ILL SUSSEX

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Hi all!

We are new to this forum.

We have a backyard bunch, consisting of/was two bantam white sussex, and two black and gold orpingtons.

We got Tikka and Kiev together, (ws) then about a week after, they were joined by Chow Mein and Pie. (orpies).

They all got on very well and the orpies are laying.

On January the second (I noticed from reading another owner lost her girl on this day. Our condolences) we lost Tikka. The others came out, but she didn't. I found her sat inside the roost. She was pretty listless, so I brought her indoors, trying to warm her up. After about half an hour, she passed on.

We noticed she had been sneezing, and had done since the day we got her.............. not over badly, but regular enough to notice. When her time came, she was unable to stand, had a crusty nose and runny eyes. It all happened so very fast though...

Now, we have just got two RIR,(yesterday!) and are having a new coop delivered tomorrow, as we feel the one we have isn't big enough to house them all comfortably.

The rhodies instantly jumped on Kiev, and this morning, when we let them out, NONE of the birds would let her near the water or food.

She has now started with raspy rattly breathing, and sneezing. She's now indoors, in the utility, quiet and away from the rest. We are scared she's going to go the same way as Tikka. She's such a gorgeous girl - I know we all say it about our hens, but she will take food from your hand, and sit and be petted.

She seems quite "quiet" and listless, although no weepy eyes, snotty nose, or blocked bottom. Just a lot of raspiness and sneezing. She HAS eaten today though?

Tomorrow, along with the new coop, we are supposed to be getting two welsummers, which we can quarantine, for a few days.

The welsummers and rhodies are from the same farm, so will "know" each other, but what should we do with Kiev?!!!!!!

I don't think it's good for her to keep her indoors too long, as she might get used to the heat and warmth, but we didn't spot Tikka til it was too late!

We are doing the garlic and water trick, and we have just found some Baytril which we can administer but she's asleep........

Any help would be great!!!!!! Seems like a lovely forum, and we'd love to be part of it.
 
Hi and welcome to the forum I'm a newbie too :-) so sorry to hear of your troubles. Sounds like a respitory infection mine have the same thing at the moment too, I lost a Pekin bantam last time I had it and this time no fatalities. I would have to suggest a visit to the vet as this really needs to be treated with antibiotics, they say that they can get over it on their own, trouble is in a flock when one gets better it usually gets infected again by another member of the flock and secondry infections are normally the killers your doing great so far with the garlic. Mine are on tylan soluble at the moment but they had baytril last time which for me worked better. The plus side to tylan is there is no egg withdrawal so you can start eating eggs again once treatment is finished baytril on the other hand you have to wait 2 weeks before eating eggs again. Another thing is that the tylan comes in 100 gram which is way more than what you need but it's handy to have if it comes back. The trick with this is to treat as soon as poss with antibiotics from my experience. Sorry I could go on forever about this I have researched and read tons of info on this problem! Just be aware that when they get better it will remain in your flock ie they will be carriers and stress or sudden weather changes can cause it to come back but if you keep these to a minimum and give garlic and apple cidre vinigar in their water for one week a month it should keep it from coming back. Also disinfect the coop more regulalry than usual while they are ill, the bacteria will live outside the body for 3 days so keeping as clean as poss till they are better will help ( i have been poop scooping daily to prevent them picking up the bacteria again). Good luck and hope this helps if you need more info giver a shout! :-)
 
Thank you so much for your advice.

We have just read about apple cider vinegar. We didn't know until we joined this forum!!!!

My main worry is that she will get used to the warmth in the kitchen, and then suffer more when she goes back into her coop?

I can quarantine Kiev, totally away from the others, bar hearing them, if necessary, but this is outside. Will this be better? Right now, I think she's an unnecessary innocent of the new pecking order. We know ourselves if we feel ill, we don't want to have an argument, right?!

She's such a gorgeous bird, but she's never laid a single egg?!!!! Maybe her time was about due now, along with the orpies but the illness overtook the need to lay?! I dunno..........

We just want her better, and to be able to move in with the rest. It's never nice, being alone :(

Thanks again for the help
 
Sorry missed the bit about the baytril! Your best bet is to try and administer by mouth but if you really want to make sure she makes it a tylan injection or baytril injection via your vet would act much quicker.... The rest of the flock should be given the baytril I think last time my vet gave me baytril 10% and it was 1ml per litre of water but best to check. You will need to make a fresh batch every 24 hours as the sunlight makes the antibiotic less effective. Mine were on it for 5 days, I go by symptoms as long as the symptoms are gone it's okay to stop the antibiotics. I have been told tylan injection is fairly cheap too someone told they got 7 injections for £6 but don't quote me on that. Hope this helps :-)
 
Yes keeping her isolated is better I had to with my pekin as the others picked on him when he was ill and yes outside is better, your right they do get used to home comforts my pekin used to sit in fron of a heater in the kitchen and if you moved him he would make his way back there! You will still need to treat the rest of the flock as they probably have it although they may not show any signs, my pekin didn't till he got really bad. Awww I really hope they get better I'm a nightmare when mine are ill, like now I get all stressed and will check them all time watching to make sure they are drinking and eating my partner goes mad. But you do get attached to them. By the way giving them a high protien feed will help, avoid giving too much corn, but a little is fine, it is good for keeping them warm especially at night and they love it. Carrot will help in the long run or anything high in vitamin A as it is good for the immune system and respitory tract (helps preventing bacteria getting in the body by moving the mucus more easily) but be careful as too much vit A can cause kidney an liver damage, like anything keep it in moderation! Please keep us posted! :-)
 
Thank you Frenchchicken.

I will have her moved outside tomorrow. It will mean shuffling a few animals around, but hey-ho! We can do it!

I've decided to keep the Welsummers segregated for the time being too. Just until I've treated the flock and feel confident enough to let them live together.

People think this chicken malarkey is easy - open the back door and throw some corn out....... pfffffft!!!!! how wrong they are!!!!

We know a lot, but yet we have so much to learn! These forums are goldmines if you ask me!

Thanks for your concern. I hope she makes it too - she's a grand lass.

xxx
 
I know I have only had chickens for 6 months and I am amazed at how much work is required! Even my sheep and horses dont need as much! Sounds like a plan :-)17 Let us know how she gets on xx
 
Hi Herbie,
Sorry to hear about your gal, I'm the one who lost her lovely little pekin on 2nd Jan... its horrible isn't it ... and if you go onto Dottie Hen - Myco update thats me too.... I am battling to save another - sounds like we are reading from the same book at the minute!
It sounds like your bird has Myco for def. I personally would keep her in until you see an improvement as someone else said let her use her energy to get better not to keep warm outside.. then gradually intoduce her to the outside and her pals again...
I really hope you manage to turn things around.. if she's not laying you will be ok to feed her a little cat food / tuna - good boosting food.
My little girl is losing her fight so am pretty gutted as it was due to a vet mis-diagnosis that I am gonna lose her and it probably cost me my little pekin back in Jan 2nd... I will keep everything crossed that you have caught it in time as that seems to be the key... Just syringe the baytril into their mouth, don't be scared as its a bit nerve wracking first time but if it keeps em going, better to be a bit mean for a few days...
Take care, Aileen
 
Thank you Aileen!

She's had a good night's sleep and has eaten and drank this morning. She's still really raspy, and sneezy.

She's had a peck at her greens and even had a bit of Special K, full of vitamins and folic acid.

She can stay in the house, if she needs to, but I worry that when I do come to put her back in with the others, they will pick on her again, giving her a relapse.

It's been a sad, sad day so far, as we've had to have one of our bunnies put to sleep this morning. Not good :(. They say things are never as bad as you think, but I think that today is coming a close runner!!!!!!

Thanks folks - your advice is proving invaluable. xxxx
 
Yes, I think it is Myco too as when I got 4 new Pekins some months back now they had it. I think sometimes its the stress of moving them to a new home that does it as mine were definitely stressed when I brought them home (like a load of zombies they were and so would I be if I was taken away from the only home I had known). All mine survived after taking to the vet and getting Tylan, but I think it depends how far advanced it is b4 treatment begins.
All the best with her, hope she improves soon,
Claire
 
Well it's 2 am, and here I am. Kiev sounds awful!!!!!! Gravelly when she's breathing. Almost asthmatic?!

Baytril doesn't seem to be working so it's off with hubby in the morning to the vets, for Tylan.

She went to sleep, but only for a couple of hours....................she was soon clucking and cooing, to let me know she was out of her box, and wide awake!

As I type, she is about 7 foot away from me, perched on her specially adapted roost, and I can hear her rattly chest.

Only three sneezes today, but the chest is still there............. such a concern!
 
Hi Herbie,

I would try to mention Tylan 200 injected into the breast muscles.

Injecting is far more effective than the soluble / oral solution.

So sorry she isn't improving.

Tim
 
Oh and forgot to say, ACV in her water can help to cut through the mucus to help her breathe as well as help with the stress. I also add crushed fresh garlic cloves (one or two in 4 litres or so) which is good at building the immune system back up (slowly!)

No miracle cures but might just help a little.
 
Lots of vets don't hold stock of Tylan as its very myco specific they may need to order it in which could take a couple of days - let me know how you get on as I could post you some of the soluble stuff down to make a start on the infection if you need to wait for any length of time.

cheeri A x
 
Hi guys!

Thanks again for your invaluable support. Kiev was taken to the vets and after a TWO HOUR wait, she agreed, yes she needed Tylan, and no they don't stock it!!!!!!!! What a joke!

When he'd taken our rabbit, to be put to sleep, hubby had mentioned Kiev, and the other vet had said that he could give her Tylan, but needed to see her first. Fair enough, we thought!

We've never had to take the girls to the vets before, so this was a whole new experience, but after discussing it with him, we felt confident he knew what was what - HE WASN'T IN TODAY!!!! ARGH!!!!

No Tylan for Kiev :( Still sneezy and wheezy, but bright as a button. I'm worried about this lack of sleep thing though? Surely that won't help her get any better any quicker?

Aileen, I may well take you up on your offer, if you wouldn't mind, as all we've been given for her is more Baytrill!

Tim, we do the garlic trick, and I have a pet shop near to us who pretty much stocks EVERYTHING, and he's ordered us in some ACV. Didn't know of that one till I joined your site! Thanks for that tidbit!!!!! That should be here by the end of the week - Thurs I think he said......

She's pooing fine, and happy in herself, just this worrying rattle!

Thanks again everyone!!!!!
 
Hi, what a pain to have to wait! You could try putting garlic in a boiling bowl of water and hold it in front of face to steam all her airways, I was given this advice by someone on another forum, she said it helps. I have yet to try it on my still slightly swollen cockeral... If she's still bright and lively that's a good sign. I know the baytril may not seem to work but it may b worth giving some still at least until you get the tylan as it will stop secondary infections which are normally the killers. Hope you get your tylan soon :-) x
 
I would shop around, you don't have to use the same vets, there a lots around. Try phoning round a few, just ask for either a poultry or avian specialist ;) Maybe let us know roughly where you are, one of us may know a local vet who can help. You phone phone our own chicken vet for advice, they may be able to help source a local vet for you.

http://www.chickenvet.co.uk
 
Phone your vet and get a prescription for Tylan 200ml Soluble.... Animal medic turn it round really quickly... Think it only cost me £18 and it will last for ages, 100g bottle and you only use .5g per litre of water

A x

PS: PM me with you address if you want me to stick some in a tub for you
 
I agree about phoning round other vets. My vet stocked it but then he does specialise in chickens. :)
 
Quickie update, guys!

I know you must all be bored of hearing about my poorly girl now, but wanted to let you all know what is new....

Thanks to the LOVELY LOVEY Aileen, I got some Tylan this afternoon.

Kiev has some colour in her wattles now - they were quite pale before, but are coming red again... hope this is a good sign?!

Still eating well, and snaffling anything she can get her claws on! Drinking healthily, but still not sleeping too good. She doesn't seem to want to miss anything?

She was crowing and clucking at me earlier too, which I found endearing. Hopefully, Kiev is on the road to recovery..... still crossing fingers, toes, legs, and anything else!
 
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