I am very concerned and becoming very heart broken...:0(

[Jolyn]

What about the eggs? Should they be consumed?

Thanks everyone for your responses.

 

[dlhunicorn]

What have you decided to treat with?
Give some background info on your birds, environment (housing, temps, weather etc) and what you have been feeding them.

 

[Mahonri]

The most important thing to remember is you are unique. Just like everyone else.

 

[Poohbear]

BJ is right. Try the VetRX first. Rub it full strength on their head and under the wings. Read the directions that come with the box. It will tell you how to use a cotton swab for the sinus and eyes. VetRX does not mix with cold water but will mix with WARM water. You can put a little on a small drinking container of cold water for 2 to five days and when they dip their beaks to drink, it will be in their nose and throat, medicating them . If that don't fix them, you can get Lincomycin or several other respitory antibiotics and give them intramuscular shots for 5 days (YES, you CAN give your chickens a shot!) No sense in getting anxious yet. If that don't work, message me and there are several options before culling. Chickens sometimes show the signs yours have when they get cold and wet, anxious, stressed or have a flare-up of CRD, which 90% of all chickens have. Yours have what we know as "respitory stress". Chickens don't get colds but they DO get something very simular to it.

 

[CK Chickadilly]

Quote:
That is good to know. About 5 of mine have been acting like they have a chest cold. Hoarseness & stuffy nose. They eat well & drink. It hasn't spread at all. Oh a couple girls had an eye shut but that is gone & no other symptoms.

I have been using the Vet Rx & drip it on their noses, rub it on the wattle & combs & under each wing pit. Last night I used Vicks on the combs & wattles & did the Vet Rx thing too in their noses. They love it!

They seemed to get this when we went through a major weather change. It was FREEZING cold & then it warmed up into the 40's for 2 days w/rain & then back down to freezing cold like WHAM! Then a few got sick.

Sorry to ramble....but I guess my point was, they love the Vet Rx & Vicks like they know it helps them.....oh & I was using the electrolytes but changed back to the ACV & that's when they really started improving. Plus good warm food in the afternoon with extra protein.

Good luck!

 

[speckledhen]

If all you have is a slight watery discharge and a sneeze here and there, it may be nothing. Could be too much ammonia at floor level--get down there and take a whiff yourself. I guarantee that unless you turn over the shavings and really smell it yourself, you wont get the full effect that they do, especially in wet weather.

I must say, again, that chickens do not get head colds like we do. And VetRx may help them breathe, but it does not cure anything, just know that. Here are some links for you to read:

http://www.shagbarkbantams.com/ib.htm

http://www.shagbarkbantams.com/page22.htm

http://www.shagbarkbantams.com/page11.htm

http://www.shagbarkbantams.com/laryng.htm

This line is repeated in all the articles:

Chickens do not suffer from the Common Cold​

 

[CK Chickadilly]

Those were great articles.....I bookmarked them.

 

[BayCityBabe]

I googled Vet RX and read that it is some sort of antibiotic. Is this true? Can you eat the eggs of birds that have been treated with Vet RX?

 

[CK Chickadilly]

Quote:
It is just an herbal remedy, so I would think you can still eat the eggs.

 

[speckledhen]

It is NOT an antibiotic, though McMurray lists it as one. Why they do that, I have no idea. Below are the ingredients.

Active Ingredient(s)
Made with 3.3% (v-v) alcohol U.S.P. The mixture contains Canada balsam, camphor, oil origanum, oil rosemary, blended in a corn oil base.​