Leave it alone!

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Hi guys. I do understand the possiblilities, but I honestly think its nothing serious. Most of you disagree with me, but I havent been worried from the get-go. I just wanted some ideas on how to quickly and safely clear up the coughs and sniffles. They are doing 10 times better today!! Everyone is very active (though no one was ever lathargic) and they were playing and having a good ol' time. I used the Tylan-50 yesterday and will do so again tomorrow. I also put vitamins and electrolytes in their water yesterday and then gave them fresh water today. When I went out to the coop, nobody coughed or weezed, only a couple sneezes. They seem significantly better. I am not worried. If it takes a turn for the worse, I will deal with that when the time comes. I did try to get heat to the coops, all I need is one more extention cord, which I will purchase tomorrow. I COMPLETELY cleaned out the coop and got rid of every piece of hay & straw and put down nice fresh shavings. Its smells better than my room in there now! I cant wait to see how theyre doing tomorrow. But, as of today, (again, only 24 hours from initial treatment) they have improved. Thanks for all your help. I will keep you posted.

eta: when i went to TSC today to get heat lamp bulbs, i accidentally bought an egg turner!! see what you make me do!!!! jk, but i had to blame somebody cuz i know its not my fault!
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Chickens do not get colds. There is a sickness in birds that is traveling all over the US like wildfire. It is ILT. PLEASE EVERYONE read about it and vaccinate your flocks. Hatcheries are being shut down. Flocks have it outdoors. If flocks have it outdoors THEN wild birds are getting it. IF wild birds are getting it they are going to fly and migrate to YOUR hometown. IT IS A VIRUS. IT IS CONTAGIOUS. IT COMES ON LIKE A SIMPLE LITTLE COLD AND THEN IT KILLS YOUR ENTIRE FLOCK. You may think you have the problem solved and it's only a matter of time until it rears it's ugly head again.

The virus begins in the intestinal tract and literally strips the bird's insides til it reaches the trachea and eats a hole straight through. This is a gurgling type noise you hear just before the bird dies. Eyes swell shut only sometimes. There is coughing and sneezing.

It starts out like a simple cold. But chickens do NOT get colds.

The first symptoms are watery poop. Then a red wormy like dot right in the middle. (intestine lining) then runny diarrhea then the bird stops drinking but will eat. THEN the bird stops eating. Then goodbye. It's a terrible way to go.

Tylan and other antibiotics will save some birds and mask the symptoms for a while. One cold snap will kill some. Then more. Then a LOT MORE. Until your flock is gone--all except for the CARRIERS which will infect any new birds you introduce.

It is in the air.

This is something we need to vaccinate for EVERY YEAR. Not just once in a lifetime. EVERY YEAR. And properly.
 
It seems that we always discuss whether or not chickens get colds. There is no real definition for the term, "cold." My farm vet says chickens can catch colds. Some people say they can't. I sent an e-mail to the poultry vet at MSU and asked him flat out if a chicken can catch a cold. I asked him if they can get a cold with upper respiratory symptoms, like sneezing, coughing, runny nose, etc. and if they could just be treated for the secondary infections with antibiotics, or if they should always be culled because they will be carriers forever. Here is his complete response:



I for one will take his word for it that chickens can catch a cold. I will also remember that it can be something more sinister. I will treat secondary infections with antibiotics. If I suspect one of the more sinister diseases, I will pay for testing.

I hope that the OP's birds are doing well.
 
I have often thought my chickens get colds. Some worse than others. I have had some that sneezed but otherwise acted fine, and everything cleared up on its own. I have had others who started out sneezing then going to the rattling chest, who required either antibiotics in the water, or Tylan 50 injections.

Everyone has their own opinions, and I just do what I can to have healthy birds.
 
Perhaps the issue is what the term "cold" means to people. Here are several definitions for you below. The problem with saying your chicken has a cold is that, unless you have actually tested the bird to find out what virus is causing the issue, you really do not know if it's just a mild form of something that would be worse if the bird's immune system wasn't able to fight it off as well. The term is used far too often when birds are really ill, with the owner not understanding that the bird may have one of the 5-6 awful carrier type diseases. This is why I never use the term "cold" in relation to avians. Maybe a sneeze is nothing, but maybe it's the beginning of a really terrible issue. If it stops at a sneeze, and no other symptoms pop up, you probably have an environmental cause. If there is snot and matted eyes, that is more serious, IMO. You know, we have vets, possibly avian vets, in our membership and could really use their input when these issues arise, dont you agee?
I, too, hope the OPs birds have nothing serious. That is very stressful.

Definitions of common cold on the Web:

cold: a mild viral infection involving the nose and respiratory passages (but not the lungs); "will they never find a cure for the common cold?"
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Acute viral nasopharyngitis, or acute coryza, usually known as the common cold, is a highly contagious, viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory system, primarily caused by picornaviruses (including rhinoviruses) or coronaviruses.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_cold

A very common, mild viral infection of the nose and throat, whose symptoms include sneezing, sniffling, a running or blocked nose, a sore throat ...
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/common_cold

A mild illness caused by upper respiratory viruses. Usual symptoms include nasal congestion, coughing, sneezing, throat irritation, and a low ...
www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3447200312.html

The most commonly occurring virus is a group that lives in the nasal passages known as the "rhinovirus. ...
www.jcbwrites.com/virutasewebsite/rs-1.htm​
 

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