Scoobs Posted May 31, 2010 Share Posted May 31, 2010 After a poor start with chickens loosing 2 within 6 months and having to rehome the other I decided to start again. A brand new WIR was built 3ft by 9ft and I picked up 4 hybrids yesterday. However, this morning one has started breathing funny she is making a rattling sound. I've contacted the breeder by email who she said to give her crushed garlic to ease the mucus or she would exchange her or give me something to put in her water but I can't get hold of her today at all by email or phone. Until I can speak to her can you recommend anything? Could it just be the stress of moving or something more problematic? The hen is a bit out of sorts though picking at some cauliflower leaves and cucumber in an attempt to get her to eat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie Posted May 31, 2010 Share Posted May 31, 2010 Hi there Sorry to hear you are having problems, but see my post "to the vets or not to the vets" as it sounds a similar scenario. Moving home can be very stressful for the girls so you may need to get her checked out by the vets and onto an antibiotic. Hope you can get her sorted out Best wishes Liz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 31, 2010 Share Posted May 31, 2010 Have you got some Citricidal? If so, I'd add it to the drinking water. I would let the breeder swap her for a new, healthy one and let her treat the sick hen herself. At this stage they won't have established any pecking order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millie-Annie Posted May 31, 2010 Share Posted May 31, 2010 If you can do that fine, but the breeder won't treat her or put her back with her chickens, she will cull her. I know how you feel this is exactly how Marigold was when I brought her home, fine then next morning, rattling breathing and coughing. I took her to the vets and he diagnosed Mycoplasma. She had Denaguard to put in her water and she recovered within a couple of days and now you wouldn't know there had ever been anything wrong with her. It is easy to treat and I am so glad I didn't take my Marigold back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 Is it coming from her chest or her nose? My Betty is rattly but it is coming from a very bunged up nose, I have put some Citricidal in the girls water which seems to be helping, Also some treats are going down well to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoobs Posted June 1, 2010 Author Share Posted June 1, 2010 I don't have citridil (now ordered). The rattling is from her throat/chest, she sounds like she is ho"Ooops, word censored!". Another has now gone down with the same symptons. The breeder has been very good she has offered to drop in some antibiotics or to replace them for me so is coming tonight with both to see what to do. Lets hope if replacements they won't have the same problem! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 There seems to be a lot of Chicken Sniffles going around at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 Mycoplasma is contagious; 4/5 of my new girls caught it (different stages of) and have all been treated successfully. I wouldn't have swapped any of them for the world. We have made them better and they know it - following us around like sheep. Hope they get better Best wishes Liz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sewitall Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 One of my new chickens has Mycoplasma. I tried citricidal (I'm a great believer in it as a natural cure-all for a long list of human ailments), garlic, cider vinegar, AVC. In my view if a chicken is just under the weather these alone may help but if your chicken has Mycoplasma then none of these will get rid of it. Only antibiotics. Having been to the vets for one type of antibiotic which failed I have now arranged for the vet to order some Tylan which I will use to treat all the chickens in case my other two are carriers. My advice is if in doubt see a vet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippy chick Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 I totally agree. I think that when they are are showing sings of ill health its important to get them to a chuck friendly vet ASAP. I dithered with one of mine and i got her to the vet really too late. She had mycoplasma and I could have saved her had I acted sooner. Love Jilly x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 I would definitely arrange to see a vet now that a second hen is showing symptoms. Strictly speaking, the breeder shouldn't be giving you antibiotics, as they are prescription only. They may not be the appropriate medication for this particular illness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millie-Annie Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 Mycoplasma seems so easy to treat. 20ml of Denaguard in the water every night for a week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...