HELP! Chicken with cold

What should I do when a 6 week old chick catches a cold and is sneezing and weezing? I brought the cochin hen in to a warmed brooder but she is very weak and unable to stand. I have given her warm water with vitamins and electrolytes but she is not getting any better. I don't want to loose her. HELP???

lbchickens9 said:

What should I do when a 6 week old chick catches a cold and is sneezing and weezing? I brought the cochin hen in to a warmed brooder but she is very weak and unable to stand. I have given her warm water with vitamins and electrolytes but she is not getting any better. I don't want to loose her. HELP???

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antibiotics in the water. Duramycin can be found at Tractor Supply and I think, I can't find my notebook right quick, that it is 1 tbls. per gallon. The back of the package has the dosage. Watch any other birds that have been in the same building with her. Sometimes they all end up with it. I'd also keep up with the vits. and electrolites. They can't hurt and will give her a chance to fight this off. Something I have read over and over, chickens don't get colds, they get respiratory diseases or can show allergic symptoms such as sneezing. I'd say she's got something that needs the antibiotic.

I'll go get some to use now and to have on hand. Appreciate your advice.

Haunted55 said:

antibiotics in the water. Duramycin can be found at Tractor Supply and I think, I can't find my notebook right quick, that it is 1 tbls. per gallon. The back of the package has the dosage. Watch any other birds that have been in the same building with her. Sometimes they all end up with it. I'd also keep up with the vits. and electrolites. They can't hurt and will give her a chance to fight this off. Something I have read over and over, chickens don't get colds, they get respiratory diseases or can show allergic symptoms such as sneezing. I'd say she's got something that needs the antibiotic.

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"Ditto" Haunted55. I've been dealing with this for about a week now. My rooster has gotten some better, but my little girl is still coughing and wheezing. I was told it is probably because I gave the rooster meds in a syringe (w/o needle) and just let her drink the water instead. The reason was because he was not drinking but she was eating and drinking well, and also she doesn't like to be held, but he does. So I've started giving her also in syringe and also as advised by some, got some yougart for them, and giving that also in syringe at least once daily. I put 2tsp Tetracycline per gal. of water, and I don't know if this is enough, as close as I could figure. Bag said 400-800mg. Didn't know mg.s had to convert to tsp/tbls. Did a lot of math and came up with my calculation. When I put in syringe, I have been pouring some of the medicated water in a cup and sprinkle a very little bit more med in it before drawing it up. Also been putting 4tbls Apple Cider Vinegar per gal. in the medicated water with electrolytes as advised by many, they say it cuts the mucus and makes breathing easier, also protects against worms ect. All this must be true because my rooster is much better and he was very sick a wk ago, also little girl is some better, just coughing and wheezing still some. Need to give her in syringe also. Also advised keeping them very warm they said about 85 to 90 deg. Good luck!

Something else you could try. You could get some VetRX and rub a bit of it on the top of their beak or you could do like I did and just use a touch of Vicks. You don't need a lot, just a bit to give them the smell of it. I don't think it would be good for them to eat a lot of it either but breathing in the fumes? Oh yeah.

If you are using the lower dose of the antibiotic, I would do a 10 day course. At this point I would rather err on the side of caution than not. I've read a couple of articles and reports lately that chickens can get the flu from us. Not a cold, but the flu. Don't know if it's true or not but why take chances? I've been wearing a mask for my birds if I start coughing, over kill maybe, but again, it can't hurt.

Good luck the both of you!

Haunted55 said:

Something else you could try. You could get some VetRX and rub a bit of it on the top of their beak or you could do like I did and just use a touch of Vicks. You don't need a lot, just a bit to give them the smell of it. I don't think it would be good for them to eat a lot of it either but breathing in the fumes? Oh yeah.

If you are using the lower dose of the antibiotic, I would do a 10 day course. At this point I would rather err on the side of caution than not. I've read a couple of articles and reports lately that chickens can get the flu from us. Not a cold, but the flu. Don't know if it's true or not but why take chances? I've been wearing a mask for my birds if I start coughing, over kill maybe, but again, it can't hurt.

Good luck the both of you!

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I have a vaporizer I usually use when any of us have a cold or anything. I put the medicine in the tray on the vaporizer. Do you think that would be better, since they tend to wipe their noses off on their feathers. And they sleep a lot with their faces tucked in their wing. Or do you think that might be too much moisture? I have them in the shop and keeping it warm, there's a propane heater in there.

Also, it's coming up to 10 days already and she's not well yet and he is still not back to himself. I suppose he's probably depressed though from being inside, but it is too cold to let him back out now anyway after being so sick, and he still has the sore on his face too. He always stayed alone anyway because the other rooster took over the girls, so he has no one and he stays away from the other rooster "Jr." and his women. He sleeps on the porch instead of going in the coop because of "Jr." That's why I first thought that he had caught a cold because it had been raining a lot lately and cold, and I thought he must have gotten wet and cold and caught a cold from that. So I don't know when I'll let him back out. The other sick pullet is in the same room with him though, but I keep them in seperate cages and keep the side facing his cage, sheilded with a blanket to keep her from coughing in his direction spraying germs. Come to think of it, if I use the vaporizer, it may promote the spread of the germs with the moisture and the steam. I don't know? I should have taken a vet course, I guess this is pretty close to that. Experience is the best teacher, but bad for mistakes.

Harry Rooster said:

I have a vaporizer I usually use when any of us have a cold or anything. I put the medicine in the tray on the vaporizer. Do you think that would be better, since they tend to wipe their noses off on their feathers. And they sleep a lot with their faces tucked in their wing. Or do you think that might be too much moisture? I have them in the shop and keeping it warm, there's a propane heater in there.

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You do not want a vaporizer in the coop! Too much moisture is not good for them and could lead to frost bite unless you plan on keeping the coop well heated. Just a touch of it on the beak up near the nostrils will be enough or rub some on a wall near where they roost.

I've been researching her illness and wondered if this could be Marek's? It all started with her not being sure legged and stumbling and then the sneezing and now the wheezing with heavy breathing. She can not stand up and lays on her side with her wings spread out. She is able to hold her head up. Could this be Marek's?

Did more search for pictures and this is not Marek's...thank God! Her legs are stretched out in the same direction and she can move her legs and wings but can't standup or sit up.