Head cold

[Ceto]

Hello so this is my first year with a handful of chickens (and we absolutely love them ). Our gold laced Wyandotte, Nora (one of the sweetest hens and a favorite), definitely has a cold. Between advice from a friend who's had chickens for years and tractor supply, I have her inside (I have a Guinea hen that was picking on her), with electrolytes and poultry cell in her water, a meal worm suet cake (which she hasn't seemed to realize is food lol), and plenty of regular food... and a big mirror. Oh, and I've put some VetRx on her beak a couple times since yesterday (supposedly it's like Vicks to help her breathe).As of yesterday it's quite frozen outside (upstate NY).
So questions: how long should I keep her in? Is there anything else I can do for her, either physically or so she doesn't get lonely? I thought about putting her out with the others for a few hours during the day, but it's 30 degrees outside

 

[coach723]

Birds don't get "colds". They do get respiratory diseases, many of which can be chronic and are viral and very contagious. Mycoplasma gallisepticum is one of the most common. If testing is possible, either by swab or PCR (blood sample) that could tell you. MG is chronic and symptoms can be controlled with Tylosin, but will recur during times of stress.
More on MG here:
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poultry/mycoplasmosis/mycoplasma-gallisepticum-infection-in-poultry

 

[Ceto]

Birds don't get "colds". They do get respiratory diseases, many of which can be chronic and are viral and very contagious. Mycoplasma gallisepticum is one of the most common. If testing is possible, either by swab or PCR (blood sample) that could tell you. MG is chronic and symptoms can be controlled with Tylosin, but will recur during times of stress.
More on MG here:
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poultry/mycoplasmosis/mycoplasma-gallisepticum-infection-in-poultry

Okay, a respiratory virus/infection. That's really what I meant... where does one get birds tested? We have a 4H (Cornell Cooperative Extension) nearby(?) and then it sounds like isolation is better than not... but otherwise it doesn't seem like there's much to do except some meds or vaccines to decrease clinical signs. So pretty much it just has to run its course?

 

[coach723]

Call them and see if they have testing available. Some vets will do it, you can also call your local ag. extension office for poultry testing resources. Knowing for sure what it is makes it easier to make decisions going forward. If it is MG, it's chronic, and infected birds are carriers for life, with periodic recurrences of symptoms. Some people with MG positive flocks treat monthly to control symptoms.