Moniliasis (Thrush) in chickens can cause breathing problems and even death. Find out how we got rid of it successfully. A white or yellow cheesy substance appears in combination with a runny nose. Usually it is contracted after being given antibiotics and/or from dirty water. See more symptoms and treatments here.
Moniliasis (Thrush) is a fungal disease contracted by chickens and other birds from moldy feed, contaminated water, after being given antibiotics, and from any surface which has been contaminated by other birds.
There is no known vaccine available but treatment and recovery is possible.
Symptoms of Moniliasis Thrush in Chickens:
Symptoms of Moniliasis Thrush in chickens are runny nose, white or yellow cheesy looking substance in the crop, eyes, throat, roof of mouth, or under the tongue, breathing problems, droopy looking feathers, inactivity, crusty or inflamed vent area, decreased appetite in later stages, (in the early stages, the bird may have an increase in appetite).
See treatments below
There is no known vaccine available but treatment and recovery is possible.
Symptoms of Moniliasis Thrush in Chickens:
Symptoms of Moniliasis Thrush in chickens are runny nose, white or yellow cheesy looking substance in the crop, eyes, throat, roof of mouth, or under the tongue, breathing problems, droopy looking feathers, inactivity, crusty or inflamed vent area, decreased appetite in later stages, (in the early stages, the bird may have an increase in appetite).
See treatments below
Symptoms & Treatments for Thrush in Chickens & How we successfully got rid of it
Yellow cheesy substance inside the chicken's mouth. Photo courtesy of The Poultry Site, http://forum.thepoultrysite.com/discussion/comment/7317/ (1).
Treatments for Moniliasis Thrush in chickens can be treated with antifungal creams and medications. It is best to have your local poultry or livestock veterinarian prescribe treatment, however, if one is not available or you cannot afford to take the bird to the vet this information could be very helpful. Most cases of thrush if detected early can be taken care of with any over the counter antifungal cream or you can ask your vet for Nystatin (an antifungal treatment).
This is how we handle severe cases of thrush and so far it has been extremely effective
We have used this method successfully on birds as young as six weeks and as old as 10 years and have treated more than 50 birds (some ours and some other people's) with a 95% success rate. The only birds we were unable to save were one's that had been brought to us after the bird had already severely deteriorated (extreme weight loss, no longer able to stand up). Basically, this fungus is blocking their air waves, it is not uncommon for this fungus to come in combination with worms or eye worms (85% of the birds treated tested positive for worms or eye worms).
How We Did It
Separate the affected bird from the flock
Administer a worm treatment such as Wazine
Use Vet Rx on eyes, wattles, ears, ear lobes, around nostrils, and roof of mouth. It is also helpful to apply some to the legs and a dab under each wing
After sanitizing my hands, I hold the bird's mouth open by placing one finger in the side of the mouth, while holding the bird under one arm. I speak calmly to the bird telling them I am going to help them. The first step is removing any scabs or crusty area's after applying Vet Rx or antifungal cream. The next step is determined by the condition of the bird. If the bird is has alot of mucus causing the bird to gasp for air and make a gurgling sound, the mucus removal should be done first, however, if the cheesy substance is inside the throat and blocking the air way, this should be removed first. Both can be done fairly quickly using a nasal syringe used to remove snot from a baby's nose but the cheesy substance may be a bit more difficult and you will need to reapply the vet RX and check every morning and every evening for blockage to airways and remove it. The condition of the bird should be watched at all times. If the bird starts suddenly raising it's head straight up it is having problems breathing during your procedure and you need to stop and clear away any mucus or matter, wait until the bird is breathing regularly and then continue.
Removing the Mucus
Swelling around the eyes and mucus draining from nostrils-Mucus caused from fungal infections can literally suffocate your bird. They cannot blow their nose like you can so the mucus needs to be removed. You can use a small bulb snot syringe (the kind used for babies) and try to drain the mucus in the throat and roof of the mouth. I have found that manually draining the swelling is the easiest way. I gently put pressure behind the nostrils, in front of the eyes and push toward the nostrils. The mucus will shoot out the nostrils and must be wiped away with a tissue while still applying light pressure. If you let go before wiping the mucus could go back inside the nostrils. I check the roof of the mouth and throat after each push because sometimes it will rupture inside the roof of the mouth, causing the bird to choke. If I see mucus I wipe it out immediatly with sterile gauze.
Removing the Cheesy Substance and applying fungal cream
Before removing a white or yellow cheesy looking substance you should deworm all of your birds, livestock and other pets all at the same time. Vet Rx should be applied at least four hours before attempting to remove cheesy substance as this will loosen it up. If you try to just scrape it off without doing this first, it may bleed. If you remove the cheesy substance to quickly it may also bleed then.
How I remove the cheesy substance-If I see large amounts of a yellow or white cheesy looking substance inside the chickens craw (mouth), I first apply Vet Rx, wait for 4 to 8 hours and then slowly and gently scrape it off after using a qtip to apply an antifungal cream which will soften the cheesy stuff and make it easier to remove. If there is a swollen area under the skin where it has accumulated, I scratch at it slightly to remove the scab and gently squeeze the cheesy substance out. I check under the tongue too, sometimes it will build up in the pocket under the tongue or down the throat of the bird, basically it grows until it chokes the bird to death. If it has gotten in the throat I can usually push it up from the outside with one hand and gently scrape it out of the inside with my finger of the other hand. (Do not use a blade or razor knife to do this as you can easily damage the bird). Sometimes the cheesy substance is stuck and when you remove it the bird will bleed, this will quickly stop (If bleeding is profuse, pat a little flour on the wound). I remove it slowly, a little at time, giving the bird breaks in between to be petted and reassured and to catch their breath if they are having trouble breathing. After gently washing the birds eyes and nostrils with a clean warm wet cloth I apply a small amount of antifungal cream to the eyes (I put a small amount inside the eyelid away from the iris of the eye), I put a light amount around the nostrils and then wipe it off with a towelette (I make sure it hasn't gotten up inside the nostril where it can block breathing). Next I put some on the tip of my finger and stick my finger down the bird's throat gently and quickly. I then put a bit more on my finger and rub it on the roof of the mouth and under the tongue. I repeat the Vet Rx and the antifungal cream process daily until completely gone. Improvement in the bird's condition can be seen almost immediately. Usually they will start drinking and eating as soon as it is removed. I usually keep the bird quarantined for 30 days in a warm area, after recovery to reduce the chances of other birds contracting it. Do a thourough coop cleaning, wash and bleach all food and water containers, use charcoal wood ash and lime in runs and coops, and pray for your sweet chicken...it works----Motherhen
This is how we handle severe cases of thrush and so far it has been extremely effective
We have used this method successfully on birds as young as six weeks and as old as 10 years and have treated more than 50 birds (some ours and some other people's) with a 95% success rate. The only birds we were unable to save were one's that had been brought to us after the bird had already severely deteriorated (extreme weight loss, no longer able to stand up). Basically, this fungus is blocking their air waves, it is not uncommon for this fungus to come in combination with worms or eye worms (85% of the birds treated tested positive for worms or eye worms).
How We Did It
Separate the affected bird from the flock
Administer a worm treatment such as Wazine
Use Vet Rx on eyes, wattles, ears, ear lobes, around nostrils, and roof of mouth. It is also helpful to apply some to the legs and a dab under each wing
After sanitizing my hands, I hold the bird's mouth open by placing one finger in the side of the mouth, while holding the bird under one arm. I speak calmly to the bird telling them I am going to help them. The first step is removing any scabs or crusty area's after applying Vet Rx or antifungal cream. The next step is determined by the condition of the bird. If the bird is has alot of mucus causing the bird to gasp for air and make a gurgling sound, the mucus removal should be done first, however, if the cheesy substance is inside the throat and blocking the air way, this should be removed first. Both can be done fairly quickly using a nasal syringe used to remove snot from a baby's nose but the cheesy substance may be a bit more difficult and you will need to reapply the vet RX and check every morning and every evening for blockage to airways and remove it. The condition of the bird should be watched at all times. If the bird starts suddenly raising it's head straight up it is having problems breathing during your procedure and you need to stop and clear away any mucus or matter, wait until the bird is breathing regularly and then continue.
Removing the Mucus
Swelling around the eyes and mucus draining from nostrils-Mucus caused from fungal infections can literally suffocate your bird. They cannot blow their nose like you can so the mucus needs to be removed. You can use a small bulb snot syringe (the kind used for babies) and try to drain the mucus in the throat and roof of the mouth. I have found that manually draining the swelling is the easiest way. I gently put pressure behind the nostrils, in front of the eyes and push toward the nostrils. The mucus will shoot out the nostrils and must be wiped away with a tissue while still applying light pressure. If you let go before wiping the mucus could go back inside the nostrils. I check the roof of the mouth and throat after each push because sometimes it will rupture inside the roof of the mouth, causing the bird to choke. If I see mucus I wipe it out immediatly with sterile gauze.
Removing the Cheesy Substance and applying fungal cream
Before removing a white or yellow cheesy looking substance you should deworm all of your birds, livestock and other pets all at the same time. Vet Rx should be applied at least four hours before attempting to remove cheesy substance as this will loosen it up. If you try to just scrape it off without doing this first, it may bleed. If you remove the cheesy substance to quickly it may also bleed then.
How I remove the cheesy substance-If I see large amounts of a yellow or white cheesy looking substance inside the chickens craw (mouth), I first apply Vet Rx, wait for 4 to 8 hours and then slowly and gently scrape it off after using a qtip to apply an antifungal cream which will soften the cheesy stuff and make it easier to remove. If there is a swollen area under the skin where it has accumulated, I scratch at it slightly to remove the scab and gently squeeze the cheesy substance out. I check under the tongue too, sometimes it will build up in the pocket under the tongue or down the throat of the bird, basically it grows until it chokes the bird to death. If it has gotten in the throat I can usually push it up from the outside with one hand and gently scrape it out of the inside with my finger of the other hand. (Do not use a blade or razor knife to do this as you can easily damage the bird). Sometimes the cheesy substance is stuck and when you remove it the bird will bleed, this will quickly stop (If bleeding is profuse, pat a little flour on the wound). I remove it slowly, a little at time, giving the bird breaks in between to be petted and reassured and to catch their breath if they are having trouble breathing. After gently washing the birds eyes and nostrils with a clean warm wet cloth I apply a small amount of antifungal cream to the eyes (I put a small amount inside the eyelid away from the iris of the eye), I put a light amount around the nostrils and then wipe it off with a towelette (I make sure it hasn't gotten up inside the nostril where it can block breathing). Next I put some on the tip of my finger and stick my finger down the bird's throat gently and quickly. I then put a bit more on my finger and rub it on the roof of the mouth and under the tongue. I repeat the Vet Rx and the antifungal cream process daily until completely gone. Improvement in the bird's condition can be seen almost immediately. Usually they will start drinking and eating as soon as it is removed. I usually keep the bird quarantined for 30 days in a warm area, after recovery to reduce the chances of other birds contracting it. Do a thourough coop cleaning, wash and bleach all food and water containers, use charcoal wood ash and lime in runs and coops, and pray for your sweet chicken...it works----Motherhen
References:
1. - Chicken with thrush photo. Template. (2007). The Poultry Site. Retrieved 30 January 2018, from http://forum.thepoultrysite.com/discussion/comment/7317/
1. - Chicken with thrush photo. Template. (2007). The Poultry Site. Retrieved 30 January 2018, from http://forum.thepoultrysite.com/discussion/comment/7317/
