My girls have developed a cough!

[Jeannieb4]

I am a first time chicken owner. I have three 25 week Black Australorps who have been laying for a little while. I just wormed the girls for the first time and now they have started coughing and one has nasal drainage. I also introduced two new four week old RIR chicks to my group three weeks ago. They all free range during the day but have separate roosting and feeding areas. The babies do have access to the big girls water. I wormed all the girls at the same time, but only the older ones have this cough. Any ideas what I am dealing with and what I should do? I started all on Sulmet just in case. I need some help but am not in a financial position to spend a lot of money at a vet.

 

[willowbranchfarm]

I don't have a clue what they might have. Maybe they caught something the little ones had.


Anyway....bump.

 

[Jeannieb4]

could my older girls have cought something from the younger ones when the little girls are not showing any symptoms?

 

[willowbranchfarm]

Its possible. Have you had the chicks since they were days old?? Or did you just get them??

 

[maidenwolfx80]

I posted on your new member post,
did you not quaratine the new ones?
You need to do that when you get new ones to see if they have any illness...
Are they eating/drinking ok? Is the poo normal? Do they sit or stand with their eyes shut? Are they less active?

 

[Jeannieb4]

Thank you for getting back with me. Yes I kept the little ones separate from the big girls for about 2 weeks. everyone appeared fine. When allowed to be in a social area together they all got along fine. Only the big girls have the cough and one has some discharge from her nose. this started two days ago. I have them separated now and on Sulmet. Is there more that I should do? I know in retro spect that I should have kept the babies farther away from the big girls and kept them apart much longer. Beings that I am a medical person for humans, I feel totally stupid about this and more than a little helpless! Is there a different medication I should have them on?

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Sulmet is antibacterial, it is good for some things I use it. I recomend using an antibiotic like duramycin-10 or what ever you find at your local feed store. This may be a reperatory thing. Any other symptoms? is the poo normal or runny? different color? Are they active? Eating and drinking ok?

 

[Jeannieb4]

Mind you they just started showing symptoms (cough) two days ago, but it seems to be progressing fast. The two that lay, layed yesterday. only one layed today and now I hear like rales in their breathing and one won't come take a snack and she has her eyes half closed most of the time. This whole thing has me very upset, I love my girls. Is it possible that they could live through this and still produce eggs? I will go get the antibiotic you suggested. How long should I give it. Would it be of any help to syringe feed the real sick one her medicine water?

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Give 2 tsp of the med in a gallon of water for 7 days. They can live thru it, you just need to keep doing what you are doing and get her meds. I need to know how the poo is and if they are eating and drinking ok. how long did you give the sulmet?

 

[Jeannieb4]

Their poop is loose, but I just wormed them so I was thinking it was after effects of the tx. It is hard to tell what poo belongs to what girl. Some of it is quite normal... I'll run out and check their yard because I kept them penned up today and I also just started the Sulmet today. I'll get the Duramycin tomorrow. Is that the same thing as Sulfamethoxine (Albon, Di-Methox)? If the one doesn't want to drink should I syringe feed her the treated water? Be righ back on the poo!