So worried-Silky "bubbly"breathing,stiff legs

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chooklet1

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Hi, My 4 month old silky has had "bubbly" breathing for a few days now and as we have had very cold wet weather here, I thought that she could have a bit of a cold and was not too concerned about her. Keeping the pens dry has been a major problem too. However, yesterday I found her sitting in the pen,she seemed unwilling tomove, and I noticed when she did that her legs seemed very stiff. I seperated her, and today she is hardly walking, and her toes seem sort of bent,the bubling is worse and she has green diarohea. Could this be Mareks? She had an appetite yesterday,but today has not touched any of her food,and just sits on the bottom of the cage I have put her in. She makes honking noises when she sees me sounding like a goose with a bad cold - sorry,but that's the only way I can describe it. Is there anything else besides Mareks that can cause these symptoms. I run about 40 chickens here, and have worked hard on my little flock. I have not vaccinated as I believe in Natural remedies and lifestyle. But now I am really scared and worried for my chickens.
 
Hello, you need to see a vet ASAP - it sounds like she has a mycroplasma infection- she needs antibiotics and very quickly if she is to survive- good luck and i hope she makes it.
regards, David :)
 
Thank you,David, I thought that a vet may be in order.I'll get it arranged in the morning. One question, if it is a
mycroplasma infection,it it contagious? As I said I have seperated her, but she has had contact with the others.
 
Hi, the vet will probably give you Tylan to give to all your birds- but you need to get it soon- the hen sounds very ill and it can kill very quickly- good luck at the vets and as i said you will need to treat all your birds for seven days
regards, David :)
 
Just thought that I would update you on the Silkie chicken. Apart from an upper respitory infection,she also has a broken middle toe - hence the reason she could not walk properly. A couple of my other chickens started with the wheezy breath, so the vet prescribed Baytril for the lot of them - expensive when you have 40 odd chickens! As the little silkie did not seem to be interested in eating or drinking I have been giving her the Baytril by dropper,on her beak. This morning for the first time she ate some grain,so that is good and she has also lost the bubbly breathing, so it does look as if she is on the mend. As for the toe,he has splinted it and we have her in a small cage so that she does not have to walk around,don't know how she managed to do that, but I must say I am VERY relieved that it is not Mareks! :D
 
I'm so pleased she's getting better, that's great news.

A little tip on the Baytril - you can go to your vet for a consultation and just get the written prescription from them if you feel their prices are too high for the recommended treatment.

You can then go online to a medication supplier (the one I often recommend as they have excellent customer service and a super price is medic animal) and buy your Baytril - you will need to fax or scan / email the prescription but can often save quite a few pounds.

The last time I bought Tylan Soluble (about 3 years ago) it was coming up at £55 and my Vet who is a friend of mine did it at cost price for me which was £23 = quite a mark up I thought. I have just checked Medicanimal and it is £17.89 - so the difference can be considerable.

Tim
 
Hi, Thank you for the hint,I'll remember that! It's expensive stuff that Baytril.
I'm very glad it was not Mareks, it was the stiff leg that fooled me! I look forward to 40 years Mareks free as well!
Cheers and thanks.
 
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