help respiratory troubles!

Hi, I just got two hens one has for sure some type of respiratory problem. She coughs,sneezes,wheezes and is very under weight. The other has severe leg mites. I have them separate from my flock. I just got respiratory support meds at rural king. I have been giving this to them and applying Vaseline on their legs. Will I ever be able to add them to my flock, it makes me so sad to see such pretty hens suffer like this. Will I ever be able to add them to my happy flock? I know it is incurable at least most is but is there certain points when contagious and times when not.

Hello. Get them some antibiotics (try Oxytet, which is water soluble..two teaspoons to a gallon. You should be able to find it at the feed store. Yes, you can add them to your flock once they recover. They will recover from leg mites, but it takes awhile using vaseline. You can try getting some Permethrin and make a solution to dip their legs in, that stuff is powerful insecticide but some people use it with faster success than the vaseline. If you want to use the Permethrin, I will have to look up the proportions to mix the solution of Permethrin to water, I can't remember, unless someone else on here knows. If not, I can look it up, just let me know. Vaseline or oil works, you just have to reapply it every few days. Soaking the legs in somewhat warm Epsom salts and water solution for ten to twenty minutes at a time helps with the pain, and helps to kill the mites too. You can also mix a permethrin solution to spray the roosts where the flock sleeps as the mites may spread. some chickens will get them...some never seem to;

For the respiratory issues, There are other antibiotics you can use if the Oxytet has no effect in a day or two, you should see pretty much immediate improvement within that time period if it is working. It should, as long as they are eating and drinking. You don't say if both hens have the respiratory issues, but if they are together in quarantine, go ahead and give them both the antibiotics. If they are not eating or drinking or the antibiotic does not seem to work in a day or two, let us know asap. and you can try something else. , but that's what I would start with.

OK thanks so much. And yeah they are in quarantine together so I'll treat both.

Ok, good luck. And remember to watch them closely, and start the antibiotic immediately.