Persistent cough in bantam hen despite two rounds of treatment

[Crabbylady]

When I got this hen a few months back she came with a cough and breathing rattle. I used 7 days of oxytet and she improved greatly. Then two weeks later, I noticed her beak was open often and she had a squeak toy sounding cough esp when she runs around. Otherwise acting normally. Eating drinking dust bathing and does not seem out of breath tho the open beak is frequent. We dewormed and still no change. So I began 5 days of Tylan. That’s now over and she still has same symptoms. What next? I have penicillin here and oxytet 200 mg/ml. I would prefer oral not injection. This has been going on for well over two months. She’s about 6 months old. Lungs sound clear and no nasal discharge.

 

[Crabbylady]

Not one reply? Really? Come on folks.

 

[Crabbylady]

Please?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I used 7 days of oxytet and she improved greatly. Then two weeks later, I noticed her beak was open often and she had a squeak toy sounding cough esp when she runs around. Otherwise acting normally. Eating drinking dust bathing and does not seem out of breath tho the open beak is frequent.

So I began 5 days of Tylan. That’s now over and she still has same symptoms. What next? I have penicillin here and oxytet 200 mg/ml. I would prefer oral not injection. This has been going on for well over two months. She’s about 6 months old. Lungs sound clear and no nasal discharge.

Likely not bacterial if you already treated with 2 rounds of antibiotics. A third round I doubt would make a difference.
Getting some testing to find out what you are dealing with is a good idea so you know how to proceed.

There's may causes of respiratory symptoms in chickens. Eating/drinking, acting normal, etc. it may be Infectious Bronchitis which is a virus that eventually will run it's course.

You can get testing through your state lab or an independent lab like Zoologix.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[Crabbylady]

Likely not bacterial if you already treated with 2 rounds of antibiotics. A third round I doubt would make a difference.
Getting some testing to find out what you are dealing with is a good idea so you know how to proceed.

There's may causes of respiratory symptoms in chickens. Eating/drinking, acting normal, etc. it may be Infectious Bronchitis which is a virus that eventually will run it's course.

You can get testing through your state lab or an independent lab like Zoologix.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

Wouldn’t the others all have it I’d if was that? Sorry if dumb question

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Wouldn’t the others all have it I’d if was that? Sorry if dumb question

Possibly.

She came with the issue, so it's hard to know the cause. Could have been damage from where she came from - ammonia, fungal, something she was exposed to in her previous environment, genetic or developmental issue, etc. If your other birds have not become symptomatic then it may not be respiratory disease at all.