Tried everything no better please help

[07butler]

I have a hen who 3 weeks ago started sneezing and coughing so I isolated her away from the others tried vet rx, stuff in her water, herbs etc she is still sneezing on occasion now but has lost sooo much weight she feels a baby chick when you pick her up. She is a little over a year old. She isn't eating well or drinking hasn't laid eggs in weeks either. Should I let her free range to see if she gets better maybe or take her out. I hate to do that but I know she's lonely but I don't want to risk the rest of my flock. We stopped eating eggs 3 weeks ago also because my rooster started sneezing also but none of the other chickens now are acting funny at the moment all the rest are laying eggs also the rooster sounds like hes purring almost sometimes don't know if that's normal or not. I hate to kill the chicken but don't want to get sick or the others either. This is my first flock so any advice please help. A local vet said I could send the chicken up north to be tested but I don't know if that's necessary he said he wouldn't at this point antibiotics he wouldn't do either. Please help thank you

 

[Kiki]

Are you familiar with the common respiratory diseases?
You might find this helpful:
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/exoti...ommon-infectious-diseases-in-backyard-poultry

Basically they are either going to get better on their own or not and need antibiotics.
Are you saying your vet will not give you antibiotics unless you send one off for a necropsy?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Most years I get a chicken or two with a respiratory problem, probably from migrating and flocking birds. Some are mild and they improve after a few weeks, occasionally one gets worse and we cull if it's apparent that it's suffering. You could ask your vet for some antibiotics to treat it if that's something you are interested in. Otherwise sick hens don't usually lay.

 

[07butler]

Are you familiar with the common respiratory diseases?
You might find this helpful:
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/exoti...ommon-infectious-diseases-in-backyard-poultry

Basically they are either going to get better on their own or not and need antibiotics.
Are you saying your vet will not give you antibiotics unless you send one off for a necropsy?

Yes he suggested if we are going to treat we need to send that one off. I hate to do that though

 

[07butler]

Most years I get a chicken or two with a respiratory problem, probably from migrating and flocking birds. Some are mild and they improve after a few weeks, occasionally one gets worse and we cull if it's apparent that it's suffering. You could ask your vet for some antibiotics to treat it if that's something you are interested in. Otherwise sick hens don't usually lay.

She came from someone else laid for a while seemed fine then one day she just up and got sick the rest of mine I raised from chicks

 

[Eggcessive]

It might be infectious bronchitis, which is a virus that causes sneezing and upper respiratory tract infection for around a month, but does not cause the more severe symptoms unless there are secondary infections, such as MG or others. IB can rapidly spread through a flock, but it only makes them carriers for 5 months to a year. It is best not to hatch or add any new birds for a least a year after the illness has disappeared. Having one or two tested by your local extension agent can help to identify the illness.