The Poultry Keeper

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

Respiratory Problems

Noises heard from chickens:
Bloody discharge from nose
Coughing
Gaping
Gasping
Gurgling in the throat.
Panting
Pibbling (kettle boiling)
Rattly
Runny or bubbly nose
Sneezing

Other Symptoms:
The bird might look all hunched up, with both wings down.
Listlessness
Eating with difficulty.
Not drinking.
White fungus in throat.
Puss sacs inside the beak, at the beginning of the throat.
Swollen wattles.
Beak hanging open.
An odor, indicating a bacterial infection.
Weeping from the eyes.
Diarrhea, watery white and green.
Limp, floppy legs and neck. (Closer to death)
Unable to open eyes. (Closer to death)

Possible Diagnosis (In alphabetical order):
Avian Influenza
Candida
Coccidiosis
Colibacillosis
CRD
Fowl Cholera (Pasteurella)
Infectious Bronchitis
Infectious coryza
Laryngotracheitis
Mycoplasma
Newcastle
Pasteurella
Pneumonia
Red Mite
Wet Fowl Pox

Medications from vets and over the counter:
Aureomycin (Chlortetracycline)
Baytril (Enrofloxacin)
Citricidal (made from grapefruit seeds, 100% natural,
use as a preventative)
Duramitex (for Red Mite)
Marbocyl (SA)
Oxytet LA
Poultry Shield (for Red Mite)
Terramycin
Tylan (Tylosin) Soluble

Things to be aware of:
Sometimes one course, or one particular type of antibiotic, does not get rid of an infection.

Some owners have not found Tylan Soluble to be as affective as the injection. But the problem is that the injection is not licensed for use on poultry so some vets will not prescribe it. Injectable is way one can be sure how much the bird has got and it gets into the blood stream faster.

Data sheets recommend Tylan Soluble at 0.5g per litre for 48 to 78 hours.

Aureomycin seems to really help.

Viruses cause coughs and colds but sometimes when they get them, they get a secondary infection that is caused by bacteria. The bacterial infection is much worse than the viral one and is what can make them feel really bad. Antibiotics are given to combat the secondary, bacterial infection. So a bird may seem better but still coughs, may be because the original virus is still there. Now that the bacterial infection has been dealt with, the bird will be able to fight the viral infection on itâ€™s own most times.

â€œThe Chicken Health Handbookâ€? is a valuable resource.

Other Possible Problems
Gapeworm
Shaking of head and gasping.
Worm it/them.