First 1 chicken with a cough... (and I think I am to blame)

[NapsWithChickens]

I appreciate (more than you know) all the feedback: thank you! I am forwarding everything to Marilyn as we go...

BYC really has been so helpful to me!

 

[tnchickenut]

Quote:
It's ok. I guess I didn't factor in that it is hard to understand "toungue in cheek" through typed words. I didn't mean "chicken cold" like it was a actual diagnosis... but in my experience, chickens and ducks even do sneeze and sniffle more in the winter (thus the "cold" comment). Never been a respiratory here either. I got the one bantam boy from someone and he was sneezing and weezing always. VetRX cleared that up. Everyone went through a sneezing thing a couple weeks ago and VetRX cleared them all up.

I do agree about the ammonia levels. I didn't think about it since all my coops are very "airy". Matter of fact, too airy... I'm fighting frostbite every day here lately. But you are right about that. I would think that maybe that wouldn't be it since it seems to have come on all a sudden after this one hen, though.

 

[tnchickenut]

Here is a good article in simple English...

Entitled "My Chicken Has A Cold" (once again... tongue in cheek) http://www.shagbarkbantams.com/page22.htm

It fully explains some of your symptoms and possible treatments and vaccinations. Tetracycline can be used but seems some birds are getting ammune.

 

[speckledhen]

Stacy, I just don't want folks to take respiratory illness too lightly, which is often the case. Many seem to think that chickens regularly get colds just like kids and only need antibiotics and they're recovered, which is not usually the case. Naturally, you always want to check environmental causes like ammonia levels first before jumping to any conclusions or panicking. So, just trying to make sure folks dont throw antibiotics at viral infections and think the birds are then well.

 

[tnchickenut]

Quote:
I get ya'. And no, antibiotics don't cure everything. I'm just not the type person to jump to the worst case scenario either. But that is my nature. All angles should be covered, which is what makes sites like this useful... you get all kinds of angles to explore to find your solution.

truth is, there are as many cures and treatments as there are possiblilities.

 

[NapsWithChickens]

Great news!

I heard from Marilyn this morning - no coughing or wheezing this morning from any of her birds! Yippee!

She had started with Sulmet, but is not going to continue. She said that she thought her covered runs (no indoor coops - it is mild here) had enough ventilation - but agrees that there was an ammonia smell. I think she cleaned it out....

I'm SO relieved! I was worried that I had given her a sick bird... that all her birds would get it... that mine were sick or about to be... Whew!

Lessons learned:
1. Quarantine new birds... and tell others to do the same. (Not sure how I'll do that with my set up, but I'll figure something out.)
2. Keep those coops CLEAN! Especially in the winter.
3. When in doubt, turn to BYC....

You guys are AWESOME!!!! THANK YOU!

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

So glad that things turned out well!

 

[tnchickenut]

Good! YAY!

Now, if only it were mild here!

 

[speckledhen]

Excellent news!