Eglu Cube Coop and Accessories

[Green Tea]

A couple of weeks ago I introduced two new hens to my existing two (all Pekin Bantams). One I noticed sounded like she had a bit of a rattle but I (stupidly) decided that she was probably a bit stressed out from the move and introductions etc. Anyway, I now have three sneezy hens, the new one and my original two, plus one of the original hens seemed to have a bit of a runny nose when I looked in at bedtime. Apart from that they all seem ok apart from a bit of moulting....their eyes all seem clear to me.

 

I'm really hoping that this is just a basic cold they've all succumbed to and not the dreaded myco that's been introduced......particularly as my two chicks have been free-ranging too

 

My Vet is coming on Monday and doing a healthy flock check on them all (including husbandry/feeding/products used etc) so keeping my fingers crossed that she doesn't find anything horrible

Edited August 8, 2011 by Guest

[Christian]

As far as I'm aware, myco hits pretty quickly if it is that. Their eyes are clear so that is a good thing. Eating and drinking well? Generally active?

 

I'm sure they will be ok. Maybe add cirticidal/poultry drink to their water for a few days as a general pick me up?

[Millie-Annie]

I bought a chicken in with Myco, it was really easy to treat, just Baytril in the water for a week. It cleared up really quickly and I have never had any of them with a relapse

[Green Tea]

Thanks (both of you) for advice. I too now have begun to doubt it is Myco.

 

They all seem ok now except for Gretel who was very lethargic yesterday and had done a poo that was extremely watery and white. I isolated her and gave her some water with a good dose of acv but when I looked in on her later she was gurgling really badly. I thought perhaps sour crop (her crop felt very squishy) so I tried tipping her very carefully but nothing came out and her breath doesn't smell at all......she hasn't eaten so I think maybe that's why her crop feels so squishy because she has been drinking alot. This morning I swapped her water with a solution of avipro, the gurgling seems to have subsided considerably and this afternoon she seemed so bright that I let her out to get some fresh air. She instantly headed for the coop and laid an egg in the nestbox

 

She is still refusing to eat - won't even be tempted by grapes - but her eyes are bright and her colour is good. I did make up a tiny bit of Flubenvet in water and syringe it into her beak as the only thing that I can think she could have now is Gapeworm. The vet is coming tomorrow so I'm hoping she can shed some light on the situation

[Green Tea]

Well, the vet has been and says that it's Infectious Bronchitis. Gretel, the worst affected has had an injection and they are all on anti-biotics for a week.

 

I'm slightly confused though. She said that once infected the birds will always have the virus and that I shouldn't introduce any more birds or breed from them..... but I can't find this backed up anywhere in anything I read about it?

 

It's not that I particularly want to get more hens, but I have two 11 week old cockerels and my sister was going to have one of them ....... obviously I don't want to introduce any infection into her flock (or anybody else's for that matter). So, now, I figure one of them will have to be culled at some point as I can't imagine two cockerels would be happy with just four hens to share.

 

I'm gutted

[BocBoc]

[The Dogmother]

They will retain the virus and it may well affect their egg laying abilities, but I see no reason to not introduce any new birds so long as you are watchful. It really only surfaces when they are stressed, so add a poultry tonic such as Life-Guard to the water when you bring in new birds; it helps to combat stress.