Do Chickens get coughs?

[paisley]

This morning I went out to the hen house to let my 19 hens and 1 rooster out. Before he crowed, he made some weird sounds, almost like coughing. I thought I heard a couple of the hens do it, too.
So I am wondering if chickens get coughs? And if so, what do I do about it? They are all doing really well otherwise. Laying beautifully. Any ideas?

 

[dlhunicorn]

any signs of respiratory symptoms...?
are they gaping or stretching their necks out when they make this noise? If so it may be gapeworm

 

[pollysmum]

What country do you live in

What has the weather been like over the past 2 weeks

What do you use in the nest boxes

What do you use in the bottom of your coop

How often do you clean out your coop removing all droppings

Have you put in new straw or hay or anything in the past 2 weeks

Have you introduced any new birds to your flock in the past 2 weeks

Has anything changed or been re arranged in the past two weeks

Do you have any antibiotics just in case they do have a respiratory infection

 

[paisley]

Quote:
: I don't have any antibiotics, but I could get some if necessary. I am trying to raise them as naturally as possible.

I will have to try and notice whether they are having trouble breathing. We had a big snow storm this afternoon, so I closed them up early. Will check tomorrow.

Thanks so much for all the input. I really appreciate it!

 

[pollysmum]

Your birds are badly stressed

1. due to the hawk attack
2. due to you changing the inside of the coop and nest box location
3. weather changes
4. new shaving in the coop... may have dust in it

they need some Electrolytes in their drinking water for the next 2 weeks... the local feed store should sell something for birds that goes into the drinking water

please don't use Pedalite or any of those products

Check their droppings... with the warm weather, stress and hawk attack it may be cocci or respiratory hitting them or both

Please come back with a description of what the droppings look like... color ... consistency.... etc.. look at a few of the ones that are coughing