Worried

Greetings Unobtanium,

It is not uncommon for new chickens, especially pullets to get respiratory illnesses. It sometimes happens as a reaction to stress. Moving chickens is very stressful for them. I have had this happen in the past with some pullets.

As EggSighted4Life mentioned, it can be one of several different respiratory illnesses. It's hard to know exactly without testing. If you cannot take the chicken to see a vet, we here at BYC, can do our best to help you with treatment.

What to do?

For now, keep the chicken separated.

Provide good supportive care:
  • A hospital crate with food and water (make sure water doesn't spill).
  • Keep the chicken out of drafts, a temperature of 65-75 degrees F.
  • A humidifier is helpful, to treat symptoms (stuffiness, congestion), provides comfort.
  • VetRx is also helpful in providing comfort for the bird, by relieving nasal symptoms. It is a chicken type of Vicks rub. Apply under eyes, around nostrils, and under wing pits at night. It doesn't cure, it provides comfort.
  • Warm moist compress, on the eyes is also comfort and relieves some pressure, and cleans.

Treatment for the respiratory illness is dependent on what is causing it.

If it is Infectious Bronchitis, it is viral and supportive care along with antibiotic for secondary infection is the best treatment, recovery is 6-8 weeks and may spread to other members of the flock.

If it is Mycoplasmic, then it is bacterial, and antibiotics such as tylosin (Tylan), erythromycin, enrofloxacin (Baytril) or Denagard may help. I have used only enrofloxacin and Denagard. For treatment of the entire flock, I prefer Denagard.

If the nasal discharge has a foul smell, then it may be Infectious Corzya. Erythromycin is one antibiotic that will treat it.

Infectious Bronchitis is the most lengthy recovery, because after the initial recovery, there may be relapses, bouts of diarrhea and problems with egg shell quality. My flock is just now recovered from IB, it has been a long 11 weeks, since the first hen showed symptoms. And respiratory symptoms were almost non-existent, just a few snuffles. It was their reproductive system that was infected.

Caring for sick chickens can be tedious, especially if you have to work outside of the home. So, set up a routine that allows you to administer the meds, clean the cage, and feed the chicken, in a timely manner.

These are my thoughts on your new flocks health issue. I hope they are helpful.

God Bless :)

 
I know I won't be popular for saying this but. . .I would separate the sick chicken, give her vitamins in her water, give her high protein finisher feed and scrambled eggs. . .and pray. If she dies, she dies. Hopefully the rest of the flock is going to be ok. They may have received an immunity from being exposed, you never know. I cannot spend $100 vet bill on a chicken that cost me $3. My budget is too tight for that type of expenditure. I love them, but there are limits. Hopefully it's just a "cold" and she will get over it.
:fl
 
I would seek out a vet who will treat chickens. Then you will know if she needs to be put down and what may happen to others in the flock.
I know I won't be popular for saying this but. . .I would separate the sick chicken, give her vitamins in her water, give her high protein finisher feed and scrambled eggs. . .and pray. If she dies, she dies. Hopefully the rest of the flock is going to be ok. They may have received an immunity from being exposed, you never know. I cannot spend $100 vet bill on a chicken that cost me $3. My budget is too tight for that type of expenditure. I love them, but there are limits. Hopefully it's just a "cold" and she will get over it.
:fl
I would separate her, but they've all gobbled the same water bucket teats all day. Is there even a point? No. I'm not spending$100. With you on that. I will crate and supportive care her when I'm home in the AM, if she has not improved notably.
 
The vet was unsure. The chicken is behaving normal, minus shaking her head periodically and sneezing. She has a "barking cluck cough" I call it, periodically. The eye conjunctiva is slightly puffy, but otherwise grossly normal. She had watery diarrhea. She seems just as energetic foraging as her counterparts. I hope she doesn't have something that lasts forever. Vet prescribed antibiotics, but remained unsure. Temp was 106.5. She has clear nasal drainage which dries similar to an egg white that has dried on the counter. The vet remarked that it had an odor.

Thiughts?
 
The vet was unsure. The chicken is behaving normal, minus shaking her head periodically and sneezing. She has a "barking cluck cough" I call it, periodically. The eye conjunctiva is slightly puffy, but otherwise grossly normal. She had watery diarrhea. She seems just as energetic foraging as her counterparts. I hope she doesn't have something that lasts forever. Vet prescribed antibiotics, but remained unsure. Temp was 106.5. She has clear nasal drainage which dries similar to an egg white that has dried on the counter. The vet remarked that it had an odor.

Thiughts?
See, Every time we go to a doctor, we feel healthy already!
 
Update: I held the chicken down this AM and inspected it closely. The eyes look less inflamed in the conjunctival region. Also, there was no liquid snot to be seen, although on nare was nearly occluded by a black chunk, which I removed with a leaf stem while the chicken violently protested. I then held it still/down while I sniffed the chicken. It had a barn-yard smell to it, but nothing especially foul (haha...). The chicken has fed and watered and foraged like the rest. I think it will be fine, as it's been 72 hours or so from symptom onset, and has improved (IM abx were administered by vet, and abx are proscribed and will be added to water tonight when I obtain them).

My main concern is...

...is this bird/the rest of my flock "a carrier" of anything, likely?
 

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