sneezing and coughing chickens

[pjschubert]

About a week ago I noticed one chicken sneezing and sounded like coughing. We had our first snow and they were molting. I kept them in their 10x10 pen for a couple of days. Now 3 are now sneezing but no discharge in their nose. They are eating good but it seems like they may all (6) get it. Any ideas what I may give them to treat them? They are beginning to lay eggs after molting but I have found 2 soft shell eggs. I put them on feather fixer, cracked seeds, black oil sunflower seeds and non gmo crumbles. They are organic chickens. I don't want to lose my ladies as they are all so sweet and pets. Any ideas?

 

[Welshies]

What kind of crumbles? What protein percentage?
What bedding do you use?

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings pjschubert,

Are you determined to keep your chickens organic?

 

[Eggcessive]

How often are the same ones sneezing? Sneezing occasionally can be from dust in the feed or in the coop. Frequent sneezing every few minutes which is spreading to more chickens can be a sign of infectious bronchitis (IB,) a virus which antibiotics would not help. It lasts a month or so, and you might notice a clear nasal drainage, decreased laying, and wrinkled egg shells can sometimes occur. IB makes them carriers for up to a year, so it is wise to wait that long to add new birds or hatch chicks. Keeping good end to end air circulation overhead, keeping bedding dry and clean (I prefer pine shavings,) and making sure they are drinking well helps. I would also place some crushed oyster shell in a separate container to help harden egg shells.

 

[pjschubert]

What kind of crumbles? What protein percentage?
What bedding do you use?

I use organic crumbles, organic mixed grains, black oil sunflower seeds and organic feather fixer. In their nest I use wood shavings. Also I give them mealworms for protein as I know they need more protein when molting. They are on 18 per cent protein food and I give them greens and fruits. I also give them oyster shell and small rocks and DE in their food and water and all around their pen and reapply as needed. Keep their pen clean of poop every day.

 

[pjschubert]

I use organic crumbles, organic mixed grains, black oil sunflower seeds and organic feather fixer. In their nest I use wood shavings. Also I give them mealworms for protein as I know they need more protein when molting. They are on 18 per cent protein food and I give them greens and fruits. I also give them oyster shell and small rocks and DE in their food and water and all around their pen and reapply as needed. Keep their pen clean of poop every day.

Their floor is dirt and they take dust baths

Greetings pjschubert,

Are you determined to keep your chickens organic?

yes, my 40 yr old daughter has brain cancer and she can only eat organic foods.

 

[chickens really]

Sorry about your Daughter...
Chickens when temps drop get stressed so Respritory issues pop up..