A respiratory something in my chickens. What is it?

[Gwenmarie10]

I am new to the backyard chicken experience. However, I should've known better than to introduce a new chicken to my other girls without an incubation period. Live and learn. Long story short I put a hen I had just acquired from a breeder in the with my 3 other backyard hens. That evening when I went to close up the coop I noticed she was coughing and sneezing. Within about 3 to 4 days my other 3 hens had come down with it. They are between 1 and 2 years old. For a while they sort of went off their feed. It's been 4 weeks now and I have treated them with 2 different rounds of antibiotics. Two of the hens have recovered somewhat and the other 2 are still coughing and sneezing. I have a set of 11 8 week old chicks that I have separated into the front yard so they don't come in contact with the chickens. I would like to get them so that I can get everybody moved into the coop before winter hits. I just vaccinated all of the chicks for viral influenza on the off chance that might be it. Any ideas? Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Respiratory infections can be pretty confusing. Here is a link to some info that I have found helpful. That is good that you vaccinated the chicks just in case. Did the labeling for the vaccine say how long it would take afterward to be fully protected against the virus?

 

[Gwenmarie10]

Hi, thanks for replying, I don't see the link. The research I did on the vaccine said it could take up to a week for the vaccine to work. Although I would think it should work more quickly. I'm just not sure that that is what it is so I don't know if I treated vaccinated them for the right disease. Would you be so kind as to repost the link.

Thanks.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Sorry, I should have double checked my post. Here is the link: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

Hope it helps some.

 

[Gwenmarie10]

Thanks a lot. It is a very useful article and pretty much confirmed the information I had researched. It makes mevery optimistic that the vaccine will help my baby chicks. Thanks again.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

http://shagbarkbantams.com/contents.htm
There are articles here "my chicken has a cold, part I, II, and III" with incubation periods discussed.

Please note that it might be that her problem is not even one of these...just thought I would post them.

 

[Gwenmarie10]

Thanks again for all the help. I really appreciate it.

 

[top of the hill]

Quote:
you should also check out the many uses of Oxine in this same link, been reading alot about it, sounds like great stuff!