Whole flock has runny nose. Gallimycin question.

[spencerbaillie]

Recently one of my hens had a runny nose. I quarantined it, put it on Gallimycin for 5 days( what the farm store person told me to do) waited two more days and reintroduced her to my flock. Her nose didn't seem too runny at this point. I went out there tonight and now almost all of my hens have runny noses and are sneezing, some of them even have rattling in their breathing (including the hen I've already treated). The discharge seems pretty clear and odourless and there aren't really any other symptoms other than the sneezing and rattling.

Should I just put them all on Gallimycin?

How long should I put them on this for?

Will it help?

Can I eat the eggs of a chicken with a respiratory infection?

I read on here, in another forum topic that Gallimycin only has a 24 hour withdrawal period? Am I really allowed to eat the eggs only 24 hours after they are off the stuff?

That would be pretty great. I have friends and family who depend on these eggs.

Please let me know any information you have, I'm pretty new to chickens (about a year) and am worried I'm making all the wrong choices.

Help!

 

[spencerbaillie]

Recently one of my hens had a runny nose. I quarantined it, put it on Gallimycin for 5 days( what the farm store person told me to do) waited two more days and reintroduced her to my flock. Her nose didn't seem too runny at this point. I went out there tonight and now almost all of my hens have runny noses and are sneezing, some of them even have rattling in their breathing (including the hen I've already treated). The discharge seems pretty clear and odourless and there aren't really any other symptoms other than the sneezing and rattling.

Should I just put them all on Gallimycin?

How long should I put them on this for?

Will it help?

Can I eat the eggs of a chicken with a respiratory infection?

I read on here, in another forum topic that Gallimycin only has a 24 hour withdrawal period? Am I really allowed to eat the eggs only 24 hours after they are off the stuff?

That would be pretty great. I have friends and family who depend on these eggs.

Please let me know any information you have, I'm pretty new to chickens (about a year) and am worried I'm making all the wrong choices.

Help!

Wondering if anyone saw this post. Could really use some help.

 

[AV8RChick]

I am a novice but I have had some experience with respiratory infection and followed some of the advice I got here. I quarantined my ground zero girl and gave her 1/2 cc injectable Tylan 50 for 5 days. I also ordered water soluable Tylan and gave the rest of the flock that for 3 days. I reintegrated ground zero hen when her course of antibitotics and symptoms were done and haven't had an issue since. Different drugs seem to have different withdrawal periods and I am not familiar with Galimycin to help you there. Many folks on this forum will tell you to kill the whole flock as apparently they will always be carriers. I opted to treat them. I don't know if this helps or not. I got the Tylan 50 from Tractor Supply and I ordered the water soluable Tylan from Jeffers. I hope your girls recover and Good Luck!
Amy

 

[Eggcessive]

Gallimycin is a brand of erythromycin, and is used in treatment of respiratory diseases such as mycoplasma (MG) and coryza. The use with egg layers is not recommended by the manufacturer, but most people use a 1 day withdrawal. Your chickens could have infectious bronchitis, a virus, that has to run it's course for 3-4 weeks. It is the most common of respiratory diseases. The common symptoms are runny nose and sneezing, and it tends to spread quickly through the whole flock. They can be carriers for up to a year, so don't add any new chickens or hatch chicks for at leas t a year. Testing of a sick chicken is available to tell if it could be MG, coryza, ILT, or infectious bronchitis. those other diseases can make carriers of the flock for life. The antibiotics can help to prevent secondary infections, but I would only treat a chicken that was symptomatic. Here is a good link to read about the common diseases with symptoms, and another link for testing centers and your state vet where testing might be available:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahln/downloads/all_nahln_lab_list.pdf
http://www.usaha.org/Portals/6/StateAnimalHealthOfficials.pdf
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[spencerbaillie]

Gallimycin is a brand of erythromycin, and is used in treatment of respiratory diseases such as mycoplasma (MG) and coryza. The use with egg layers is not recommended by the manufacturer, but most people use a 1 day withdrawal. Your chickens could have infectious bronchitis, a virus, that has to run it's course for 3-4 weeks. It is the most common of respiratory diseases. The common symptoms are runny nose and sneezing, and it tends to spread quickly through the whole flock. They can be carriers for up to a year, so don't add any new chickens or hatch chicks for at leas t a year. Testing of a sick chicken is available to tell if it could be MG, coryza, ILT, or infectious bronchitis.  those other diseases can make carriers of the flock for life. The antibiotics can help to prevent secondary infections, but I would only treat a chicken that was symptomatic. Here is a good link to read about the common diseases with symptoms, and another link for testing centers and your state vet where testing might be available:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahln/downloads/all_nahln_lab_list.pdf
http://www.usaha.org/Portals/6/StateAnimalHealthOfficials.pdf
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

Thanks so much eggcessive!

Would you know how long I would put the birds on Gallimycin for?

And is it still safe to eat the eggs of a chicken with a respiratory virus?

 

[Eggcessive]

The eggs are fine unless they are on medication. Gallimycin is used for 5-7 days. I would only treat those who are having symptoms.