My chickens are gasping, rattling, and dying. Is it Newcastle disease?

Thanks for reaching out about this. Are we talking about chickens. No sure what diseases are prevalent in Africa but if multiple bird dying simultaneously, concerns would be around a viral etiology. Many countries have national veterinary diagnostic laboratories that might help with a diagnosis. Once a diagnosis is concluded, a treatment plan can be implemented. Isolation and quarantining any sick animals is important to decrease cross contamination. Good luck.

Hi and thank you for your question, It does sound like a respiratory infection, possibly viral. I would involve an avian/poultry vet to have some samples tested. If you have more chicken please keep those separated. If it is viral it will not respond to antibiotics, but some recover on their own. Regards

It sounds as it could have been a viral disease, possibly Newcastle disease or Marek disease, either way it's probably very contagious, you need to disinfect and clear the area completely before bringing in any other chickens or birds.

Here is information on Newcastle disease. Incubation is up to 25 days in exceptional cases. It is a pity you did not send your bird to pathology, as this would be the only way to prove that she died from a Newcastle disease infection. There are chronic cases. http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/newcastle_disease.pdf https://www.petcoach.co/article/newcastle-disease-in-birds-causes-signs-treatment-and-preve/

Thanks for reaching out and including a photo. No antibiotic will treat all bacterial infections. Not all respiratory problems are bacterial, let alone infectious. There are several viral diseases possible, and many non-infectious problems. Inhaled toxins or foreign bodies can cause respiratory problems. An enlarged liver, spleen or other internal organs can not allow chickens to take a deep breathe. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Is the abdomen distended? Ascites (fluid accumulation) can be due to liver, kidney, ovarian and other problems. Draining the fluid (through a veterinary visit) can relieve symptoms but is probably not a cure. Good luck.

Without knowing more about the signs that your birds are showing, it is difficult to say what is going on with them. There is a lot of overlap with infectious diseases in chickens, so many of them can look alike. The treatments for them, however, can vary, and need to be initiated by a veterinarian. I would recommend that you contact a veterinarian in your area so that s/he can do a physical exam on at least one of your birds. I was unable to find where you were located based on your zip code, as it did not give any results for the US. There are some regions which have avian diagnostic labs, and many times they have a chicken veterinarian on staff. This may be an option for you depending on your location. At home, you can try supportive care for the birds. Ensuring they have a warm place to go is crucial, so they don’t have to work as hard to keep warm (chicken body temperatures are about 102-104 F). Also make sure they have fresh water and food easily available to them, and monitor to ensure they are eating. To do this, you can feel along the bottom of their necks - this is where the crop is, and it is a pocket in their esophagus where good is stored when they eat. If you feel good in it, that is good as it indicates they are eating. If it is empty, they are not. Please do not give any human medications to your birds, as many of them can be harmful to chickens. I hope that gives you a place to start, and good luck.

This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection or eventually to a chronic rhinitis (inflammatory, allergic, infective). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.