coughing? & losing feathers around neck

[New Chick In The Backyard]

I gave some chickens to an 'aquaintance'. (I call him an acquaintance and not a friend because after all this I really didn't like how he treated my chickens and his own animals.) He fed them corn and white bread. They are back on layer pellet now. Anyways, The rooster I gave him would make a high pitch noise, almost like a cough?? He died. I eventually gave him the rest of my chickens because he offered to take care of them thru the winter for me. I was in bad health. I got some back and now my favorite hen is making that high pitch noise. What do I need to do? And all three of them are losing their feathers. I'm assuming this is molting? This is the first time they've done this since I got them last January, so a little over a year ago. I notice some of his chickens don't have feathers around their neck like my hen. Mine has lots of pin feathers on her neck tho. I dont know if this is related. He has a couple that have all their feathers but hardly any around their neck. Will it take all summer to get their feathers back? Will vet rx do the job? I am on a tight income. Any help would be so appreciated. I don't want my chickens to die. If they caught something does that mean my whole chicken area and coop are infected? If so, for how long? If one or all of them die will it be infected for a long time? Thanks.
(I've just treated them for parasites)
Oh, do you think they will warm back up to me? They used to be so tame but after being mistreated over the winter they act wild.

 

[New Chick In The Backyard]

It sounds like the chicken on this video at 46 seconds. (The lady in the video acts like its funny but my rooster was doing this and i was told it got worse and he died.)

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

I've always called that noise sneezing, but I'm not sure if that's really what it is. Chickens make that noise usually only if they eat too fast, or have something stuck in their throat. Doing it often can be an indication of a respiratory disease, and vet rx might help with that. Does the person they were with have any other chickens? If so, they could have caught something from them. If one of them has a respiratory disease, chances are it'll spread to the whole flock.
Pin feathers coming in is an indication of a molt, and it could be a stress molt. From what you said, it sounds like they weren't very well taken care of. Whereabouts in the world do you live? In some places, its time for a molt, but stress molting can happen any time. Depending on the breed of chicken, it can take a few weeks to a few months to finish a molt.
And yes, they will probably warm back up to you after a while! They've had quite a shock, and they're probably wary of trusting anyone right now. If you're quiet and calm, and talk softly to them, they will probably become friendlier.
Hope this helps!
Abi

 

[Franky619]

I gave some chickens to an 'aquaintance'. (I call him an acquaintance and not a friend because after all this I really didn't like how he treated my chickens and his own animals.) He fed them corn and white bread. They are back on layer pellet now. Anyways, The rooster I gave him would make a high pitch noise, almost like a cough?? He died. I eventually gave him the rest of my chickens because he offered to take care of them thru the winter for me. I was in bad health. I got some back and now my favorite hen is making that high pitch noise. What do I need to do? And all three of them are losing their feathers. I'm assuming this is molting? This is the first time they've done this since I got them last January, so a little over a year ago. I notice some of his chickens don't have feathers around their neck like my hen. Mine has lots of pin feathers on her neck tho. I dont know if this is related. He has a couple that have all their feathers but hardly any around their neck. Will it take all summer to get their feathers back? Will vet rx do the job? I am on a tight income. Any help would be so appreciated. I don't want my chickens to die. If they caught something does that mean my whole chicken area and coop are infected? If so, for how long? If one or all of them die will it be infected for a long time? Thanks.
(I've just treated them for parasites)
Oh, do you think they will warm back up to me? They used to be so tame but after being mistreated over the winter they act wild.

What's good?
I got a silky rooster and he's doing the same thing you just mentioned, coughing and molting also he seems to act as if he was drunk/blind.

He no longer can walk normally without stumbling, it's really sad to watch.
I'm gonna try vetrx this Sunday cause "delivery," I'll tell you how things are going after injecting this little guy.
Are your chickens acting the same way, a bit disoriented?

 

[New Chick In The Backyard]

I've always called that noise sneezing, but I'm not sure if that's really what it is. Chickens make that noise usually only if they eat too fast, or have something stuck in their throat. Doing it often can be an indication of a respiratory disease, and vet rx might help with that. Does the person they were with have any other chickens? If so, they could have caught something from them. If one of them has a respiratory disease, chances are it'll spread to the whole flock.
Pin feathers coming in is an indication of a molt, and it could be a stress molt. From what you said, it sounds like they weren't very well taken care of. Whereabouts in the world do you live? In some places, its time for a molt, but stress molting can happen any time. Depending on the breed of chicken, it can take a few weeks to a few months to finish a molt.
And yes, they will probably warm back up to you after a while! They've had quite a shock, and they're probably wary of trusting anyone right now. If you're quiet and calm, and talk softly to them, they will probably become friendlier.
Hope this helps!
Abi

Thanks Abi. Yes he has a lot of chickens. I havent heard any of them making this noise. I live in TN.

 

[New Chick In The Backyard]

What's good?
I got a silky rooster and he's doing the same thing you just mentioned, coughing and molting also he seems to act as if he was drunk/blind.

He no longer can walk normally without stumbling, it's really sad to watch.
I'm gonna try vetrx this Sunday cause "delivery," I'll tell you how things are going after injecting this little guy.
Are your chickens acting the same way, a bit disoriented?

That is how my rooster got before he died. I saw one of them acting that way but not making that noise. He would just stand there all day and barely move and acting drunk, he actually recovered on his own somehow. I don't know how he is but that's the last I heard about him.

 

[New Chick In The Backyard]

What's good?
I got a silky rooster and he's doing the same thing you just mentioned, coughing and molting also he seems to act as if he was drunk/blind.

He no longer can walk normally without stumbling, it's really sad to watch.
I'm gonna try vetrx this Sunday cause "delivery," I'll tell you how things are going after injecting this little guy.
Are your chickens acting the same way, a bit disoriented?

I have given my chicken apple cider vinegar with the stuff in the bottom of the glass bottle, "mother" I think its called and electrolytes and probiotics in their water and she hasn't made the noise in days. So maybe she'll be ok. I would try this and vet rx if i was you. They sell the electrolytes and probiotics in cheap packets at tractor supply.