How to manage a respiratory outbreak?

[luisrosa411]

I have a respiratory outbreak . I visited an avian vet who prescribed Tylan powder solution for 30 days. The initial patients are doing well, but the situation continues to spread with the stress of the cold and a recent move.

I submitted the below follow up questions to the vets, but they would only comment on the one boy I took in, recommending I bring in others for review. But I certainly don’t have the resources for multiple vet visits now. I am grateful to them that the patient they saw is doing well now.

Some observations. The severe symptoms (mouth lesion’s, sputum, purple comb) are entirely with the boys. Though not all of my boys present all symptoms, the worst symptoms are exclusively with them. Hens have only eye inflammation which i treat with teramycin.

• Hens only showing lesions on eye lids- should I let immune system fight it out? or Treat w Tylan? Should I do 30 days or the regular course of tylan?
• For unaffected hens, should I treat preventatively? If so, Short course? Or full 30 days?
• Advice on how to handle and contain a progressive outbreak? I realize now that this will hit all of them. I need to slow it down so I can give more focused care on individuals.
• I am supplementing feed with bird vitamins. And I am bringing infected birds indoors. Are there any other things I should do, even if just to relive their distress?

Thanks much for your help.

pfa

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

@Eggcessive might be able to help

 

[Eggcessive]

What is your general location? Is the blood on the face from pecking? How long ago did the first bird get sick, and have you added any new birds to your flock in recent weeks or months? There are a number of respiratory diseases in chickens, including viruses infectious bronchitis, ILT, Newcastles, and avian influenza, bacterial diseases mycoplasma (MG,) coryza, fowl cholera, and ORT. If the symptoms are responding to Tylosin, it might be MG. Your vet could test a few sick birds to help identify which disease(s) they have. Do any of the birds have any yellow lesions or canker inside the beak?

First you should close your flock—no birds coming in, none going out, no poultry shows or other people coming into your property. Most diseases come from a carrier, and most stay with your flock for life of all chickens. Even though some may not get symptoms, they should all be considered carriers.

Symptoms are important to know. List all of the symptoms you have seen. Bubbles or foam in eyes, swollen eyelids, and sleepiness are common in MG. A bad odor from the face with thick mucus from the nostrils, beak, and gunky swollen eyes can be common in coryza. Most respiratory diseases cause gasping, sneezing, head shaking, and mucus swallowing. Sometimes there can be 2 diseases at one, such as infectious bronchitis virus and MG.

If you lose a chicken or one is so sick it should be culled and tested, contact your state vet in the US to have a necropsy done. Here is a list of state vets to contact in your state:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry...7IOlHOhP-eD8qMtZ70RNq6BMO9kVUn3x6so7q0Z_JgEr8