[123pauljon]

can anyone help/ offer advice i have 6 buff orpingtons. 5 hens and 1 cock. recently 1 hen and the cock have began to show signs of illness like bubbling noises in their throats, opening and closing their beaks as if gasping for air and have eaten and drunk very little. both were quarantined separately. all have beened wormed etc and the others seem ok m(touch wood !!). the hen has died recently and the cock, while at first seemed to rally has now gone downhill again. i have read lots of info about what this might be. any ideas???

[uktitan]

get them to the Vets ASAP and get them some Antibiotics!

[Pol]

Hi, what ever your other two died of, this hen could have the same illness so please take her to the vet ASAP

[hillfooter]

This is either an upper respiratory infection called Infectious Coryza (causes facial (sinus) swelling has a distinctive smell and comes on rapidly) or possibly Chronic Respiratory disease CRD (comes on more slowly within several days) usually refered to as Mycoplasma or MG (the organism responsible is mycoplasma gallisepicum).  The infection symptoms can be treated with the antibiotics Tylan (Tylosin)or Baytril and should respond within a few days.  See the vet urgently they all want treating via the drinking water.  However the organism which causes the infection MG will remain dormant in your birds and be chronic.  The infection can break out again even after the symptoms have gone whenever the birds are stressed by a moult for example or just being moved.  You should not breed from thes birds and no give them to another keeper who has stock.  The bacterium which causes it can easily be eradicated from the housing and run by a good clean up with detergent and disinfectant.  A powder disinfectant such as Stalosan can be used in runs.  Ideally if you can vacate the housing for around 10 days it doesn't survive long off birds.  Sanitising communial drinking water with Vanodine V18 will check it's spread too.

Best of luck
HF

[Pol]

Hi, How is the hen today?