Chicken colds

[Parrot_mum]

Edit: we are in New Zealand so no avian flu.
Long post sorry.
Ideas please. Wrote this up but never posted yesterday. She still is picking at food today and I feel like no improvement in the mornings. Still sounds rattly. At night she seems to be settled more and less rattly and snotty. 2 more days worth of antibiotics to go.

I had a new barred rock pullet die just over a
week ago. We were not sure what was wrong.
Then her sister started looking off, runny
nose, sneezing, occasionally coughing, and
deep breathing. So we managed to get her to
our vet on time and started on antiflams and
Juroclav. She is making a slow improvement
but now the 2 (Barnevelders same age) they
were in with are starting to show the same
signs. I'm so stressed about it. I feel like the 2
barred rock have brought in something. I have
other older chickens but they are in a separated area. But recently they are viewing one another more because we were preparing to be able to introduce them altogether. I won't be doing that while they are unwell but I'm so worried our whole flock are going to get sick.
The barred rock is the worst so we have her inside at night and had already quarantined her.
I had rung my vet last night and got more antibiotics for the Barnevelders starting to think I should have asked to treat the whole flock (10 in total, all different breeds). They are not just egg layers to me but pets.
What's the chances of them making it through? What do I do if our whole flock ends up sick? And what could this be because our vet was unsure and just wanted to treat with broad spectrum antibiotics to start with. She was unwilling to do more tests because of the stress it would have put Pebbles under while sick. Could it just be a cold? I really wish I had got a necropsy done on the one that passed away.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Chickens don't really catch cold.
There are a couple prevalent respiratory issues that affect chickens.
Among them are mycoplasma gallisepticum, Infectious Bronchitis, Infectious Laryngotracheitis among others.
I assume it is cold there now. What is your weather like?
Since warm weather, have you done things to keep your chickens warm, like close up their housing? The most important thing to keep chickens healthy is to provide as much fresh air as possible.
Oxygen is their most important nutrient.

 

[Parrot_mum]

Chickens don't really catch cold.
There are a couple prevalent respiratory issues that affect chickens.
Among them are mycoplasma gallisepticum, Infectious Bronchitis, Infectious Laryngotracheitis among others.
I assume it is cold there now. What is your weather like?
Since warm weather, have you done things to keep your chickens warm, like close up their housing? The most important thing to keep chickens healthy is to provide as much fresh air as possible.
Oxygen is their most important nutrient.

It’s cold. We have sunny days at the moment but freezing and frosts through the night. They have great ventilation but draught free where they perch to sleep. Come out of coop and free roam through the day.

 

[Parrot_mum]

Chickens don't really catch cold.
There are a couple prevalent respiratory issues that affect chickens.
Among them are mycoplasma gallisepticum, Infectious Bronchitis, Infectious Laryngotracheitis among others.
I assume it is cold there now. What is your weather like?
Since warm weather, have you done things to keep your chickens warm, like close up their housing? The most important thing to keep chickens healthy is to provide as much fresh air as possible.
Oxygen is their most important nutrient.

Also, why do you think the other one passed away? Could of been secondary infection but had shown no signs of being sick prior. I had her inside one night and she passed over night. We were meant to take her to the vet that day. I’m just worried they will all die

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Being outside all day is no compensation for fresh air at night.
Some people overestimate the amount of ventilation in a coop.
All my buildings have huge windows open constantly. That is all but one. It only has a ridge vent and a smaller window so to compensate I have a box fan on the windowsill blowing in at the roost year round 24/7. Even down to nearly 30 below zero C.
I don't buy into the no drafts thing. How can chickens spend the day outside and stay out of drafts. I've had chickens sleep in trees in winter through cold, rain and snow till taken by a predator. I've never had a chicken with a respiratory illness in my life through thousands of chickens. The reason - unlimited fresh air.
The best way to determine the cause of a bird's death is a necropsy at an avian pathologist or veterinary school.
Maybe these people can give you guidance.
https://www.awanuivets.co.nz/veterinary-pathology-services/

 

[Parrot_mum]

Being outside all day is no compensation for fresh air at night.
Some people overestimate the amount of ventilation in a coop.
All my buildings have huge windows open constantly. That is all but one. It only has a ridge vent and a smaller window so to compensate I have a box fan on the windowsill blowing in at the roost year round 24/7. Even down to nearly 30 below zero C.
I don't buy into the no drafts thing. How can chickens spend the day outside and stay out of drafts. I've had chickens sleep in trees in winter through cold, rain and snow till taken by a predator. I've never had a chicken with a respiratory illness in my life through thousands of chickens. The reason - unlimited fresh air.
The best way to determine the cause of a bird's death is a necropsy at an avian pathologist or veterinary school.
Maybe these people can give you guidance.
https://www.awanuivets.co.nz/veterinary-pathology-services/

I meant the coop has no drafts at night. And definitely lots of ventilation. I have never had sick chickens either so it’s why I’m wondering if the two new ones brought something on to our property with them. Of course they get drafts when out of coop during the day but at night they are snuggled up on perches.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Yes, new birds could easily have brought something from their last home with them.
Quarantining new birds is a good practice.