This was originally posted in November 2017
Last year I had a respiratory illness spread through my flock. I lost several birds. It was my fault. There was a leak in the back side of the building, which got he floor wet, which then froze and I couldn’t get it out. So, they got sick. And frostbite. It was awful. And it’s back. Passed on from one of the birds who survived getting sick last year. It hit my McMurray chicks. They should be laying soon, but instead, my gorgeous Easter Egger is dead, and my Lakenvelder can hardly breath. We are going to the vet tonight. I can’t lose the amount of birds I did last year.
Update: the Vet took a decal sample to run tests on, just in case it’s a parasite causing my problems. I treated her with old tetracycline, and the Vet said to continue to do so until she consults with a poultry veterinarian on what the next step should be. But she is probably just going to give me some fresh tetracycline and a dewormer.
Update: The Vet called and basically said that if this is a virus, all we can do is support the birds through it (kind of like us with a cold) Keeping the area very clean, keeping them warm, and continuing with the tetracycline. There was a parasite in my pullet’s stool, which will be treated with the dewormer I was given.
Update: I used the dewormer today that the vet had measured out for me. The tetracycline only seems to be keeping things at bay. The Lakenvelder doesn’t have any discharge or anything, but she has a horrible sneeze/cough. It’s been cold, and it’s not helping. And now my Cochin has swelling in her earlobe.
Final update - 2022: I am still dealing with the remnants of this respiratory illness. I lose half my chicks each year. I have decided I have had enough. I will no longer add to my flock. As my birds pass, I will not replace them. Once I get down to a very small number, I will move them to the small coop in the back, strip down the large coop and sanitize completely. Then, I hope I will at least have one rooster left and that I can hatch a few eggs from my remaining birds, and then, I will rebuild.
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