long list of "illneses"

[Groggle Stankanom]

Hi all
Im very new to the chook game. I went to the local towns auction and bought 4 chooks. 2 silky bantams and 2 Light brown...things. They all turned out to be very sick.
I just asumed that they would be healthy but hey i leant a lesson. The two Isa "things" turned out to be roosters and really stunk. I wanted layers. Easy fix i just gave them the chop and buried em in the vineyard.
The bantams 1 rooster and 1 hen. ( both supposed to be hens) have a slight, single cough every few minutes. The rooster used to be very lethargic but is now ok. They forage around just fine and poo seems ok. They seem a bit skinny in the breast bone area but i have nothing to compare it too.
What to do next ?
Donk them on the head too and go to a proper breeder or try to fix prob ?
Cheers

 

[Miss Lydia]

Do you have any idea how old they are? if over 1 year they could probably use a good worming and you should also check them over real good for lice and mites. also might want to look up CRD, yes sometimes people sell sick birds and it's a shame. But hopefully with a little TLC the 2 remaining ones will come around for you. They are a joy to have. Heres a few sites to look up. http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0018html http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/chickcare.html
http://www.healthybirds.umd.edu/disease/deworming%20birds.pdf http://www.chat.allotment.org.uk/index.php?topic=17568.0 and

 

[Groggle Stankanom]

Thanks for your response. Ive given them a worming. Drops in their water. Also a dust with mite powder. After about a week they seem a bit happier. Wandering around the vinyard eating bugs and grass. They still have a little "pokk" sounding cough every few minutes. But everthing else seems ok.
Hopefully with time they will get over their little cough.
Lovely to watch em foraging under the vines as the sun goes down. Chooks really make you feel good inside by just watching them go about their day.

 

[Buff Hooligans]

I'd give 'em a few more weeks to see if that cough clears up. It could just be a throat-clearing cough, not a lung issue....

But either way, if you have to "off" them, be sure to disinfect your coop & area before getting new healthy birds.

Best of luck, keep up the good work in caring for them.