Joycejaffee
In the Brooder
It's bitter cold here in CT. A small fire filled the coop (barn sized) with thick noxious smoke this morning. I do not know how long the fire was going but a section of flooring and a part of the wall was burned through. It looked like perhaps it had been smoldering for quite some time.
I couldn't even see to the back of the coop -where 49 hens and roosters-mostly bantams-were huddled. I managed to get all out-where they spent the better part of the day outside in fresh but very cold 25 degree air. When found they were making a squeaking/moaning noise which I originally thought was simply stress. After some research-it looks like smoke inhalation is the cause of the sounds. Copious amounts of mucus is coming from the 9 large sized hens-with the wheezing sound-while most bantams are gurgling and sneezing. I brought them all into my garage as the sun was setting-put a humidifier on with Vicks in it, put a room heater in the garage, put antibiotic powder (I only had tetracycline) in the water-although no one is eating or drinking, and sprinkled some vet/Rx on their feathers. Is there anything else I can do? It's been 14 hours since rescue. All are resting -but still making horrible sounds on inhale and exhale. The large hens look to be struggling the most-although it could just be that they are the loudest. I would appreciate any advice! Thanks!
I couldn't even see to the back of the coop -where 49 hens and roosters-mostly bantams-were huddled. I managed to get all out-where they spent the better part of the day outside in fresh but very cold 25 degree air. When found they were making a squeaking/moaning noise which I originally thought was simply stress. After some research-it looks like smoke inhalation is the cause of the sounds. Copious amounts of mucus is coming from the 9 large sized hens-with the wheezing sound-while most bantams are gurgling and sneezing. I brought them all into my garage as the sun was setting-put a humidifier on with Vicks in it, put a room heater in the garage, put antibiotic powder (I only had tetracycline) in the water-although no one is eating or drinking, and sprinkled some vet/Rx on their feathers. Is there anything else I can do? It's been 14 hours since rescue. All are resting -but still making horrible sounds on inhale and exhale. The large hens look to be struggling the most-although it could just be that they are the loudest. I would appreciate any advice! Thanks!