New chickens are coughing...with video for aided diagnosis

[syount]

I recently purchased 4 six month old hens for a new coop. The hens came from a guy on Craigslist. I got 2 red stars and 2 black stars. We were really excited to be living in a place where we could have them--my first time with chickens since I was a child.

They are coughing quite a bit and it has us concerned. It seems like the black stars are coughing worse than the red stars, but all 4 cough frequently. Additionally, not all 4 coughed as much as they do now when we got them.

Couple data points: Though I was told they were lying when we got them, we have had them for a week and no eggs. The guy who we get them from has told me that antibiotics should help, and seemed slightly surprised (but maybe not enough for me to feel good about it). They seem happy enough otherwise, they eat and drink quite a bit and are settling into their new home.

I have read Speckledhen's Ten Commandments of Good Flock Management and am fearing #8.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/129278/speckledhens-ten-commandments-of-good-flock-management

Based on the video below, can anyone help me with a diagnosis and plan.

This has been a rough start to chicken ownership.

 

[dracoe19]

Them not laying could be because they are getting sick and they are in a new area. My customers have the problem of them not laying quite a bit. As for the coughing I can't for the life of me remember the antibiotics I give but I know it is in a yellow powder you mix in their water. There is also an antibiotic I got at the feed store for minor infections or ailments. I would check there. When I remember the name of the yellow powder I will post it for you.

 

[syount]

A neighbor suggested Tylon 50. I have some on order. Other suggestions?

 

[speckledhen]

Wow, the guy who sold them to you suggested antibiotics? Yeah, he's treated them before, I bet. Not a good way to start chicken ownership and not a way I'd suggest anyone start. Good thing you don't have any other chickens who can be infected by them, but you have to ask yourself if you really want to start out with birds who have a carrier disease, if it's something like mycoplasmosis.

I can't really tell if they are coughing or sneezing in the video, but you're there with them so you'd know better than we would. Some birds sneeze in a new environment, due to different smells and the stress, etc, so I hope that's all it is. Most people are just ignorant of chicken diseases and think they catch colds and that it's no big deal, so they sell birds who should be put down instead or treat them and keep the cycle going. Sorry you're having to deal with this.

There really are some harsh realities of chicken keeping. Thank you for reading my flock management thread. Hope it helps you in your future life with chickens.


This lady bought some 8 week old chicks with obvious mycoplasmosis and was able to make a hard decision to protect her current flock. It's rare we read about a member actually following through like this and I suggest everyone read this short thread, for something to think about: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/663278/need-help-new-chickens-had-mycoplasma

 

[syount]

Thanks for the lengthy and honest reply. I think my concern is that besides the sneezing (Though coughing seems like a possibly more accurate description), I am not seeing much if any discharge--which I believed was a very common symptom of Mycoplasm. I'll cull if it's the right thing to do, but I'd hate to do it if I'm misdiagnosing.

I don't think it's just a new environment thing since they have been doing coughing/sneezing more, not less in the last week. The frequency is about once every 30 seconds or more.

 

[speckledhen]

Hmm, hard to really say. Since you have no other birds who can be affected at the moment, I wouldn't treat them, just observe them.

One thing that could have happened, depending on how they were kept where they lived previously, is they could have been in a heavy ammonia environment. That will cause respiratory issues. Also, a very wet environment can do the same thing, cause a pneumonia-like condition or pneumonia itself. Did you see how he kept them?

If that is the case, and ammonia was the culprit, lots of fresh air and proper nutrition will fix it. If it is pneumonia, Tylan is advisable. If it's mycoplasmosis, I would not treat it, personally. The kicker is diagnosing which it is.

 

[syount]

Thanks so much for the help. The chickens seem to be doing better so far. I am going to give them a week and see how they do. I'll post to the thread with updates.

 

[syount]

Just to update the thread and bring some closure. We had to cull the chickens this weekend. It was harder emotionally than I expected. Cleaned out and sanitized the coop and hoping to start over with some new hens soon. Looking for good breeders in the Bay Area if anyone has any recommendations.