Coop Full of Sick Chickens

[KCNC06]

One of my chickens had similar symptoms earlier this year. One of the members of my church is the State's official chicken doctor (literally) and suggested treating the whole flock with Duramycin. Not the best solution if you're selling eggs since you can't eat the eggs for a month after they finish the anitbiotics, but her sneeze/wheeze/rattle was gone within a few days of starting treatment.

 

[strawbie]

Hi there, this sounds like Chronic Respiratory Disease, and your best bet would be disolvable Tylan in their water....
NEVER heat a chicken coop cuz it makes it worse.....

 

[bigredfeather]

Quote:
The "at their level" was what I didn't check. I am 6'-4" tall, so I seldom get down and check it. When I got home last night, I checked it, and it was much worse than I thought. I busted my butt and got it all cleaned out and rebedded with new wood chips. I had used some straw a few weeks back, and it was really nasty. I am not going to use straw anymore. This morning, despite the snow, I opened the ventilation door. I hope this is the problem. Thank you Speckledhen for your reminder. I know better than to let the bedding go, but with the cold snowy weather, it was easy to overlook. I will let this incident serve as a lesson. If the ammonia was the culprit, any idea how long it should take before I start seeing the chickens recover?

Thanks again everybody.

 

[speckledhen]

Hopefully, if that was really the culprit, they will clear out in a few days. If you can get some Apple Cider Vinegar with the "mother" in it (sediment) and have a plastic waterer, not metal, I'd add 2 tablespoons to a gallon for a few days. That may help somewhat since it had lots of vitamins and minerals in it. I've made myself some ACV hot tea with honey when I was badly congested and it does help. I hope it was the ammonia because that is fixable.

 

[bigredfeather]

Quote:
I did put some ACV when I filled them up this morning. I didn't have any of the Mother, so I just used what I had. I also put some minced garlic in there.

 

[mdbokc]

I am 6'-4" also and have never gotten down on their level to check the atmosphere at their level until this thread. Just got back. It is the same as is at my level. But the girls were looking at me like I was nuts!!!! "What are you doing down here?" T'was funny as their eyes took on a different look as well as how they held their heads while I was down on their level.

Great thread and good luck.