Tag: barnyard fowl
Respiratory Health in the Silkie Chicken Flock
During this cold snap you may hear some strange sounds coming from your flock. All of a sudden you may hear a high pitched squeak which begins to sound like a sneeze. That is a red flag that one of your birds may becoming down with some kind of respiratory issue. Upon closer examination you may see that your bird has a runny nose or watery eyes. This is the time to take action and isolate that bird from the rest of the flock.
Respiratory issues in poultry can be either a minor problem or a major problem depending on the severity of it. Most of the time it can be easily dealt with. However, there are some deadly respiratory diseases that can effect your entire flock and medicine will need to be given.
One cause of sneezing and cold- like symptoms in poultry can be all of the dust that can collect in a coop. Chickens can cough, splutter and get watery eyes if they breath too much dust in. Dust can come from the pine shaving you use as bedding or just from the dander on the birds themselves. You may want to switch to a dust free bedding or use sand or straw. Use an air hose to blow out the dust in the coop periodically. Install fans to blow air out or the coop so that dust can’t collect. Let your birds free range when they can or be out in their runs all year.
When cleaning the coop and changing bedding it would be a good idea for you, too, to wear some kind of face or mask protection. Dust, dirt and chicken feces particles and not good for your lungs. People that work in the poultry industry routinely wear masks when cleaning.
Any kind of stress can also cause your chicken to start to display respiratory distress. Extreme temperatures , being transported and crowded conditions all add to a lowering of the immune system and coughing and sneezing can result. Make sure that your coop is not too crowded and that the coop is well ventilated. You need fresh air freely flowing through the coop.
The introduction of a new bird to the flock can cause stress as a new pecking order needs to be established. Chickens love routine and anything that is new or different can stress them out. That new bird could also be a carrier and be bringing in new viruses. Quarantine is very important when adding new birds. A minimum of three weeks is needed to protect the rest of your flock from incoming diseases. Buy chickens from trustworthy sources who you know have healthy birds.
Check your birds daily for signs of respiratory illness. Symptoms include sneezing or sniffling, runny nose or mucus coming out of the nose, watery eyes or swollen sinuses. Isolate the bird if you see these symptoms in a crate and if possible keep it where you can observe it. Your bird is contagious. Change the bedding in the coop to try and keep germs from spreading to the rest of your flock. Treat with some Vetrx around the nostrils or even in the water. Use some Terramycin or Vetericyn in the eyes if they are watery or are closing shut.
You can bolster your bird’s immune system by giving them probiotics and plain yogurt. Chopped garlic added to the water is good for the immune system. So is adding dill, oregano and thyme to the feed. I always add apple cider vinegar to my chicken’s water water to help with digestion and to improve health. Vitamins and electrolytes also work well for overall health.
There are some serious respiratory diseases:
| Disease | Occurrence in Backyard Flocks | Distinctive Signs of Illness | Average Mortality Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mycoplasmosis | Common | Foamy eye discharge, more common in winter, roosters usually show more severe signs |
Usually none |
| Infectious coryza | Common | Swollen face or wattles, gunky eyes, foul odor, more common summer and fall |
5–20 percent |
| Infectious bronchitis | Common | Decreased egg production | Usually none |
| Newcastle disease | Mild strains are common. Highly deadly strains are absent from chickens in the United States. |
May also cause diarrhea, staggering, paralysis, sudden death |
5–99 percent |
| Fowl cholera (chronic form) | Not so common | Swollen face, gunky eyes, rattling or difficulty breathing, more common in late summer |
0–20 percent |
| Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) | Not so common | Gasping, coughing up bloody mucous, dried blood around nostrils and lower beak |
10–20 percent |
| Avian influenza | Rare (Deadly strains are absent from chickens in the United States) |
Droopy birds, rattling breathing sounds, diarrhea, sudden death |
5–99 percent |
*taken from Chicken Health For Dummies
If you feel that your chickens have one of these diseases, you should probably call a vet. They will give you antibiotic for their water or antibiotics given with injections.
The problem with these more serious diseases is that the symptoms are the same as lesser illnesses. Unless you do a blood test you will never know for sure what you have. Treatment is the same for any respiratory disease. Complete recovery may take 2-4 weeks. Your bird may recover but become a long term carrier of the infection. A healthy looking hen could be contagious to others because she carries the disease.
Vibatra is an all natural antibiotic alternative. Homeopathic sprays are another natural alternative to antibiotics.
Amoxfin is an antibiotic used for tropical fish that you can get over the internet and put in their water. Tylan is an antibiotic injection that you can find at places that sell chicken supplies.
It is important to know whether your bird is contagious if you are planning on selling birds or if you take them to shows.
Silkies have a hard time seeing with their large crests and muffs. Many times I will see eye issues because feathers had lodged themselves into their eyes and are acting as a irritant. Keep their crests and muffs trimmed if this is an issue.
Some people think that silkies need more vitamins than other breeds of chickens. You may want to feed them a better quality feed or give them vitamins in their water to help their immune system. Check out “When Something Is Wrong With My Silkie”
For tips and tricks for raising outstanding silkies check out our Chicken Learning Center at VJPPoultry.com . VJP Poultry is an NPIP and state inspected hatchery located 30 miles north of St. Paul. We hatch out silkies all year long so we always have stock available. Like us on Facebook to get weekly updates on what we currently have for sale.
Victoria J. Peterson
Silkies For Sale – 1/17/18
What You Need to Have in Your Poultry Showbox
It’s the day before you leave for the poultry show and your birds have all had their baths, toenails clipped and general primping taken care of. Now it is time to organize your Showbox and pack everything that you will need in order to keep your bird in tip top condition at the poultry show.
You will need some kind of carriers to transport your birds to the show. A cat carrierworks very well. Remember to line it with some kind of bedding. Try to have only one bird per carrier if possible. You do not want extra poo rubbing on to your birds nice clean feathers.
At most shows you will be bringing your own feeders and waterers. Since I have silkies, I use a pop bottle waterer. You will need to pack enough waterers and empty pop bottles for each bird as well as mini bungee cords to secure them. I also like to place an empty cat food can under the waterer to prop it up.
Bring a jug of your own water. Add electrolytes to it as birds can often become stressed at a show. The electrolytes will help to boost their immune system. Get them used to this water a week ahead of time. Birds can be finicky about change in water and food so you want to make sure that they are used to both.
If you have been cage training your chicken they should be used to using the feeders and waterers in the small cages. Bring a bag of feed for your birds. Bird seed with sunflower seeds and nuts is nice because it keeps the poo more solid than regular feed. It makes it easier to remove it from the cage and from the bird.
Remember to withhold food on the morning of the judging. A bird with a full crop will create a lump in their chest and will not have a nice shape for the judges. You may also want to withhold water so as not to have a silkie with a wet beard.
You will need to bring your own bedding shavings. Constantly be on the look out for poo on the shavings and remove it before the bird can step or sit in it. Some people will have booties on their birds until the judging starts.
On the day of the show you will see a lot of people frantically working on their birds before the judging starts. You can put Vet Rx or another type of oil on their combs, earlobes, beaks, wattles and legs. This makes the surface more shiny and brings out their colors. Apply a thin coat. Vet Rx is especially good because it helps the bird fight off diseases that they might come in contact with at the show.
You can also shine up a bird using a piece of silk cloth and running it over the feathers. A micro fiber cloth works well for this too. Feathers are oily and dust will stick to them. This helps to remove the dust and make your bird shine.
To finish a bird off, I will use Show Sheen. Spray it lightly on or spray a cloth and run it onto the feathers. Then blow dry and puff out those silkie feathers. You can use a slicker brush or a fine tooth comb to really fluff it up and back tease it.
If you see that dirt or manure has gotten on any feathers, you can use Gempler’s Citra Clean hand cleaner or Cowboy Magic Greenspot Remover for those last minute touch ups. Baby wipes and Mr. Clean Magic Eraser as also good tools for spot removing dirt.
I also bring paper towels, baby wipes, small spray bottle with water to loosen up dirt, tooth brush, hand sanitizer, portable chair, extra carriers in case you buy a bird or two, health forms for pullorum testing, cage ID numbers if the show sent you that information.
Remember to not leave all of this stuff out. The judge should not see anything of yours. Pack it up and take it out of the judging area. It is considered bad form to enhance the cages your birds are in or to distinguish your birds from other people’s birds. Don’t write your name anywhere such as on your cage cups. Do not put up barriers between your birds and the birds next to you. The judges need to be able to look down the aisle at all of the birds to compare them.
Dress for the show. Be sure to wear clothing that is washable and comfortable. Dress in layers as temperatures can change. Do not wear shoes that you wear when tending your flock. You do not want to bring home disease to the rest of your birds.
A few other things for your showbox would be, scotch tape, nail file, scissors, pen and don’t forget the Flea and Tick spray. You will want to spray your birds as they leave the show and go back into their carriers in case they picked up a bug
Some people will bring zip ties or small locks to lock up their birds when they aren’t around. No one should be touching or handling any one else’s birds. Just remember to have the zip ties off before judging starts. If the judge can’t get into your cage, they can’t judge your bird.
One last thing I like to bring is a book on poultry breeds. I enjoy finding actual examples of breeds I am reading about. It is fun to learn about breeds different than your own. It is also a lot of fun to meet other breeders and get tips from them about your favorite breed. It is a great place to just talk chicken!
For tips and tricks for raising outstanding silkies check out our Chicken Learning Center at VJPPoultry.com . VJP Poultry is an NPIP and state inspected hatchery located 30 miles north of St. Paul. We hatch out silkies all year long so we always have stock available. Like us on Facebook to get weekly updates on what we currently have for sale.
Victoria J. Peterson
VJP Poultry 