Is this a respiratory illness or something else?

[AngelinaThePekin8]

Okay, I got some pictures of the coop and a lot of the chickens and ducks.

Before I send the rest of the pictures how do you make it so the pictures are all thumbnails or whatever? I havent figured it out, and is there a way to select multiple images?

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Okay, I got some pictures of the coop and a lot of the chickens and ducks.
View attachment 3018215View attachment 3018216View attachment 3018219View attachment 3018222View attachment 3018223View attachment 3018224View attachment 3018225View attachment 3018227View attachment 3018230View attachment 3018234
Before I send the rest of the pictures how do you make it so the pictures are all thumbnails or whatever? I havent figured it out, and is there a way to select multiple images?

I actually think the way you done it making them all full images better. With most of us being on a mobile it's kind of hard to click on each thumbnail to view it full size.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

If it were me I'd just start drilling some holes along the roof line.
Anything bigger than half inch so you'll want to staple hardware cloth over so nothing can get in.
I don't think you would want to cut any windows or anything in there because it's not tall enough for any window to be above their heads where they wouldn't get a draft.

 

[AngelinaThePekin8]

I actually think the way you done it making them all full images better. With most of us being on a mobile it's kind of hard to click on each thumbnail to view it full size.

Oh, I didn't think that would have been an issue. Okay then I will send the rest.

 

[AngelinaThePekin8]

If it were me I'd just start drilling some holes along the roof line.
Anything bigger than half inch so you'll want to staple hardware cloth over so nothing can get in.
I don't think you would want to cut any windows or anything in there because it's not tall enough for any window to be above their heads where they wouldn't get a draft.

Thank you! I don't know if I am going to be hasty with doing things like cutting holes and stuff until I have a better understanding of how the coop is built and where to even put the ventilation. I don't want to put something in the wrong spot. I am going to do some more research and figure out how all of that stuff works. Any suggestions or advise on how to go about better ventilating the coop would be greatly appreciated.

 

[AngelinaThePekin8]

Here are the rest of the pictures. I also need to fix that metal thing near the thing holding the roost down. That weird metal band was to hold the other roost which I don't think I am going to put back in there.

This is where snow can get in, it has filled up the first nesting box a few times.

The chickens and ducks are all eating and drinking normally, I put nutridrench in one of the water containers today. Angel is the pekin in this photo she was walking to a different feed container, her feather bleed because the other ducks pull on her feathers.

Haru, the younger cayuga drake was coughing today before and after eating. I don't think he is doing it anymore though.

This is Kiki she is 4 years old if I remember correctly. She seems to have the most symptoms her whole body moves when she breaths but I don't hear wheezing or see any discharge, I want to know weather giving her vetrx would help her breath better and if so how should I give it too her?

Two of the other chickens also seem be having a harder time breathing but it isn't as pronounced as Kiki's breathing. This is Darth Vader she is one of the hens that are having a bit of a harder time breathing. She is about 7-8 years old.

The ducks were having a pool party.

Topaz, had to tell the whole flock that he is a BBQ chicken.

This is Chiharu the oldest duck we have. I think he is 8 years old now or maybe older or younger.

Angel, was getting her sort of daily swim in. I have to put her in and watch her. She has a niacin def I believe arthritis as well so she has a hard time walking, but recently we put them on all flock and she is able to do a lot more and seems a lot happier to, which makes me so happy every time I see her do something she hasn't done in a long time it makes me so happy!
Okay, so what should I do for Kiki? I am really worried about her, I am worried about the whole flock but she is the only one you can really tell has a hard time breathing you can see her face go up and down when she inhales and exhales.
Please do tell me if I need to clarify anything or if I forgot to mention something.

 

[AngelinaThePekin8]

So I am thinking of maybe making doors for the summer. This is how they would be basically.

the red out line would be hardware cloth or something like that, I don't know if the door for the ramp would be a good idea to have as just hardware cloth, because of possible draft, but I don't think during the summer that drafts would bother them to much right? Do you think this is a good idea.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

So I am thinking of maybe making doors for the summer. This is how they would be basically.
View attachment 3018837
the red out line would be hardware cloth or something like that, I don't know if the door for the ramp would be a good idea to have as just hardware cloth, because of possible draft, but I don't think during the summer that drafts would bother them to much right? Do you think this is a good idea.

If it is a respiratory infection I think they will need antibiotics.
Someone else will have to chime in on that.
I know you are already aware your Coop need help, but these kind of problems will persist as long as they are being over crowded like that. Feather pulling is part of being over crowded too. Adding ventilation will help but won't fix the problem. You need a bigger coop or less birds.

 

[AngelinaThePekin8]

If it is a respiratory infection I think they will need antibiotics.
Someone else will have to chime in on that.
I know you are already aware your Coop need help, but these kind of problems will persist as long as they are being over crowded like that. Feather pulling is part of being over crowded too. Adding ventilation will help but won't fix the problem. You need a bigger coop or less birds.

So which antibiotics and where to get them? Whoever has knowledge of that kind of stuff. And I think I might look into ways of making more room or something. I don't really notice the chickens pulling feathers off of anyone, the ducks like to pick on Angel because she can't get around well. They had a pallet coop but we took it down because a swift fox got in a couple times last year, it came around at dusk and a few times at like midnight. I scared it out of the pallet coop the second time it came around. And the only thing it was able to do was get Angelina on the back of the neck a little bit but never did any serious damage.
Edit: I want to give Kiki some Vetrx tonight how and what exactly should I do to administer it? If I should at all?

 

[african chickens]

Chiharu is soo handsome