Sick chickens - eyes & repiratory

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by Sam
(Summerville, SC 29485)

Question

Sick chickens - eyes & respiratory: I have a chicken that has very swollen and hazy eyes. She is sneezing and has a runny nose.

She does not seem to be lethargic and still seems eating and drinking normally. What could she have and how do I treat it?

I got some Duramycin-10 (Tetracycline Hydrochloride Soluble Powder) from the local tractor supply and have given it to her for 14 days now.

I have been mixing 1 tsp per gallon. Any idea if I am doing the right thing and how long I can give her this medicine?

Answer
Two weeks sounds like a long time, but it’s very difficult to know what dosage your hen is getting in a water born antibiotic.

Mixing a whole gallon is probably not the most effective way to deliver an antibiotic to a sick chicken.

I wouldn’t know for sure if that is the right antibiotic unless we knew exactly what was wrong with her.

We wouldn’t know that for sure unless you were able to get her tested by a veterinarian. I find injected antibiotics the most effective treatment for most animals in need.

It gets absorbed into the blood stream from a major muscle. If you’ve seen no improvement in 2 weeks, it’s probably safe to assume that this wasn’t the right antibiotic, she didn’t drink enough, or she has a virus that will not respond to antibiotics.

I’m a big believer in supporting chickens with vitamins, especially if there are any signs of illness.

Sometimes vitamins can knock out respiratory problems by balancing the immune system. Most feed stores carry vitamin/electrolyte products that can mix with dry feed or water.

When I give it, I mix the powder into soaked feed. I remove regular water and feed until the soaked mixture is gone, allowing a healthy dose for all.

Swollen eyes and respiratory problems could be her response to something in the environment. She may be sensitive to fumes from droppings or dust from bedding or floor litter, or maybe a chemical in the environment.

Keeping her separated from the flock is important, in case this is contagious.

Getting some testing done by a vet familiar with chicken diseases may be necessary to select the right medication.

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