Chicken Coughing, congested

[moosey109]

So I have a flock of 42 chickens all different kinds and ages. Yesterday two of my chickens got sick, one is a barred rock about 3 years old and one is a silkie. Both congested in their upper throat not in their lungs yet. Then today one of my leghorns and one of my other chickens which I am not sure what she is. Both with the same thing, they keep coughing and wheezing. It is awful. I don't know if anyone has ever had this happen to their chickens before or what you did but please I am looking for advice. I also have 17 chickens that are under 4 months who have seemed to start to get it also. I broke down and went to a vet but she isn't sure of what it could be until one dies

but she gave us antibiotics that we give to them twice a day. If anyone has gone through this and found something that worked let me know. This is awful! I don't want to lose my whole flock. Please help!

 

[Judy]

So sorry. Respiratory diseases are a real problem in chickens. You may lose some, and the rest may be carriers. This is a complex subject and there is a lot of information available on the web and in this forum. Most of these diseases are viral, so antibiotics won't help.

Here is a good introductory article on the subject:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=9241

 

[threehorses]

Your vet is actually mistaken. She can do a "culture and sensitivity" if she chooses to. She will swab the roof of the mouth and/or the eye exodate, send it to a lab to be grown out on a plate. They can identify the bacteria from there - the exact name of it (like M. synoviae, etc), and then regrow more on another plate containing antibiotic discs. The discs around which the bacteria do not grow is the antibiotic to use - because it inhibited that bacteria.

I'd call her back and ask for this as you have a large flock and don't need to dilly dally around with hit-and-miss antibiotics, especially since a large part of your investment is chicks.

If she won't do it, let us know where you are and I can find you a vet who will.

What antibiotic did she give?