3.6m Omlet Chicken Run for sale, Brand New in Boxes, Milton Keynes (MK19)

[shtw00724]

Hi all.

 

This morning I heard one of my ex-bats sneeze - when I got up close she sounded a bit rattly and wheezy. Naturally I panicked and started googling it.

 

Most websites seem to recommend citricidal. I went looking around the health and pet stores by me but couldn't find any. I ended up buying some Verm-X liquid instead and have just ordered some Coillodial (sp?) Silver as it's supposed to be a natural antibiotic.

 

I have put fresh and copious amounts of straw in their eglu and have put covers over the eglu run to try and shield them from any draughts.

 

Should I be doing anything else? I heard another hen sneezing so it's obviously infectious. No chicken vet close by but does anyone know if any vet can prescribe antibiotics for poultry? Should I take the chooks inside the house to keep them warm?

 

BTW forgot to say thank you to the last replies I had about worming so 'thank you'.

 

Cheers

 

A very worried Susie

[chelsea]

Sorry to hear she is unwell.

 

Rattling/sneezing and wheezing could possibly be a respiratory infection. It will require antibiotics usually in the form of Baytril or Tylan. I would think any vet could get hold of these - my local vet is not a "chicken specialist" and they have treated all my chickens no problem at all.

 

Probably best to take the rattly one along for an examination and then mention to the vet about the others sneezing - they may give the very poorly one an injection in surgery and then give you something to take home to treat all your girls. It may be that your other girls could have the simple cold, but the wheezing in the other hen could mean she may be weaker than the others and it's taken hold of her.

[Jools]

The Verm-x you've bought is for parasite control rather than respiratory problems.

 

The colloidal silver is meant to have great antibiotic properties but I've never tried it.

 

Citricidal is recommended by people here as another natural antibiotic but I haven't used it.

 

I keep Respite in my poultry medicine cabinet and use it at the first sign of sniffles. It's available online but I don't think I've ever seen it in a shop.

 

If all else fails, then those kind of symptoms often need prescription AB's, which will mean a trip to the vet.

 

Good luck

[Daphne]

Just to second what the others have said. If she's at the wheezing stage I'd take her to the vet and get enough meds to sort the flock out.

[shtw00724]

Thank you all for the replies.

 

Re the Verm-X, yes, sorry for the confusion! I know it's a wormer but it contains garlic and echinacea (sp?) etc. which are supposed to be good for colds so I thought I would give it a try.

 

I asked my vet last night and she said she can give antibiotics but she only has Baytril. I am taking the poorliest chook tonight so that she can be weighed so I can get meds for them all.

 

They all seem very bright other than the rattly sound and sneezing. No discharge from eyes/beak etc. Good appetites and very alert. Eyes are bright and beady BUT I have noticed that 2 of them have the white (urine?) of the chicken poop stuck to the feathers by their vents. Any ideas? They have wooden roosting bars in the Eglu and the straw is removed/cleaned regularly.

 

Now, I bought 3 bantams from an auction several weeks ago (I know, not the smartest thing to do). They haven't mixed with my chooks but their run is next to my ex-bats' run. The bantys had blood in their poop to start with and it was quite runny so I wormed them and my ex-bats. After that, my ex-bats poop started going runny. I am inclined to think that the bantys I bought were possibly sick and have now passed whatever they have onto my ex-bats. The eldest banty was huddled up this morning and at times sitting with eyes closed. By the same token, otherwise alert, eating well etc. I will be taking her to the vet tonight too.

 

I just hope and pray they can all be treated and we can get over this.

 

Susie