Coughing, lethargic chick

[BCChickInn]

Our 15 week-old speckled sussex has been coughing for the past few days. We had a wild temperature shift from chilly to 95+*, dusty, and dry so at first, I thought maybe she wasn't handling the heat so well, but then she holed herself up for the better part of a day. I quarantined her and cleaned the coop/sanitized waterers/feeders.

She got pretty lethargic yesterday but today seems to be perking up a bit, but still coughing. Her eyes are bright, her crop seems fine, no drainage from eyes/nose. She's started eating a bit and drinking a bit again but is still very easy to catch which isn't necessarily normal for her...

I'm can't help thinking I'm delaying the inevitable here... but I also don't want to dispatch a bird with improving health...

Any thoughts?

 

[Eggcessive]

I would give her some time to recover. If it is a respiratory virus such as infectious bronchitis, it may take a month for her to stop coughing or sneezing. As long as she is eating and drinking well, I would just encourage fluids, and if she seems chilled, you can provide some extra heat. Sick chickens tend to need extra warmth. In the meantime, look at wet or moldy conditions, hot coops, poor air circulation from one side to the other, and dust as possible problems to help prevent. If she develops more symptoms such as thick nasal drainage or a swollen or gunky eye, then you may want to get an antibiotic such as Tylan or Tetracycline from a vet.