Will my hen ever lay again? Bronchitis and lash egg.

[z3lda3]

I’ve got a one year old legbar, she’s been laying well up until she got sick. This was in February. She was SICK, she wasn’t eating, or drinking, lethargic is an understatement. I took her to the vet and he said she had bronchitis. After antibiotics and tons of TLC, after 5 days she was better. I’m truly surprised, i honestly thought she was going to die.
To my knowledge she hasn’t laid since being sick, except a couple weeks ago, she laid a lash egg.
She seems ok, eating drinking sunbathing, I’m extra cautious of course. Will she ever lay again? It’s been almost 3 months since she’s been sick. Can a respiratory infestation cause damage to her reproductive organs?

 

[Eggcessive]

What were all of her symptoms? Did she have any bubbles or foam in either eye? Did any other chickens get it? Usually, IB will affect all of your birds over several weeks. Symptoms are usually consistent sneezing every few minutes around the clock.Infectious bronchitis virus can cause wrinkled or corrugated egg shells, and reproductive disorders later in life. When mine had it years ago, they may have had some decreased laying of eggs, but I did start seeing some abnormal egg shells, and some did eventually quit laying or had reproductive disorders. Other respiratory diseases such as MG will cause a decrease in laying.

 

[z3lda3]

What were all of her symptoms? Did she have any bubbles or foam in either eye? Did any other chickens get it? Usually, IB will affect all of your birds over several weeks. Symptoms are usually consistent sneezing every few minutes around the clock.Infectious bronchitis virus can cause wrinkled or corrugated egg shells, and reproductive disorders later in life. When mine had it years ago, they may have had some decreased laying of eggs, but I did start seeing some abnormal egg shells, and some did eventually quit laying or had reproductive disorders. Other respiratory diseases such as MG will cause a decrease in laying.

She was standing still, with her head down. She kept her eyes closed, and had labored breathing. Her comb was almost white. She wouldn’t eat or drink. And her poop was a thick liquid yellow. The next day I took her to the vet. He started her on tetracycline. She was so lethargic, I had to use a syringe to give her water and her meds. She was so sick. Slowly over a few days she gradually got better. By the fifth day she acting completely normal. A couple days later my austrolorp started showing the same symptoms but less severe. I isolated her and started antibiotics. After a few days she was fine, and she’s laid like she normally does 4xs a week or so. No other chickens showed any signs of being sick. This was 3 months ago.

 

[RedHillChicken]

She was standing still, with her head down. She kept her eyes closed, and had labored breathing. Her comb was almost white. She wouldn’t eat or drink. And her poop was a thick liquid yellow. The next day I took her to the vet. He started her on tetracycline. She was so lethargic, I had to use a syringe to give her water and her meds. She was so sick. Slowly over a few days she gradually got better. By the fifth day she acting completely normal. A couple days later my austrolorp started showing the same symptoms but less severe. I isolated her and started antibiotics. After a few days she was fine, and she’s laid like she normally does 4xs a week or so. No other chickens showed any signs of being sick. This was 3 months ago.

Please keep us informed of your chickens recovery. Was your vet a chicken vet, and what was the vet's diagnosis? Had you tried Baytril?

 

[z3lda3]

Please keep us informed of your chickens recovery. Was your vet a chicken vet, and what was the vet's diagnosis? Had you tried Baytril?

My vet treats chickens, among other animals. The vet said respiratory infection, probably bronchitis. My hen is ok now-so far. Except she hasn’t laid in 3 months with the exception of a lash egg. I’m giving her calcium and extra tuna, it’s her favorite treat. I put vitamins in the flocks waterers. And electrolytes, it’s already so hot here. And I’m watching her like a hawk.

 

[Eggcessive]

Infectious bronchitis is the most common one, and causes frequent sneezing around the clock and congestion for about 3 weeks. It affects all birds in the flock over several weeks. It does not respond to antibiotics, but since secondary infections may happen, so it might help. Mycoplasma or MG, is a chronic respiratory disease, and almost as common as IB virus. It may affect only certain chickens in the flock, and symptoms are bubbles or foam in one eye, a swollen eyelid or face from sinus infection, nasal secretions, lethargy, decrease in laying eggs, and may or may not cause sneezing, gasping, or other symptoms. A mild case of MG can look like infectious bronchitis.

 

[z3lda3]

Infectious bronchitis is the most common one, and causes frequent sneezing around the clock and congestion for about 3 weeks. It affects all birds in the flock over several weeks. It does not respond to antibiotics, but since secondary infections may happen, so it might help. Mycoplasma or MG, is a chronic respiratory disease, and almost as common as IB virus. It may affect only certain chickens in the flock, and symptoms are bubbles or foam in one eye, a swollen eyelid or face from sinus infection, nasal secretions, lethargy, decrease in laying eggs, and may or may not cause sneezing, gasping, or other symptoms. A mild case of MG can look like infectious bronchitis.

Diagnosing chickens is difficult. Almost everything causes the same symptoms. Not eating, drinking, being lethargic. Is bacterial or viral? My biggest question besides treatment is, how did/do they catch whatever it is? The coop is clean, as clean as it can be with chickens. Well ventilated, clean waterers, clean food. Ample space. I’m hands on with my chickens, they’re definitely not neglected. I just don’t understand.

 

[Eggcessive]

Testing is something that may be done by a lab or through a necropsy by the state vet, of a dead bird. They usually get it from a carrier chicken, but it can be spread by wild birds, shoes and clothing that has been around other chickens or feedstores. My birds got IB virus years ago, and I had no idea from where it came. IB virus makes them all carriers for 5 months to a year. MG would make them all, even ones who do not show symptoms, for life. So if MG is a problem, the flock should be closed. No birds should be rehomed. MG also can pass through hatching eggs.

 

[z3lda3]

They usually get it from a carrier chicken, but it can be spread by wild birds, shoes and clothing that has been around other chickens or feedstores. My birds got IB virus years ago, and I had no idea from where it came. IB virus makes them all carriers for 5 months to a year. MG would make them all, even ones who do not show symptoms, for life. So if MG is a problem, the flock should be closed. No birds should be rehomed. MG also can pass through hatching eggs.

I have a closed flock. I’m terrified of avian flu. (The higher powers say it’s low risk, and none detected here, but still..) I don’t rehome my chickens, and I haven’t bought any chicks, although my broodies have hatched out a few. All seems healthy so far. Is there anything I should do to help prevent this? This isn’t one of those kill the flock and start over is it?