A
Anonymous
Guest
No you shouldn't use galvanised because the acid in the vinegar corrodes it. Should only use plastic with ACV. Sorry
Judith
Judith
URGENT...Please help
- Thread starter Amy
- Start date
Tim
Administrator
Yep, plastic drinkers for ACV.
I crush the garlic in with the ACV if a bird is ill but normally give it separately - I only give ACV 1 week per month.
With the sneezing - it could be your birds are carrying Mycoplasma Gallisepticum, the secondary infection is the respiritory problems we see - birds that are infected with MG are carriers for life. You just have to manage it. If they get weak / stressed, you might have an outbreak of respiritory problems. New birds can catch it when they come into contact with carriers and they are stressed in their new environment or birds that are coming into lay, even a sudden cold snap in the winter can trigger it. The antibiotics help remove the infection - but the MG is still there.
I believe there is now a blood test that can test for it now. It's a notifyable disease in Ireland and many people have the vet test all new stock when they get them.
My way of handling it has been to build up their immune system gradually to keep them healthy and minimise stress where possible. We haven't had a respiratory problem (touch wood) in 6 years now.
Most small flocks come into contact with it these days at some point so it's not something you can avoid for long if you go to shows / buy new birds etc.
Many birds will be carriers without showing any signs so you really can't tell without the blood tests.
Hope this helps
I crush the garlic in with the ACV if a bird is ill but normally give it separately - I only give ACV 1 week per month.
With the sneezing - it could be your birds are carrying Mycoplasma Gallisepticum, the secondary infection is the respiritory problems we see - birds that are infected with MG are carriers for life. You just have to manage it. If they get weak / stressed, you might have an outbreak of respiritory problems. New birds can catch it when they come into contact with carriers and they are stressed in their new environment or birds that are coming into lay, even a sudden cold snap in the winter can trigger it. The antibiotics help remove the infection - but the MG is still there.
I believe there is now a blood test that can test for it now. It's a notifyable disease in Ireland and many people have the vet test all new stock when they get them.
My way of handling it has been to build up their immune system gradually to keep them healthy and minimise stress where possible. We haven't had a respiratory problem (touch wood) in 6 years now.
Most small flocks come into contact with it these days at some point so it's not something you can avoid for long if you go to shows / buy new birds etc.
Many birds will be carriers without showing any signs so you really can't tell without the blood tests.
Hope this helps
Amy
New member
Hi Tim
Thanks for that. Im really starting to run out of steam. I have another 2 sneezing regularly. I dont understand. One of these hens, Majory, sneezed for awhile then stopped for ages and now she is sneezing again. Melinda, the one I am now having all the crop issues (see other posts) with is also sneezing regularly.
Tonight I gave them live yoghurt with a little olive oil in a tub to pick at (in the aim of helping Melindas crop and they went mad for it) and now when I went out to put them to bed, Majory is sat on her perch and she keeps sticking her neck out and opening her beak really wide and breathing in and she was right as rain prior to the live yoghurt. I dont seem to be a chicken keeper anymore, more like a chicken killer. 2 dead in May, 1 now with crop issues, 1 gasping for breath and the rest sneezing. I only have 4 left now.
Obviously wasnt cut out to have chickens.
Thanks for that. Im really starting to run out of steam. I have another 2 sneezing regularly. I dont understand. One of these hens, Majory, sneezed for awhile then stopped for ages and now she is sneezing again. Melinda, the one I am now having all the crop issues (see other posts) with is also sneezing regularly.
Tonight I gave them live yoghurt with a little olive oil in a tub to pick at (in the aim of helping Melindas crop and they went mad for it) and now when I went out to put them to bed, Majory is sat on her perch and she keeps sticking her neck out and opening her beak really wide and breathing in and she was right as rain prior to the live yoghurt. I dont seem to be a chicken keeper anymore, more like a chicken killer. 2 dead in May, 1 now with crop issues, 1 gasping for breath and the rest sneezing. I only have 4 left now.
Obviously wasnt cut out to have chickens.
Sneezing/coughing/wheezing if prolonged and spreading is defo. worth a vet visit Amy . There are any number of bacteria and viruses that can cause these symptoms in chickens (as in other species.) . The only way of finding out what bug it is and which anti biotic may be (or may not be )appropriate would be by microbiology culture if your vet felt this is indicated.This is not a costly thing to have done! All our birds pick up bugs etc if they free range occassionally. I recently had a similar problem , once the causal bug had been isolated and all birds treated (amoxycillin in this case ) the whole lot were ok within 24hrs. I hope this helps. Ros
Amy
New member
Hi Ros
Think I was having a day of feeling sorry for myself!
Today we are much improved. Melinda's crop was back to normal this morning and what ever was stuck there is cleared from what I can tell with the Live yoghurt and olive oil I gave her before bed last night. Marjory who was gasping is back to being right as rain also so Im wondering if she had something stuck in her throat?!?! Went to check on them in the middle of the night last night and they were all tucked up in bed.
Will ring the vets today and see if they can sort it as Tylan and Baytril hasnt done anything. Is Microbiology where they take blood like what Tim suggested or is it where I give them some poop and they analyse that?!
Many thanks
Amy x
Think I was having a day of feeling sorry for myself!
Today we are much improved. Melinda's crop was back to normal this morning and what ever was stuck there is cleared from what I can tell with the Live yoghurt and olive oil I gave her before bed last night. Marjory who was gasping is back to being right as rain also so Im wondering if she had something stuck in her throat?!?! Went to check on them in the middle of the night last night and they were all tucked up in bed.
Will ring the vets today and see if they can sort it as Tylan and Baytril hasnt done anything. Is Microbiology where they take blood like what Tim suggested or is it where I give them some poop and they analyse that?!
Many thanks
Amy x
Hi Amy--microbiology tests grow what ever bacterium (germ) is causing the infection , so if its a gut infection they may try to grow germs from poo, if an infected wound theyd take swabs from pus etc.Once they have grown the bugs in the lab they can then test to see which antibiotic is going to work for that bug. Most minor sneezes etc will be of viral origin so wont grow bacteria or normally be responsive to antibiotics.If you feel happy that they are improving then thats great (it sounds as if they are getting better today) but if any were getting more ill/off colour then I would go to vets and ask his opinion.Or, maybe you will see your birds are not so bad if youve cheered up!!Dont let them worry you, you have them for some fun (and the odd egg!) Ros
Tim
Administrator
I was reading a veterinary article last week that said there are strains of Myco around now that are resistant to some antibiotics too.. 
Amy
New member
How do I fix that then if anti biotics dont even work? As I said before, the Vet has treated them with Baytril and Tylan and neither has cured the sneezing but they have no other symptoms...no discharge from mouth, nose or eyes, no coughing, they are acting normal...scratching, eating etc.
Maybe I just relax and see if they get any better? Where I live at moment the pollen is horrendous...dogs sneezing, cat sneezing...the list is endless.
Maybe I just relax and see if they get any better? Where I live at moment the pollen is horrendous...dogs sneezing, cat sneezing...the list is endless.
Davidd
Active member
Hi Amy, you can't fix what isn't broken- stop worrying and enjoy them- novice poultry keepers tend to look for things that aren't there- in forty years of keeping poultry - i have been to a vet twice i think-i can see at a glance an ill/off colour bird - but dont get many- in the last 4 years i have only lost one bird to illness- an old silkie hen with sour crop- tried to treat her but she didn't make it she was nearly nine years old.
My stock is always around the 150-200 mark. So, if i looked for problems i would be there all day going mad :lol: :lol: :lol:
chill and enjoy
regards, David
she was nearly nine years old. My stock is always around the 150-200 mark. So, if i looked for problems i would be there all day going mad :lol: :lol: :lol:
chill and enjoy
regards, David
Amy
New member
I know your right. I only have 4 girls and Im being a pain in the butt.
I guess Im on a massive learning curve finding out what is normal and what is serious!!!!
Just been to check on them again and all is well. Melindas crop is back to normal completely. Thank goodness for Live yoghurt and Olive Oil!!!!
They have all had a tasty treat of Tomatoes and they went wild.
Right I am returning to chill mode!
Thanks everyone...panic over!
I guess Im on a massive learning curve finding out what is normal and what is serious!!!!
Just been to check on them again and all is well. Melindas crop is back to normal completely. Thank goodness for Live yoghurt and Olive Oil!!!!
They have all had a tasty treat of Tomatoes and they went wild.
Right I am returning to chill mode!
Thanks everyone...panic over!
Tim
Administrator
The crop can look very full at times - it does take time to empty. I always advise people to look again in the morning to see if it has reduced in size and if it has then it is doing it's job - storing food so it can be digested slowly. Just like our stomachs.
The sneezing could be something as simple as a cold (virus), or, something more serious - but I think the thing to do is to watch for it getting worse from here. Rattling breathing, discharge from the nose and bubbles / froth around the corner of the eyes and so on.
Antibiotics do not work for viruses of course (as they tell us at the doctors for a cold).
If you keep the birds on a healthy diet, that will help them. Giving antibiotics is all very well to kill bacteria and combat infection but they say it also takes its tole on the immune system since it will also destroy some of the useful bacteria - such as that found in the gut that helps digestion amongst other places in the body.
Good Luck and if we can help in any way, you know where to find us
The sneezing could be something as simple as a cold (virus), or, something more serious - but I think the thing to do is to watch for it getting worse from here. Rattling breathing, discharge from the nose and bubbles / froth around the corner of the eyes and so on.
Antibiotics do not work for viruses of course (as they tell us at the doctors for a cold).
If you keep the birds on a healthy diet, that will help them. Giving antibiotics is all very well to kill bacteria and combat infection but they say it also takes its tole on the immune system since it will also destroy some of the useful bacteria - such as that found in the gut that helps digestion amongst other places in the body.
Good Luck and if we can help in any way, you know where to find us
I think relaxing a bit more about it all is a good thing As Davidd has said, often things are fine but novice keeping can make you look for more than there really is.
With regard to the sneezing, I doubt its anything more than that. If they are well, eating, pooping and so on I don't think its anything to worry about. I had one pekin sneezed a lot regardless and she was as fit as a fiddle. I would guess the reason why Baytril and Tylan have not worked is because there wasn't anything for them to work against. I think maybe you just have a hen who sneezes
With regard to the crop problem. I don't think your bird has a problem from what I've read. Her crop is emptying overnight and she is eating, drinking and pooing as normal. So please try to stop worrying about this. I'd also not give live yogurt and olive oil unless there is really a problem (dairy isn't a natural food for chooks is my thinking). I'd say avoid poking it or anything as this could maybe just cause aggravation to it if all is well. Just let it do its thing and check every few days if you must. But if she is feeding, drinking and pooing and bright then try to relax.
The neck/breathing thing could possibly be something (didn't Tim suggest gape worm or something like that) in which case that is easily solved I would think. Also I recall a hen who did this on and off and was never ill and had a long life.
I think the thing to remember is that just because something happens for a short period of time (like the neck thing) doesn't mean its a disaster and something is drastically wrong. Often just waiting till the morning or a few hours will usually see things change and your bird settle again. At least in my experience anyways. The sick birds, as davidd has said, you can tell when they are sick. Listless, head hanging, off their food and drink, poos are funny colour/consistency, eyes go pale, comb/wattles maybe change colour, that sort of thing.
Try to have a bit more confidence in yourself and your birds. As you get to know them and their ways you'll probably start to feel more relaxed about keeping them and won't get so worried about all the little things as you are now.
As Davidd has said, often things are fine but novice keeping can make you look for more than there really is. With regard to the sneezing, I doubt its anything more than that. If they are well, eating, pooping and so on I don't think its anything to worry about. I had one pekin sneezed a lot regardless and she was as fit as a fiddle. I would guess the reason why Baytril and Tylan have not worked is because there wasn't anything for them to work against. I think maybe you just have a hen who sneezes
With regard to the crop problem. I don't think your bird has a problem from what I've read. Her crop is emptying overnight and she is eating, drinking and pooing as normal. So please try to stop worrying about this. I'd also not give live yogurt and olive oil unless there is really a problem (dairy isn't a natural food for chooks is my thinking). I'd say avoid poking it or anything as this could maybe just cause aggravation to it if all is well. Just let it do its thing and check every few days if you must. But if she is feeding, drinking and pooing and bright then try to relax.
The neck/breathing thing could possibly be something (didn't Tim suggest gape worm or something like that) in which case that is easily solved I would think. Also I recall a hen who did this on and off and was never ill and had a long life.
I think the thing to remember is that just because something happens for a short period of time (like the neck thing) doesn't mean its a disaster and something is drastically wrong. Often just waiting till the morning or a few hours will usually see things change and your bird settle again. At least in my experience anyways. The sick birds, as davidd has said, you can tell when they are sick. Listless, head hanging, off their food and drink, poos are funny colour/consistency, eyes go pale, comb/wattles maybe change colour, that sort of thing.
Try to have a bit more confidence in yourself and your birds. As you get to know them and their ways you'll probably start to feel more relaxed about keeping them and won't get so worried about all the little things as you are now.
Tim
Administrator
I've just had one more thought! (this happens to me sometimes :roll: )
Check your hen house ventillation and their bedding... dusty sawdust can cause sneezing and ammonia from droppings can cause respiratory problems.
Either way, bedding / droppings could make the problem worse so ensure there is good ventillation in their coop and that there is no smell of ammonia when you put your head in the coop in the mornings. Make sure wood chippings / saw dust is the 'dust extracted' type.
Ammonia is a strong respiratory irritant predisposing to secondary infection.
Just another thought!
Back to sleep now..
Check your hen house ventillation and their bedding... dusty sawdust can cause sneezing and ammonia from droppings can cause respiratory problems.
Either way, bedding / droppings could make the problem worse so ensure there is good ventillation in their coop and that there is no smell of ammonia when you put your head in the coop in the mornings. Make sure wood chippings / saw dust is the 'dust extracted' type.
Ammonia is a strong respiratory irritant predisposing to secondary infection.
Just another thought!
Back to sleep now..
Amy
New member
Thanks Tim and Snifter!
My girls are fine now. Melindas crop is working perfectly...she is just a greedy guts. She eats anything and everything!
They have sneezed for ages now and they are showing no other signs so I guess they just have the sneezes!
I have been concerned about their house for awhile now. It is an old stone piggery but part of the wall is below ground level so gets wet and covered in green slime. They were never sat in the wet as I put a false floor in and moved the perches to the other side but I guess damp/spores would be in the air. For that reason I have bought a new wooded hut which my husband has just finished putting up and my chickens are moving into there (well Im trying to move them into there but they insist of going back to the stone shed and If I shut the door they all huddle outside the door and fret until I let them in!). My ducks are staying in the stone shed as I guess they love the damp?!?!
Maybe that has something to do with their sneezes?!?!
Anyway I am relaxing. Thanks once again guys x
My girls are fine now. Melindas crop is working perfectly...she is just a greedy guts. She eats anything and everything!
They have sneezed for ages now and they are showing no other signs so I guess they just have the sneezes!
I have been concerned about their house for awhile now. It is an old stone piggery but part of the wall is below ground level so gets wet and covered in green slime. They were never sat in the wet as I put a false floor in and moved the perches to the other side but I guess damp/spores would be in the air. For that reason I have bought a new wooded hut which my husband has just finished putting up and my chickens are moving into there (well Im trying to move them into there but they insist of going back to the stone shed and If I shut the door they all huddle outside the door and fret until I let them in!). My ducks are staying in the stone shed as I guess they love the damp?!?!
Maybe that has something to do with their sneezes?!?!
Anyway I am relaxing. Thanks once again guys x
Tim
Administrator
Hi Amy,
Sounds like a good move for them. They should really be kept out of the damp and out of draughts to stay healthy. A wooden hen house sounds ideal.
Good Luck getting them in there!
Tim
Sounds like a good move for them. They should really be kept out of the damp and out of draughts to stay healthy. A wooden hen house sounds ideal.
Good Luck getting them in there!
Tim
