Chicken with a cold?

[SuzyB]

Hi Everyone

I think my Bluebell has a blocked nose? Yesterday she was looking very miserable, eyes dull, waddling not walking, still eating and drinking a little though, wondered if she was egg bound. Can only identify three out of the 6 eggs we get so not sure if she has been laying recently or not. Brought her in, gave her a warm bath, blow dried her, she had some warm mash and a drink and kept her inside overnight. Later last night she began breathing through her mouth, looked a bit brighter in her eyes, but didnt want to come out of the little bed Id made her. This morning she's still breathing through her mouth and when she drinks, I can hear that she's snuffly when her mouth is closed. Eating and drinking fine, toilet, fine, eyes bright and almost took my hand off for a grape but seems to want to stay put. Does this sound like a cold?

She's never been in the house before, Im wondering if the reluctance to wander round is because she's not sure of where she is. I'll keep her in again today while Im at work, just wondering whether I should try and get her an appointment at the vets tonight or whether this sounds like a simple cold that she'll get over?

[Bramble-Poultry]

if its a cold, she will be over it in a few days. has she had a chill or got wet then cold recently? if so, that would point to a cold, however, i would take her to the vet just in case as if its not a cold, it could be mycoplasmosis, which has cold like symptoms and is carried by wild birds, feet any contact with another holding that has infected chooks etc.

It is highly contagious and although not deadly (to otherwsie well birds) it will kill of the weak and the young over time. A five day course of Tylan in the water to ALL YOUR BIRDS will clear it up.

It is pretty much around all of us, and something that lowers the immune system - such as a damp night etc - could be all thats needed to trigger it off. another key cause is bad ground. if she has been paddling in a muddy run for a day or two, that could churn it up too. I dont know your set up - you do. If all else fails - if she is eating and drinking and warm, if its a cold she will come around in a day or two.

For the sake of the bird, i wold get a vet to check her out to rule out mycoplasmosis for your own peace of mind. But then again, we have a very good bird vet who comes here whenever he is called. With over a hundred birds, i cant take the risk of something occuring so i might be over cautious.

[SuzyB]

Thanks for that. She's not been wet, or muddly recently, the run has a deep base of wood chips on concrete so as suggested for my own peace of mind, we've got an appointment at the vets tonight.

One thing to come out of this is we've bonded now. She wasnt really used to being handled but didnt mind her bath/blow dry at all and has loved all the attention she's been getting since.

[Bramble-Poultry]

Cold symptoms improve with the addition of garlic to the diet (it has a natural antibiotic effect) - we use a pre prepared product called respite but many others just use garlic capsules.

The vet may give her antibiotics as avian colds are usually bacterial not viral, but if she is still eating and drinking then she is not too bad, just see what your vet says.

[SuzyB]

The vet said she thinks she has a respiratory infection and gave her an injection of antibiotics which apparently lasts a week so that I dont need to try and give her anything orally. She didnt seem too worried about the waddling, said she could feel a mass but didnt know whether that was a fully formed egg or one in production and to leave her a couple more days.

Bluebell is tucked up in a dog cage in the kitchen for a day or so in case its infectious. Cant use her eggs (although I suspect she's the current none layer as everyone else did today!) for a month so she'll need to move into the shed for the duration as I cant identify between hers and Lilys. I'll put snowdrop in with her to keep her company, so glad I have a white layer, would have felt awful having her on her own that long!

[Bramble-Poultry]

good glad you have it all sorted - I'm sure she will perk up in the next day or two now