My barred rock has a cough

[Sarahrachel1]

It started about a week ago and we started her on duramycin -10 three days ago. She has no other symptoms. She's alert, eating, drinking, laying and pooping normal. I separated her from the 13 other chickens that we have so I wasn't medicating the others. She is only one with a cough. She's only a year old and very healthy otherwise. I plan to treat her with antibiotics for 5 days total then not eat her eggs for 2 weeks after the end of her treatment. Our chickens used to be completely free range, but they came into contact with wild turkeys a lot and we believe were infested with mites due to the contact with turkeys. We've been treating the problem with DE and have them fenced into a fairly large run now. Does this sound familiar to anyone? Also does the treatment sound about right? What happens if her cough doesn't go away during treatment?

 

[teach1rusl]

Well...think positively and hopefully the cough WILL go away. No sneezing or anything? Tylan 50 is a stronger antibiotic that can be injected for three days straight if the Duram. doesn't seem to do the trick.
Personally, I would not rely on DE for mites - I'd use Adams Flea/Tick spray or Frontline (the stuff for cats or dogs) to address mites...

 

[Sarahrachel1]

Yes, I haven't heard her sneeze. Just coughing. Do you not think DE is strong enough to get rid of mites? I think it has helped a great bit, but I do still see an occasional mite. How do you use the for line? Do you apply it to the back of the chickens? One tube to each chicken?

 

[teach1rusl]

If the DE has been working for you, then stick with it. Personally, I'd opt for the Adams flea/tick spray if you have a decent sized flock. The spray is really easy towork with/administer. But if you try the Frontline, it'd be cheaper to use the largest dog dose, because you could use a needless syringe and get about 8 doses (at about .5ml each) from one extra large dog dose.