Chicken "cold" runny nose etc

[BecKub]

I just got home from work tonight (just before midnight) and noticed our younger Easter Egger had some clear discharge coming out of her nose. She also sounded a little "croupy" if that makes any sense. It's substantially colder tonight than it has been all summer. All of the other birds look fine. A few of our older hens have been molting. She laid and egg today. I noticed the last few days some coughing/sneezing sound coming from one of them... perhaps it was her? Should I put the flock on antibiotics? Is there something else I can give them? She seems fine otherwise, I just don't want the other ones to catch the sickness.

Thanks in advance!

Oh, and I put apple cider vinegar in their water for tomorrow. Figured it couldn't hurt.

 

[Pork Pie]

This link you may find useful -
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

In an ideal world, taking the affected bird to a vet for diagnosis is the best thing to do. It's almost impossible to diagnose what the illness could be oneself. Finding a vet with avian experience may be a challenge, as may justifying the cost of a consultation.

If that's not an option, then I would personally consider giving antibiotics to the whole flock. Some people certainly would not support this, but I'm simply sharing what i would do. This could fix the problem, if the illness is bacterial, and also help fight off secondary infections.

Adding vitamin supplements to their drinking water is also a good idea.

Assuming whatever you bird has is contagious, then it's very likely that the rest of the flock is already infected - they may simply have a greater ability to cope with the issue (i.e. have a stronger immune system), and hence not show symptoms.

If you have changed the coop bedding, this is also worth considering, as is looking for any signs of mold.

Good luck

 

[rwh1999]

The best thing to do is separate it from the flock, put it somewhere warm(if possible) away from the flock to prevent the spread of whatever it has. While some may say this is inhumane, it isn't, separated from the flock it can focus on healing without being pecked and pushed around by its family. If you can take it to a vet, that's great, if not, there is something i would suggest. Crush garlic and add it to the water, (crush, not dice, crushing increases its antibacterial and antiviral properties) do this to both the flock and the sick chickens water.
Hopefully you'll find this helpful, best of luck with it.

 

[chickens really]

Chickens don't catch colds...Respiratory disease is common...No point in separating the Bird...You can try and antibiotic for secondary infection but it won't cure the Birds...Some respiratory illness will run its course..Most commonly once they have it they are carriers for life....Have you added new birds?

 

[BecKub]

Chickens don't catch colds...Respiratory disease is common...No point in separating the Bird...You can try and antibiotic for secondary infection but it won't cure the Birds...Some respiratory illness will run its course..Most commonly once they have it they are carriers for life....Have you added new birds?

We got 4 young birds (16 wks) but that was at least a month ago. They were quarantined for 5 days.

She seems to be doing ok today. Acting normal and didn't hear any sneezing. I'll check on her tonight and see if her nose started running again.

 

[BecKub]

Thank you all!

 

[chickens really]

Just note that chickens and most prey animals are great at hiding illness till its to the point of not hiding it anymore...Best of luck....

 

[BecKub]

That's a really great point. I never thought of that before. In the 3.5 years we've had birds we've only lost 2 to unknown illness. And one of those was egg-bound. Thank you!

 

[chickens really]

Your very welcome....I never sugar coat the truth....