Yet ANOTHER sick chicken! Gah!

[Kiki]

https://aaes.uada.edu/technical-services/veterinary-diagnostic-lab/

 

[LaFleche]

I treated her with Safeguard last night. If she had gape worms, I'm assuming that would kill them?

She should be treated with dewormer for 5 consecutive days. A single dose will not work.

And I would repeat the treatment after 2 weeks.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Your state lab can do some testing to see which disease your flock is dealing with.
Which state are you in?

I'm in Arkansas. The vet I've worked with virtually is a professor at University of Arkansas. He's over the poultry division. He said that the state lab in Little Rock (an hour away) could do a blood test (since my birds are still living) but if it comes back as MG or something similarly nasty, the state could opt to cull all my birds without any consent. He conceded that a mass cull is unlikely since I don't have any commercial farms close by... But he also mentioned that Infectious Bronchitis is going around in this area....

 

[Kiki]

I'm in Arkansas. The vet I've worked with virtually is a professor at University of Arkansas. He's over the poultry division. He said that the state lab in Little Rock (an hour away) could do a blood test (since my birds are still living) but if it comes back as MG or something similarly nasty, the state could opt to cull all my birds without any consent. He conceded that a mass cull is unlikely since I don't have any commercial farms close by... But he also mentioned that Infectious Bronchitis is going around in this area....

I'd recommend calling the lab on Monday. They can tell you how to swab a few birds throats so you know what your dealing with.

 

[Kiki]

Please keep a closed flock and do not sell or give away any birds until you know which disease you're dealing with.

 

[SpicyDisaster]

If you have the option to get an answer I would recommended finding out. Yes it would be awful to lose a flock to culling but being the cause of infectious spread would be even worse. It sounds like you are genuinely worried.

 

[Eggcessive]

I agree, if treating for gapeworms or even capillary worms, be sure to dose her at 0.25 ml per pound—1.25 ml for a 5 pound chicken, given orally undiluted for 5 days straight. I would look to see if she has any mucus or other material inside her beak and throat. Gapeworm is rare, and most birds with it use all of their energy just to breathe, and cannot eat. Sneezing alone could be due to dust in feed, or an environmental problem such as mold, dusty conditions, or irritating odors. It is good to look for any bubbles or foam in an eye, eyelid or facial swelling, or thick drainage or crust from the nostrils or eyes. The tetracycline you are using could treat if it was MG, but nothing treats a virus, such as IB.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Please keep a closed flock and do not sell or give away any birds until you know which disease you're dealing with.

I don't sell my birds or hatching eggs. No plans to change that

 

[TJAnonymous]

I agree, if treating for gapeworms or even capillary worms, be sure to dose her at 0.25 ml per pound—1.25 ml for a 5 pound chicken, given orally undiluted for 5 days straight. I would look to see if she has any mucus or other material inside her beak and throat. Gapeworm is rare, and most birds with it use all of their energy just to breathe, and cannot eat. Sneezing alone could be due to dust in feed, or an environmental problem such as mold, dusty conditions, or irritating odors. It is good to look for any bubbles or foam in an eye, eyelid or facial swelling, or thick drainage or crust from the nostrils or eyes. The tetracycline you are using could treat if it was MG, but nothing treats a virus, such as IB.

The last 2 sick chickens came into the infirmary about 2 weeks ago. Both recovered. The splash Andalusian had almost identical symptoms - gasping wheeziness but could eat, drink, and poop just fine. The 2nd bird was a Cream Legbar hen of similar age to this current bird. The CL had nasal drainage and bubbles & swelling in her eye. She's the one that the professor suspected MG but said it could also be IB. I treated the Splash with both Amoxicillan and Minocycline. The CL I treated with Terramycin in her eye. Both recovered.

Neither of the previous 2 birds sounded as horribly raspy as this current bird. The professor said even if it was MG that they could recover and live generally normal lives. For the record, MG can transfer to the young inside the egg. The CL came from a hatching egg I purchased from eBay. I'm not saying it's MG or IB but this experience does make me leery of ever getting hatching eggs from eBay again

 

[TJAnonymous]

I agree, if treating for gapeworms or even capillary worms, be sure to dose her at 0.25 ml per pound—1.25 ml for a 5 pound chicken, given orally undiluted for 5 days straight. I would look to see if she has any mucus or other material inside her beak and throat. Gapeworm is rare, and most birds with it use all of their energy just to breathe, and cannot eat. Sneezing alone could be due to dust in feed, or an environmental problem such as mold, dusty conditions, or irritating odors. It is good to look for any bubbles or foam in an eye, eyelid or facial swelling, or thick drainage or crust from the nostrils or eyes. The tetracycline you are using could treat if it was MG, but nothing treats a virus, such as IB.

I don't know if she has gape worms or not... I know the CL who was sick 2 weeks ago had roundworms. I treated all the chickens with Safeguard 2 weeks ago except for the 5 or 6 I couldn't reach. This hen is one of those untreated ones. I was in the coop last night doing a 2nd round of treatment as a precaution when I realized she was sick. I had read that gape worms could make them gasp like that so I thought it could be a possibility but no confirmation. I looked in her mouth and saw nothing. I treated her with the Safeguard last night since I missed her the first time around.