Chicken has a cough

[AZ Heat]

Two of my Rhode Island Reds have developed a cough. I was told to put some apple cider vinegar in their water, which I have been doing with no results. They've had this symptom for about 3 weeks now. About that time, they went from each laying an egg every day to nothing for 3 weeks. Other than that, they are acting normal. Any suggestions? (I'm very, very new to raising chickens)

Thanks in advance!

 

[JennsPeeps]

Hi there,

Have they been exposed to other chickens, including your having visited other chickens or places where chickens are kept?

 

[AZ Heat]

Quote:
I got these two from a friend of mine about 4 and a half weeks ago. I have 5 other chickens in the same coop (acquired at the same time, from another individual) which seem to be healthy. I asked the individual where I got these from if any of hers have any symptoms and she says no.

 

[speckledhen]

Well, it's not normal for a chicken to cough. In fact, in the almost four years I've had chickens, I've never heard one cough. The usual protocol is to separate them from others and observe and if the symptoms continue, put them down. Yes, I did say euthanize them. SO many diseases make them carriers for life, able to infect others even if they seem to recover. Did you quarantine them from your flock for a month first? If not, if they do have something, they have probably infected the rest.
As far as her saying her other chickens dont have symptoms, I find many folks don't even know their own birds are ill because they do not spend any time observing them or pay attention to the sounds they make. Could be that the first birds you had before you got these are carriers and made the new ones ill, but unless you have them tested, no way to really say. Usually if it's just dusty bedding or too much ammonia they sneeze, not cough.

 

[AZ Heat]

Well, I hadn't separated them until this morning. I'm not sure if its pointless now or what. How long do you think I should watch things before I put them down? Also, if I'm planning on getting other chickens, how long should I wait to know if the others are sick or not? I'd hate to reintroduce others only to continue to spread the sickness.

Also, is there some sort of medication or food I should be giving them to help out?

 

[AZ Heat]

Any other suggestions/thoughts?