on with all of these sneezing, runny nosed flocks?

 

[nnbreeder]

That is so true but finding a vet that will even allow a chicken in their practice is very rare. Around here if it doesn't whinnie or moo it is not considered a true farm animal and forget about the avian vets, parrots only please. OSU in Stillwater has a vet teaching hospital but I have never asked about chickens and well they are 75 miles away.
Can't say as I blame them either If you can give a load or two of cattle shots at 20 dollars a head and run close to 500 head through a day that's a fairly good chunk of change. The last time we got an ultrasound done on a mare it was 150 dollars for about five minutes time. The money just isn't in treating chickens.

 

[Renee]

I agree with all of you. My poor Audrey is sitting in a cat-carrier in the spare bedroom gravely ill. It's 60.00 minimum to see a vet, and the ones here in town don't know from chickens. They do dogs and cats and the occasional rabbit.
I don't know how to diagnose a chicken, and the problem is that they fall ill and die so quickly, so there is little time to lose. I can't give her antibiotics, because she might have a yeast or fungal infection that would grow WORSE. I can't give her a wormer, because if it is not worms it might kill her. So, what do you do at 9pm at night with a sick chicken and no vet?
Renee

 

[sammi]

one problem as poster said..many areas don't have vets willing to treat chickens.

most people don't want to wait till a bird dies to do a necropsy...especially when one bird is ill..

that's why forums like this exist..so people can get help they wouldn't otherwise get..
we can't always be right..but many chickens have been saved by help from these forums.

 

[silkiechicken]

It's too bad all the antibiocs are sold out. My guess is that 90% of what is being treated is not bacterial and the word still isn't out wide enough that antibiotics are not a cure all as belived when the first one discovered worked it's "miracles".

Don't have any illness in my flock yet either. Maybe I'm just lucky too. Well treated one year for cocci, but that's not bacterial.

One thing that does help build stronger flocks is to cull the weaker ones and only let the ones who don't get sick breed. Unforuantly that is hard, and it's not limited to chickens.

 

[nnbreeder]

That is why I usually use either LS-50 or Oxytetracycline, just in case it's viral. If the symptoms just were not all the same it would make it a lot easier.
Today too there is more resistant strains popping up too due to overuse of underpowered drugs. A friend had two calves that didn't respond to the normal treatment for shipping fever and had to get some new high powered drugs. a 100ml bottle was 1200.00. He said he held that stuff with both hands all the way home!

 

[gumpsgirl]

Quote:
Call your local extension office this morning, Renee. They will put you in contact with someone who can help you.

Please remember that your local 4-H is a resource people! They might not always know how to help, but they are pretty good at getting you in contact with someone who can.