Respiratory disease

County Lodge · **Posted:** Fri Nov 21, 2008 10:37 am

Very good and informative post Deb, thank you. Gives us all good information and where to start.

debbieo4914 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 21, 2008 10:57 am

Thanks CL.

debbieo4914 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 07, 2008 9:09 pm

I vaccinated everything last Sunday night, as instructed by the company who sold me the vaccine.

Friday, I had a frizzle rooster put down due to severe respiratory infection (may have been ILT, but he also had a horrible bacterial infection and the vet seemed to think he had other complications dating back to before I bought him). His two hens are still okay.

Tonight, my peacock, Heathcliff, is sneezing and coughing.

I thought it was funny that tonight he has roosted inside the shelter as they always sleep out in the open. When I went inside he started sneezing.

Even though it sounds like everything is sick and dying, the mortality rate has actually been quite low. I really don't want to lose my peacock so I might start him on antibiotics tomorrow. Most of them seem to be getting through the virus unaffected, however there seems to be bacterial involvement with the ones that have died so I'll do everything I can to look after him so he doesn't have that complication to deal with.

Note: this doesn't mean the vaccine isn't working, just that it hasn't had enough time to afford them much protection, or they had already been exposed prior to vaccination.

My youngest chicks that have been inside should at least have pretty good protection before they go anywhere near the outside flock.

Oh well, I just have to take it as it comes now.

Deb

katendavid · **Joined:** Mon Dec 08, 2008 7:35 pm **Posts:** 3

I'm sorry to hear you've lost a few chickens. I hope the antibiotic is working for your sick little friend. One of my frizzle x bantam's called Franny had a horrible thing going on - clicky & rapid breathing, bubbles coming out of one eye, sneezing etc. She is a ten year old chook. The vet gave us tablets called Vibravet (1/2 a tablet twice a day), and advised to keep her inside away from the others. At that time winter had just started and we kept Franny inside & warm in a good size cage for four months. She rejoined the others beginning of spring and is doing really well. Franny is very special to us and so thankfully she is well and running around like happy chicken.
I hope your chicken gets better soon
Take Care
kate

debbieo4914 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 12, 2008 9:58 pm

Update:

I have Heathcliff (the peacock) and Cathy (the peahen) on oral antibiotics now (Noroclav 500mg, 1/2 tab twice a day) as he still has a bad cough/rattle and she has one eye almost completely shut with gooey stuff. I was really worried about having to shove a tablet down their throat twice a day, but it's not really too hard.

I have my two baby turkeys inside in my large bird cage as one of them was looking a little "droopy" yesterday. This weather isn't helping get rid of this bug! :evil:

Today is about 21 degrees and raining, tomorrow is supposed to be about 33 degrees and windy! How is anything supposed to cope with these extremes?

A few of my 8-9 week old chicks are looking a bit dodgy, so I've separated them and have them on Oxy B.

I keep stressing that I do realise this ILT is a virus, but bacterial complications seem to go hand--in-hand with it, hence the antibiotic support. I am also making sure they have fresh greens, yoghurt etc to keep help gut flora, and whatever else I can do. At least the ones getting sick now aren't dropping dead at the drop of a hat. They are hanging in there, which makes me think they may pull through.

It's funny - the only chickens that have escaped completely unscathed from this are the "teenagers" who were penned near (but separately) to the main flock where the outbreak first occurred. Not one of them has had any symptoms.

Deb

debbieo4914 · **Posted:** Thu Dec 18, 2008 10:49 am

My beautiful peacock Heathcliff just died. :cry:

He had a 5 day course of Noroclav antibiotic (1/2 tab twice a day) and had really picked up by the 5th day (2 days ago). He was walking around and displaying to the chickens, although he did still have a bit of a gurgle in his throat when I had to catch him.

Last night he didn't roost, but slept inside the shed on the ground instead, and this morning was just sitting down in a corner. I rang the vet and she suggested that a longer course of antibiotics might be needed for peafowl. In the meantime I was going to support him with electrolytes to make sure he could hang on.

I went down and started syringing an electrolyte mix into his throat (past his windpipe) and he took the first few, then coughed up some clear mucus. I let him have a break, then syringed some more mix down his throat every little while, making sure it wasn't going near his windpipe so as not to get it in his lungs. After a few minutes he just curled his neck back, closed his eyes, fitted and died.

The clear mucus seems to suggest it was the virus that got him, although the vet said he could have had bacterial infection in his lungs or air sacs and that mucus wouldn't get coughed up. As the hen seems to have an infection in her eye, and is still shaking her head and sneezing I am going to put her back on antibiotics to see if she can make it through. The vet seemed to think that a 5 day course may not have been long enough in the first place. It did seem to do some good as Heathcliff was looking good until 48 hours after he finished the tablets.

Deb

Lou · **Joined:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 11:12 am **Posts:** 387

By God you've got guts girl, my hat goes off to you, I think I would have thrown in the towel by now, so sorry about Heathcliff after it looked like he might be on the mend, it's so hard watching them die.

I had a guinea fowl die a while ago which I had an autopsy done on & all they could tell me was that it was a bacterial infection. He had the respiratory symptoms then when he died he was very glugy in the mouth, I had him on antibiotic injections for 4 days but he must have been to far gone.

Thanks Deb for taking the time to post everything that has happened so far, I'm sure it will help a lot of us & good luck with the rest of the feathered crew.

debbieo4914 · **Posted:** Thu Dec 18, 2008 3:38 pm

Thanks for your support, Lou!

One day this will all be over (at least that's what I keep telling myself!). Hopefully I'll have some poultry left at the end of it.

Peter16 · **Posted:** Thu Dec 18, 2008 6:58 pm

Oh Deb, I feel so bad for you. Im so sorry you left your beautiful Boy and I hope your hen pulls through. I find it hard to keep dry eyes when ever i lose a girl, you become so attached to them :roll:

Sorry I couldn't offer any advice, only my condolences, I hope all your luck changes come the new year.

Peter

littletoni · **Posted:** Thu Dec 18, 2008 9:06 pm

Really sorry to hear about the loss of Heathcliff Deb, I hope things start to look up for you soon.

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