watery eyes, runny poop...what is this?

[Stewzoo]

I have never had a "sick" chicken before this winter. I seem to have an upper respiratory infection running through the flock. Some of the birds had a mucousy discharge from their eyes/nostrils that lasted for a few days and then cleared up on its own.

Today, I have one older hen (4 yrs old) that has bubbly discharge...it looks like someone spit in both of her eyes. Her stool was runny/green as well. I have a 2nd older hen (4yrs old) who is doing this thing vocally that sounds like a cackle/hiccup. She is breathing with her beak open for the most part. What is going on???? Help!

 

[terryg]

There are many respiratory diseases that can affect a flock. You can make your best guess as to which it is, but without a lab test you won't know for sure. Some chickens have more of a natural immunity, and so all won't be affected to the same extent. Without treatment some may recover, some may die. The cause can be bacterial or viral. Often with the viral, there are secondary bacterial infections. So, the first thing to do is to get them antibiotics. I have a FAQ about treating respiratory diseases here:
http://www.hencam.com/henblog/respiratory-diseases/
You might want to take a second look at your housing. It might have nothing to do with the outbreak, but damp coops harbor disease. Sunlight and dry conditions go a long way to keeping birds healthy. Today's small coops the size of doghouses, with poor ventilation, can cause health issues.

 

[Stewzoo]

It has been damp here for the past week or so. They have straw in the coop now as the bedding...I have never had a problem using that before. I use pine shavings in the winter to help with moisture and change them out often. Thank you for your link.

Should I be separating them?

 

[terryg]

At this point they've all been exposed so you won't limit the disease by separating them. However, if the stronger ones start bullying the sick ones, then do. If you decide to use antibiotics it's easier to keep them all together and dose via the waterer.