A cure fpr chicken canker?

[Ducky_]

Hey everyone!
I have a pekin rooster (about 9 years old) who seems to have some small canker scabs in the back of his throat. I had a silkie who passed earlier this year from a very bad case.
I live in Australia so it is almost impossible to get anti protozoal medication. I have searched for other methods like using antibiotics to clear up any infections or secondary problems and keep the henhouse spotless.I am thinking about using some copper sulfate, but that is also quiet hard to find.

Any help is highly appreciated, thank you!
(I will also try to take some photos soon)

 

[Eggcessive]

Canker is very contagious to other chickens, and many cull chickens with it to prevent the spread in feeders and waterers. Wet fowl looks very similar to canker. Have you had any dry fowl pox scabs on any chickens recently? Does the canker smell bad when you are close to the chicken? It looks like you can buy ronidazole here, but it may be against your law to sell that or metronidazole in AU:
https://www.pets-megastore.com.au/vetafarm-pet-products/ronivet-s

Acidified copper sulfate does not seem to be available in AU, but you can get plain copper sulfate there. It has to be acidified to be given to chickens. I think that mixing it with citric acid or vinegar can achieve that. i will have to research that.

If you have a vet, they can prescribe either metronidazole or Flagyl, the human brand name that could be given. Metronidazole dosage for chickens is 250 mg daily for 5-7 days.

 

[Eggcessive]

Okay, I just found a thread where in post 16 Azygous says how to mix vinegar into copper sulfate to acidify it, to make a stock solution to add to one day’s worth of water:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...sulfate-properly.1452663/page-2#post-27747986
Do not use acidified copper sulfate in a metal waterer, only plastic or ceramic, glass, etc.

 

[Ducky_]

Canker is very contagious to other chickens, and many cull chickens with it to prevent the spread in feeders and waterers. Wet fowl looks very similar to canker. Have you had any dry fowl pox scabs on any chickens recently? Does the canker smell bad when you are close to the chicken? It looks like you can buy ronidazole here, but it may be against your law to sell that or metronidazole in AU:
https://www.pets-megastore.com.au/vetafarm-pet-products/ronivet-s

Acidified copper sulfate does not seem to be available in AU, but you can get plain copper sulfate there. It has to be acidified to be given to chickens. I think that mixing it with citric acid or vinegar can achieve that. i will have to research that.

If you have a vet, they can prescribe either metronidazole or Flagyl, the human brand name that could be given. Metronidazole dosage for chickens is 250 mg daily for 5-7 days.

Thank you!

I will check over him today to see he has any scabs or other issues.
He does froth from the mouth and eyes but I think that was the aftermath of a bad case of respiratory disease.
I will also try to get some pictu ree this afternoon.
Thank you again!

 

[Ducky_]

Here are some pictures (they aren't the best though). He does have a slightly salty unpleasant smell, but not overwhelmingly bad (like what my other rooster had.)
HHe has a mucus-y sound when he breaths but I think that was more from a bad case of respiratory disease a few years back.

Thank you for your help!

 

[Eggcessive]

There is obvious material inside his beak that shouldn’t be there. Yeast, canker, wet pox, and bacteria can cause material in the throat. Have you tried to remove any of it with a QTip or other tool, in case it is food? What were the symptoms of the bad respiratory disease he had in the past? Most respiratory diseases are chronic for life, and symptoms can come back during times of stress. Mycoplasma (MG,) coryza, and ILT are ones that could cause gunk inside the throat and airway. When a necropsy is performed after death, and the trachea is dissected, patches of infection may be seen.

I would try to source the copper sulfate, and acidify it with vinegar or citric acid. If you have a farm or dog vet who is helpful, they might be able to help you out with medicines when you are having another animal treated or vaccinated. A culture could be obtained, or they could do a gram stain to try and identify the cause. Vets nowadays don’t seem to do their own lab work in office anymore. Many people on BYC say their vets don’t often do fecal floats for parasites anymore, preferring to send them out. We don’t have a chicken vet here, but my dog vet will help if we need it with a chicken.