Cough with damp weather??

[logansmommy7]

We are having a round of rain here where we live in Virginia and I noticed this morning a few of our hens have a bit of a cough with a little congestion. What is this and how do we cure? I'd like to not do antibiotics if necessary. I have heard of using grapeseed extract in their water?? Advice?? I just don't want it to get bad.

 

[speckledhen]

Dampness alone wont start a bird coughing or you wouldn't be able to explain how I have never heard a chicken cough once in the going on four years I've had them. Is the coop itself dry inside? If so, dampness probably isn't a cause, though it can contribute to their weakened state and they can then catch a disease.. I agree that you should not use antibiotics, partly because you have no idea what you're dealing with. Have you added any new birds lately? I'd make sure the coop is dry, separate any that are coughing or congested from the rest, keep them warm, give extra protein and some unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar (2 tbsp to one gallon) in their water, but not a metal waterer. Then observe them and the others. If they get really bad, I'd cull them. If they recover, maybe it was something environmental. So many diseases make them carriers for life and antibiotics may only make things worse by creating resistance if they are used incorrectly, i.e., antibiotics used for a virus are useless anyway. My own policy is to never treat anything respiratory if it ever crops up.

 

[logansmommy7]

What specifically do you give for extra protein? We have them some meat the other day for extra protein, and even some leftover scrambled eggs and they loved it. Is this ok? Just looking for ideas as I just got started last week. We got a Roo and hen with four chicks that were a month old and then two days later got 7 hens from a friend who was scaling back her flock...all healthy we thought. So...there we are. I put fresh straw in the coop this morning and they are definitely warm (it's about 90 degrees today) and will try the apple cider vinegar. Thanks!