Wheezing and Gasping. Three chicks down out of Eleven!! HELP!!

[blackwingedwolf]

I have no idea what's wrong with three of my girls. Two are gasping for breaths and whenever they breathe, it sounds like a rattle or multiple bubbles are popping.

My White Leghorn is the worst. She hasn't been out of the roost all day and I'm worried I'll lose her today. She arches her neck whenever she breaths and her eyes close as if she in pain. I did a throat swab to see if it was gapwroms since I read that it'll leave a red mark on the swab, but all that came out was a lot of mucus..

My Rhode Island Red is worrying me as well. She's gasping with a rattling breath, but she just stands outside with her eyes closed and her tail drooping. Her right eye looks all watery and swollen too.

My Youngest chick (don't know what breed she is) hasn't been gasping, but she's very lethargic and one eye is always kept shut. When she opens that eye, it's all watery and little bubbles appear.

What's going on with my chicks?? Am I going to lose them all because of this? Is there anything I can do to save them, or do I have to put the out of their misery..?

 

[Eggcessive]

How old are they, and where did they come from? Have you added new chickens or poultry to your flock recently? Do they have a bad odor? It sounds like they have a respiratory disease such as MG or coryza. Those are chronic respiratory diseases having similar symptoms, and can be complicated by secondary infections, such as ILT, infectious bronchitis, and others. Your flock may be carriers for life. I would separate the sick ones, and treat them with antibiotics such as Tylan 50, Gallimycin, or oxytetracycline. Many people cull sick birds with respiratory diseases since they may get sick again and again. Here is a good link that has symptoms for all of the diseases above: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[blackwingedwolf]

The White Leghorn and the Rhode Island Red are both over a year. I had added the youngest chick with a nestmate (they are about two month or so old, I think) about three weeks ago from a feed store where I got the majority of my birds from when they were little. I just bought Tylon 50 and Vet Rx today, how much should I give them?? Thank you!!!

 

[Eggcessive]

Tylan 50 can be given orally or by a shot into the breast muscle. Dosage is 1/2 ml for up to 5 lb weight, 1 ml for over 5 lb, and is given once or twice a day for 3-5 days. If giving orally, I would give it for 5 days, 3 days for injections. I haven't used Vet Rx, but it is just oils from various herbs, and may not do too much. Some people use it and like it. Here is a link about it: http://www.drugs.com/vet/vetrx-poultry-remedy.html

 

[casportpony]

Many peafowl owners see respiratory problems when their birds have worms, so that's something I would think about treating for.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Note that I'm not saying the respiratory issues are from worms, just that the two are often seen together.

-Kathy

 

[blackwingedwolf]

Would you recommend once or twice with injections? I gave them an injection around 4:30 pm today.

 

[blackwingedwolf]

What would cause half of the face to swell up and have one eye closed and watery?

 

[blackwingedwolf]

My White Leghorn passed away last night... I got to her too late....

 

[casportpony]

Baytril Is what used when I had one with bubbles and swollen sinuses. It is banned for use in poultry, so you should read up on that before you buy it.

This is the peachick I treated with Baytril:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/945918/my-first-sinus-infection

Baytril sources:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/959119/baytril-enrofloxacin-sources

-Kathy