An infected bird
Chlamydiosis
symptoms in humans and can cause pneumonia and abortion. The incubation can be one month to many months. Infected birds might have puss eye and nasal discharges, a higher temperature, and rapid or troubled breathing. Bloody or green droppings are common, depression, weight loss, and swollen eye lids.
Chlamydiosis is a pretty serious disease and there is no effective vaccine available for chickens. The disease can be managed with treatment but the organism isn’t going to be eliminated completely. Mortality rates can be lessened and the transmission to other birds managed by using Tetracyclines. Tetracyclines can be blocked by dietary calcium so additional sources of calcium should be suspended in the weeks required for treatment. Poultry outbreaks are not common and medicated feed will help manage the disease and protect the flock owner from contracting the disease. At least 45 days of feeding the medicated feed to prevent building up immunity to the antibiotics and be aware that not all Tetracyclines are allowed to be used on poultry. Throw the eggs away for about ten days and if on medicated feed allow at least two days of non medicated feed before slaughtering birds .
Doxycycline is probably the best drug among the Tetracyclines for poultry as it has less interference with dietary calcium. 400 mg per liter of water is a suggested dose.
Biosecurity is essential to prevent the spread of chalmydiae in chickens. Preventing wild birds from coming in contact with your chickens, quarantining and examining all incoming birds for several weeks before exposing the rest of the flock to the new birds, prompt removal of any sick birds, and thorough sanitation of everything that comes in contact with the chickens is a must. Chlamydiae doesn’t tolerate heat and common disinfectants such as bleach or alcohol but acidic and alkali
disinfectants might not be as effective. The organism can survived for months in litter and nest box materials.
Unlike many poultry diseases Avian Chlamydiosis can be caught by humans through respiratory or from contact with the infected birds. If in doubt don’t handle a sick or dead bird unless you are well protected with mask, goggles, and gloves. Pregnant women in particular ought not to be anywhere around a suspected outbreak.