We lost a hen yesterday (Bob, a GLW) and another of our hens (the other GLW) shows the same symptoms. I've had her at the vet and they tell me it's the dry dusty heat combined with a possible viral infection.
Symptoms are a dry barking cough, loss of feathers and a loss of appetite. She is still eating and drinking some, and moving around just fine. But this cough is awful sounding - makes her whole neck stretch out. And last night and this morning there were feathers everywhere in the coop and in the yard.
It got really bad last night and of course there are no vets open on the weekend, at least not ones that treat chickens around here.
We treated the water for the whole flock with antibiotics for a week to prevent secondary infections.
I don't know what to do at this point. They have shelter, shade, water, and a fan at night. It is very very hot (upper 90's) and dry but they have good conditions otherwise. I've put watermelon out, and plain yogurt to help with moisture as well as other fruits.
I just don't know what to do. When Bob died yesterday - we found her laying up in the trees. I fear Hootie is next. The rest of the flock does not show any of these symptoms. I was going to separate her but I don't really have a set up for this and they've been together the whole time anyway I doubt it would make much of a difference.
It started with just a little cough, then all of a sudden got really bad with the 2 of them, then Bob died.
Does this sound familiar to anyone, and if so, what can I do?
Symptoms are a dry barking cough, loss of feathers and a loss of appetite. She is still eating and drinking some, and moving around just fine. But this cough is awful sounding - makes her whole neck stretch out. And last night and this morning there were feathers everywhere in the coop and in the yard.
It got really bad last night and of course there are no vets open on the weekend, at least not ones that treat chickens around here.
We treated the water for the whole flock with antibiotics for a week to prevent secondary infections.
I don't know what to do at this point. They have shelter, shade, water, and a fan at night. It is very very hot (upper 90's) and dry but they have good conditions otherwise. I've put watermelon out, and plain yogurt to help with moisture as well as other fruits.
I just don't know what to do. When Bob died yesterday - we found her laying up in the trees. I fear Hootie is next. The rest of the flock does not show any of these symptoms. I was going to separate her but I don't really have a set up for this and they've been together the whole time anyway I doubt it would make much of a difference.
It started with just a little cough, then all of a sudden got really bad with the 2 of them, then Bob died.
Does this sound familiar to anyone, and if so, what can I do?
