Upper respiratory

[betsycam]

It started with my three white leghorns. They like to roost on tree branches near their coop, and I noticed when I plucked them off to put them in the coop that there was wheezing/gurgles inside. Then I heard the pathetic coughs. An acquaintance who knows tons about chickens said to give them an immune remedy she had that included echinicea (sp?) and that it would go away in a few days, and to treat all nine of my chickens. Well, that didn't work. Now some of the others are also making the sick sounds, but they are all eating, active and laying. I think a couple of the white leghorns seem better, now, but one is still coughing occasionally. Will this run its course and all will be well? Or do I need to treat them with something else? I bought VetRx but haven't used it, yet. I'd rather not use antibiotics and have to throw out eggs, plus don't like to over-use antibiotics if this is something they can work through without dying! The friend said it happens at this time of year when nights are still cool but days are warm.

Not foamy eye, and really not much in the way of discharge, maybe a little wetness around the nares now and again, but not much to speak of.

 

[gatorshark75]

It started with my three white leghorns. They like to roost on tree branches near their coop, and I noticed when I plucked them off to put them in the coop that there was wheezing/gurgles inside. Then I heard the pathetic coughs. An acquaintance who knows tons about chickens said to give them an immune remedy she had that included echinicea (sp?) and that it would go away in a few days, and to treat all nine of my chickens. Well, that didn't work. Now some of the others are also making the sick sounds, but they are all eating, active and laying. I think a couple of the white leghorns seem better, now, but one is still coughing occasionally. Will this run its course and all will be well? Or do I need to treat them with something else? I bought VetRx but haven't used it, yet. I'd rather not use antibiotics and have to throw out eggs, plus don't like to over-use antibiotics if this is something they can work through without dying! The friend said it happens at this time of year when nights are still cool but days are warm.

Not foamy eye, and really not much in the way of discharge, maybe a little wetness around the nares now and again, but not much to speak of.

if you got the vet rx use it i just went through the same thing with some of our older free range hens i poped them three times with tylan 50 cleared them right up and theres only a 7 day withdrawl period

 

[betsycam]

Thanks, Gatorshark75 - I'll use the Vet Rx...I was reading the list of respiratory diseases that all sound horrible and make them carriers for life, etc., but mine only have the three symptoms of occasional cough, sneeze and raspy inside when picked up, so I'm thinking this is a simple respiratory infection, not some nasty disease on that list. At least they are alert, foraging, eating, laying, not depressed etc.

 

[dawg53]

Thanks, Gatorshark75 - I'll use the Vet Rx...I was reading the list of respiratory diseases that all sound horrible and make them carriers for life, etc., but mine only have the three symptoms of occasional cough, sneeze and raspy inside when picked up, so I'm thinking this is a simple respiratory infection, not some nasty disease on that list. At least they are alert, foraging, eating, laying, not depressed etc.

"Only have the three symptoms of occasional cough, sneeze and raspy inside." There's no such thing as a simple respiratory infection, they are all the same...and they are all nasty diseases. If you're going to treat them, use tylan 50 as Gatorshark75 recommended, or cull the sick birds.